Chapter 12: Daphne


Daphne finally left the Montana just before 9am. Between sleeping in, the distraction of sex, and the phone call Niles received, it felt like everything was conspiring to prevent her from leaving that morning.

That phone call.

Hearing that it was Maris had a similar effect as tipping a bucket of ice water over her head. It was almost like she forgot Niles was only separated – he was still married to his wife. And he was having lunch with her today. Daphne remembered their conversation. She had asked what Niles was going to do, and it immediately seemed like that was dependent on what Maris wanted. Like Maris was a puppeteer pulling the strings of Niles' life. When Daphne pushed more about what Niles himself wanted, he had looked genuinely lost. He seemed to agonise for several moments, before saying he didn't know.

Why do I feel like it matters? Besides feeling like I'm just the other woman.

Daphne insisted to herself that what she had with Niles was a purely physical thing, nothing more. But it still stung; that there was a chance that Niles may go back to his wife and whatever they currently had would no longer exist. And that hurt a little.

No.

That hurt a lot.

It was one thing when Daphne was seemingly calling the shots, but now it seemed like the continuance of this liaison was now a mutual agreement. Like they had both committed to something more than a fling.

But it was still just a fling, wasn't it? Hard to believe that with a dinner date tonight.

That sent a shiver down Daphne's back. Why did she agree to his request for dinner? What were they supposed to do? Small talk? Get to know each other? Niles never used the word date, but Daphne felt nervous about it, as if it were. And, he clearly outlined that he wasn't expecting it to lead to sex – but it will, of course it will, she couldn't resist him at the moment.

Is dinner so he didn't feel like he's just using me for sex? Am I just using him for sex?

Daphne pulled over. She needed an excuse for Frasier and Martin as to why she had been out all morning. It was almost 9:30, she wasn't there at breakfast, without explanation. They're going to suspect. Daphne had snuck out last night without anyone knowing, feeling like a teenager again back in Manchester. She had fully planned to sneak back in time for Martin's morning walk with Eddie, but of course, this morning didn't let things happen that way.

And now I'm gonna have to find an excuse to leave tonight as well, because I agreed to that damn dinner with a bloody married man!

She needed to get a grip. She closed her eyes, and took some deep breaths.

We're gonna have to figure something else out. Whatever this is, it's just not going to work. At all.

What they would do instead, she didn't know. She felt drawn to whatever this thing had together was.

Dinner tonight would be nice...

Her phone rang.

Bloody hell.

"Hello?"
"Daphne? It's Marty, we missed you at breakfast this morning. Are you okay?"

Damn, damn, damn!

"Oh, hello, Mr Crane. Yes, I'm fine. I decided to go out early this morning, wanted to pick up a few things, and decided to go visit a friend for coffee. I'm just on my way back now."
"Okay, Daph. Hey, listen. Could you do me a favour and pick up some more dog food for Eddie? I realised we were almost out this morning."
"Oh, no problem." A thought occurred to her. "Actually, that's what I ducked out for this morning."
"Really? Great! Thanks Daph, I'll see you at home."

Well, that wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. And luckily Martin had handed her the perfect excuse for her. At least she wouldn't have to return empty handed.

Daphne started the car, pushed all the thoughts and worries spinning through her head down as much as possible, and went to pick up Eddie's dog food before she returned home.


Daphne walked through the aisles of the store, staring at the dog food and contemplated her choices.

On one hand, she could call things off with Niles completely, cancel dinner. No more late night trysts. They could go on with their lives, pretending that things never happened between them.

Difficult, but it might be possible.

On the other hand, they could continue as they were, and only end things when Niles inevitably went back to his wife.

Easier to go along with now, but messy later on.

He's not going to go back to his wife. He wants you.

That annoying voice in her head had pushed its way to the forefront again, trying to plant seeds of doubt. Daphne found herself arguing with it again.

Why wouldn't he go back to his wife? He's been trying to reconcile since they separated 18 months ago.

He could go back any time, but he hasn't.

That's because he wants respect. Maris doesn't respect him, so he's waiting until they can work things out.

You know that Maris respecting Niles is never going to happen.

That voice was cruel sometimes. But it was true. She did think that. She shouldn't think that though. She shouldn't be considering any of this.

Shut up. I'm not going to think about this.

Daphne pushed the thoughts away, as she grabbed a couple of bags of Eddie's dog food.

On her way home, Daphne grabbed herself some coffee and something to eat from Nervosa. She saw Roz, briefly. Roz tried to talk to her, as if she sensed something was off with Daphne, but Daphne didn't give her a chance. The last thing she wanted to do was explain to Roz that she was sleeping with Niles.

Who knows what Roz would think about that.

While Niles and Roz got along, they had a combative friendship full of teasing. And Roz had never been shy in her opinion of Niles and his sexual experience. And the same applied to Niles' opinion about Roz. Daphne thought that Roz might be the last person she would want to speak to about what was happening between her and Niles.

She might not understand.

Daphne spent the rest of her morning trying to decide whether or not she should cancel dinner. Around lunch, when she knew Niles would be with Maris, she was sorely tempted to cancel and pretend nothing ever happened. But by mid-afternoon, Daphne had flipped back, finding herself curious as to how Niles' lunch went, and a desire just to see him again.

She was lost in thought again as she worked though Martin's exercises, before she was snapped back to reality by Martin's question.

"Hey Daph, what's the plan for dinner tonight? I'm feeling a nice, juicy steak." Daphne looked at Martin, her decision now made.
"Sorry, you and your son will have to fend for yourself tonight. I've got a date."