"You're kidding," Niles said, his jaw falling open. He nearly dropped his cell phone, but fumbled and caught it, then pressed it back to his ear. "How did you find that out?"

"Did a little digging," his lawyer, Donny, replied. "I have quite a few friends who do this kind of thing."

"But you've only been working for me for two weeks," Niles replied. "We haven't even gone to court yet!"

"What can I say?" Donny replied with a chuckle. "I'm good."

"You're amazing!" Niles leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the desk, a slow grin spreading across his face. "All this time, I thought her family's money came from timber."

"I'm betting she would rather everyone keep on thinking that."

Niles laughed. "She'll give anything to keep this quiet. I've got her! I'm finally going to get the divorce!"

"Leave it to me," Donny said. "I'm meeting with her lawyers later this afternoon. I'll have something for you faxed over tomorrow morning, and if you like it, we can finish this before the ink is even dry."

"Wonderful," Niles said. "Thank you so much."

"Just doing my job." Donny paused, and Niles heard the rustling of paper. "Now, tell me what you want me to go for. The beach house, the cabin, the cars? You want to try for the mansion? I'll tell you now that one is going to be tough, it's been in her family for a long time, but if you want to play hardball I'm game."

"No," Niles said. He put his feet back on the ground and took a deep breath. "Don't drag it out. No need to be vindictive. Just an even split, nothing more than what's fair."

"You sure?" Donny asked. "Not only do we have this bargaining chip about her family's money, I'm pretty sure I can also prove that she slept with Doctor Schenkman while you two were still married. If we can prove adultery as well as malicious financial harm and emotional stress that she caused by deliberately delaying this divorce, you could walk away with damn near everything she's got."

Niles shook his head absently, although Donny couldn't see him. "I don't want that. Despite all she's done to me, I don't want… there's no reason to make this any harder. Let's just get it over with."

Donny was quiet for a long moment. "You know Niles, I work with a lot of people going through bitter, vicious divorces. Ones with far less money to fight over, who struggle over every scrap just to hurt each other. I don't feel bad for them. They're cruel, and greedy, and they bring it on themselves. But you're actually a decent guy, and I'm sorry your marriage didn't work out. You really did care about her, didn't you?"

"Yes," Niles said softly. "I did. But that's over now."

"All right," Donny replied. "I'll send you the details once I have them hammered out. If she agrees, and I think she will, you'll be a free man by this time next week."

"Thank you," Niles said again, and hung up. He propped his chin in one hand and stared blankly at his office. Fifteen years with Maris, and now it was truly ending. He'd known his marriage was over for a long time, but the reality of it still left him feeling melancholy.

He sat for a while, just thinking. He usually spent the lull between morning and afternoon sessions catching up on his case notes and paperwork, but that day, as often happened lately, he found himself thinking of Daphne instead. He thought of the look of startled wonder on her face when he'd taken her to the opera and she'd heard the soaring aria in the third act. The way she closed her eyes and savored a sip of wine, trying to appreciate it the way he did.

He thought of how she'd looked in an evening gown, with her hair swept up, sleek and elegant, and the smooth curve of her neck exposed. The way she'd laughed when he nearly fell over the pool table trying to make a shot, and the way she smiled at him the first time they kissed. He thought of what she must have been like as a child, awash in a sea of unruly brothers and still managing to hold her own. She had strength and wisdom, grace and compassion, beauty and innocence.

And she hadn't spoken to him in two weeks.

Niles pressed his hands to his face and took a deep breath. Then he looked up when he heard a knock on the door. "Yes, come in," he said.

"Hello Niles," Frasier said, walking into the office. "Thought I'd see if you wanted to join me for lunch."

"Sure," Niles said. "Actually, I'm glad you're here. I just got some good news from my lawyer."

"Really?" Frasier raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Do tell."

"You know Maris comes from a wealthy family-but where does that money come from?"

"Aren't they lumber barons? I remember something about her grandfather being one of the founders of Weyerhauser."

Niles gave him a conspiratorial smile. "That's what she told me, and everyone else, but Donny has, ah," he paused to snicker a little, "flushed out her family secret."

"What are you talking about?' Frasier asked.

"Urinal cakes," Niles said. "Her grandfather didn't start a timber company, he started a chemical company. They patented and sold the first urinal cakes, and are now one of the country's biggest suppliers."

Frasier's jaw dropped, and then came back up into a diabolical grin. "You're kidding me."

"That's what I said!" Niles bounced a little on his heels. "He thinks I'll be divorced within the week."

"Niles, that's wonderful!" Frasier gave his brother a hug, then stepped back to look at him. "Isn't it?"

"Of course it is."

"You seem a bit sad," Frasier pointed out.

Niles shrugged, and then nodded. "Well, yes, a little. I did love her once, you know. For a long time."

"I know," Frasier said. "You really tried, Niles. The only reason that marriage lasted as long as it did is because you tried so hard. It's not your fault."

"Maybe," Niles said. "That doesn't matter now anyway. It's all over."

"Which leaves you free to be with Daphne."

"That would make me happy if I thought she wanted to be with me," Niles replied. "Doesn't seem very likely right now."

"Is she still not talking to you?"

"Not a word," Niles said. "I did catch a glimpse of her in the hall the other day. She was carrying groceries and my first instinct was to help her, but she saw me and looked away, and walked faster. That's a pretty clear message."

"And you respected it," Frasier said. "As you've done ever since you told her about Maris. That's very important, Niles. You told me once that it means a lot to Daphne that you listen to her. That for most of her life, people haven't listened."

"That's true," Niles replied. "I'm just not sure it's enough. We only went on three dates, we never even spent the night together. That's not a lot to base a relationship on, especially when she clearly doesn't want to get involved with a man in the middle of a divorce."

"But now," Frasier said, "you're a man at the end of a divorce. Maybe that will make a difference."

Niles spread his hands. "How is she going to know that if I can't even talk to her?"

"I think she's very likely to overhear it when I tell Dad tonight," Frasier replied. "In fact, I'll make sure of it."

"Thank you," Niles said quietly. "You're a good brother."

Frasier inclined his head in thanks. "Now come on, we can just make the first lunch seating at Le Cigare Volant."

TBC