She was a mess of emotions as she walked out to her car and climbed inside. It would have been so easy to simply go back into the Montana and take the elevator to his apartment. But in doing so, she'd have to ring his doorbell. How could she possibly explain why she'd gone? And more importantly, why she'd come back.
She had to go home. She had obligations, responsibilities… and a lot of explaining to do.
We Live for Love by Pat Benatar, Crazy For You by Madonna and Uptown Girl by Billy Joel floated out of the radio, each song introduced by her favorite DJ on the eighties station that she loved so much. But the music did little to deter her thoughts.
She was so confused about so many things. She had no idea what she was going to say to Frasier and Martin… and Sherry for that matter, if, in fact, the wretched woman was still at Frasier's. Given the way that Mr. Crane stood up for Sherry, when he really should have stood up for his physical therapist, Daphne was certain that Sherry would still be there. And once they came face to face, what would she possibly say? Apologizing to Sherry was out of the question.
Yes, she'd said things that she shouldn't have but it was only because of the things that Sherry had said to her. She couldn't help it if-
She swallowed hard as tears welled in her eyes. What was so bloody wrong with her that made her almost invisible to men? She hadn't been on a date in months and perhaps that was why she'd kissed Niles so many times in the course of one evening.
Oh God, how could she have done that; kissed him as though they were a couple in love? Did she think (stupidly) that he wouldn't notice? Well, he'd noticed, all right. He'd noticed in a big way. He'd never admit it, but she knew that he must have been extremely uncomfortable, being kissed so causally by a woman whose salary he helped to pay and who regarded him as her best friend (even if he didn't yet know it). Had the situation been reversed, Daphne would have most likely felt the same way. But it seemed that once she started kissing him, even briefly, she wanted to experience it again. She knew that eventually she'd have to explain her reasons for kissing him as well. It seemed an impossible task, for only her heart could explain the way kissing him made her feel.
She continued to drive, almost oblivious to the music that filled the car or the sights around her. And before she realized it, she was pulling into the Elliott Bay parking garage, with no recollection whatsoever of how she'd managed to get there safely.
Perhaps she had a guardian angel.
The thought gave way to thoughts of another angel. An angel who lived at the Montana and had shown her kindness unlike any she'd ever known, in her time of distress, without questioning it. There was, of course some friction in the beginning but the fact that he'd invited her into his home meant the world to her. He truly was her best friend. And she loved him more than he'd ever know.