Just One Look
By Valma
Part 10: "D" is for Dating

My Journey Through Life - Niles Crane

I met a woman today.

Mel.

Mel Karnofsky --- actually Dr. Melinda Karnofsky to be exact.

And I want to be exact about her - she kind of exudes exactness.

I've known of her for a while. That is, I have heard of her name. She's Maris' most recent plastic surgeon, ironically enough. But I just always assumed that Mel was short for Melvin, whenever I looked at the cost of her procedures on the invoice. So much for my political correctness!

At any rate, our meeting today was rather a strange coincidence. Frasier was slightly injured in a minor motor mishap this morning and to be on the safe side we trundled over to the emergency department at Seattle General to have the laceration on his nose checked out. While we were there I inquired about the possibility of seeing a surgeon, if indeed the damage might require reconstruction, and when the clerk rhymed off the list of staff doctors, Mel Karnofsky's name popped up. When I told Frasier that I was still getting billed by this particular practitioner for Maris' botox injections, even though we have been divorced for almost a year now, he suggested that I pay the avaricious Dr. Karnofsky a visit to straighten things out.

Even though while I waited in her office I was spoiling for a fight, when she finally made her appearance I became totally disarmed. I don't know exactly what I had been expecting to find as I turned around to greet her, but I am certain it wasn't a petite, shapely woman who seemed the epitome of culture and refinement. She assured me that everything would be looked after and apologized quickly for the billing error. Her manner was professional, but genial and although I can't claim that we exchanged any significant remarks in those first few moments, I sensed that she didn't mind letting the conversation wander off topic.

Desperately searching for any object in the room that would lend itself to further dialogue, my eyes fell upon a charming Picasso print behind her desk. I commented on how much I liked that piece and she returned my remark with a witty aside. As we talked further it seemed that we had enough things in common to make a connection between us not only plausible, but also almost eerily inevitable. She was on the museum board, had a meticulous temperament, doubtlessly appreciated art and seemed to part of a well-connected milieu.

I was intrigued. I hadn't noticed any wedding band on her finger. The mere thought about anything remotely associated with a state of wedlock made me wince --- Daphne would soon be married. She would have a ring on her finger. She would have someone to come home to. She would ---

Didn't I deserve to have a life? Shouldn't I be allowed the possibility of some happiness?

I have been thinking about this a lot. But then I had ample enough time by my self lately to do such pondering. Daphne has been so busy, caught up in the euphoric excitement of preparing for the wedding. Even Frasier seemed preoccupied for a while with it, interfering to the point that Daphne finally got exasperated and put him in his place. I really felt like I was just in the way.

My newfound determination to find something to fill the void of Daphne enabled me to steal a glance at the picture on the good doctor's desk after she was called away briefly. There she was smiling warmly with her arm around the shoulder of a rather handsome youngish looking man. A dour records clerk, who came in to deposit a truckload of Maris' surgical files in the room, assured me it was her son and that Dr. Karnofsky was divorced. She certainly didn't look old enough to have a son that age. Artificially induced youthfulness perhaps? I shrugged it off. After living with Maris all those years, it certainly wasn't shocking in any respect to me that a woman might take advantage of technology to stave off the ticking of the clock. What really was interesting was the fact that it indicated that she was, to put it crudely, "available".

I realized that my curiosity was being driven by an obvious attraction to her. Here was a perfectly lovely woman that I had met, intelligent, comely, sophisticated, who traveled in the same social circle as I did. Our personalities seemed to mesh. She was unattached and so was I. All that remained was for me to step up and ask her out. That's all - that simple.

And of course, true to form, I couldn't do it.

But I did succeed in getting myself an appointment with her to give me a botox injection to take away, as she said "those nasty little wrinkles in your forehead". I didn't realize they were so conspicuous --- at any rate when I go back at 4:30 for the procedure it will give me another opportunity to ask her out. This time I am determined to do it, too - I want to move on with my life!

I can find someone!

If not Mel Karnofsky, then someone else!

But it will happen - soon!

Adieu!

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My Journey Through Life - Niles Crane

Well, here I am with a forehead full of numbing toxins and dateless!

I went to my appointment with Mel Karnofsky fully intending to query her on the prospect of a date. As I sat in her outer office I rehearsed numerous permutations on the hackneyed "Would you like to go out?"

But it was all for not. Those words, nor anything remotely resembling them, ever escaped from my lips.

Opportunities lost - story of my life.

I'd better go over to Frasier's and see how he made out with his injured nose.

Adieu.

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* My Journey Through Life - Niles Crane

Third time's a charm --- right?

Let's hope.

This time I'm not going to be coy, subtle or allow myself to get snipped, tucked or injected with any more toxic substances. I am just going to ask her flat out to accompany me to the opera. I am definitely going to do it - by God!

You may be wondering --- what has inspired this renewed tenacity?

A rather perspicacious conversation I had with my blunt but loving brother, actually.

It came about after I made a second attempt at becoming more than a mere patient with the good doctor and ended up with a rather miniscule mole being extirpated by her instead.

Frasier happened to notice the bandaged evidence of my dating timidity and proceeded to chastise me.

"Isn't it time you just asked the woman out?"

Of course it was! But didn't he understand anything at all? I wanted to -- - absolutely! I didn't want to spend the rest of my days in an endless loop of aching loneliness and solitary self-gratification activities. It -- - it's just that it isn't easy for me to be bold and decisive in such things. I like to take my time, not rush into romance, like some people I know.

"I'm just waiting until the moment's right."

I knew the instant the words came out of my mouth that I sounded pusillanimous. Just like I knew that Frasier probably wasn't finished with his lecture. But instead of droning on about me "taking life by the horns" or "striking while the iron was hot", Frasier cut quickly and cruelly to the bone with a question that sent me reeling.

"Like you did with Daphne?"

For one split second I wanted to punch him in his smug face.

But then I realised it wasn't a snide condemnation. He was supplying me with what I needed the most - a swift kick in the derriere.

I really was repeating the exact same behavior patterns as I "did with Daphne". And just look at what my endless procrastinations and alibis produced - Daphne falling in love with someone else --- and as for me --- well, I was left being forever on the outside, never to share in the intimate trivialities and details of her life. Now I would be relegated to merely watching from the pews as she gracefully strolled down the aisle into the awaiting arms of Donny Douglas, tossing the obligatory rice as she dashed off on her honeymoon, giving her a subdued hug as she announced her impending motherhood ---

No! I swore that I wouldn't keep doing this! Dwelling on these things isn't healthy --- but it is soooo difficult when there is no one else in my life!

Thus - I have my car keys in my hand and I am determined to give Mel a chance to rescue me from the disheartening emptiness that still seems to threaten me.

I know I can do this!

I will be charming, persistent and receptive.

This time I will succeed!

Adieu!

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Daphne's Diary

Dear Diary:

It seems Dr. Crane has a girlfriend finally.

I'm happy for him, of course.

He's been through so much over the past little while that he really needs a stable relationship with someone in his life right now.

I haven't been formally introduced to her or anything, but I did overhear him talking about her with his brother late last night. I don't usually make a habit of eavesdropping, but I just happen to be coming out to get myself a glass of warm milk before bed, and as I came down the hallway I heard them chatting in the living room. I don't know why I didn't just make my presence known and then make a hasty exit, but I didn't. Maybe it's the snoop in me. Listening in is kind of exciting and a wee bit naughty - you never know what you might hear.

At any rate, I crouched down in the shadows, just out of view behind the piano and proceeded to secretly get filled in on all the details.

He had just come back from his first date with her. It was good to hear some joy in his voice again as he breathlessly twittered on about her, waving his arms every once in a while to make his point. He was like a kid who had just got a brand new bike.

I miss talking to him - the way his voice rises and falls as he gets excited about various things, the way he pauses and stretches out his words while he is thinking. Since I got engaged I have been so busy with Donny I haven't had much time to gab with Dr. Crane the way I used to. And even when he is here nowadays, he seems more distanced somehow. Perhaps it is just an after effect of all the pressure he went through with his divorce and all.

Anyway, her name is Mel Karnvinski, or something like that - it sounds foreign. She's a doctor, although not a psychiatrist like the Crane brothers. She's a plastic surgeon. They seem to have a lot in common. She's a big fan of opera, which of course pleases Dr. Crane to no end. He also mentioned something about her being on the museum board. She seems to know all the right people in Seattle. And she is the owner of a Svenson. I figure that is either a rare painting or some kind of a cleaning device, by the way his eyes danced when he mentioned this. They seem perfect for each other by the way he talks.

Which makes it all the more strange that his brother met all Dr. Crane's bubbling with a less than enthusiastic reception. He seemed almost cool during the whole conversation, inserting only the occasional "uh-uh" or "I see". The only time he sounded truly responsive was when Dr. Crane thanked him for his part in getting the two of them together.

"Frasier, I didn't just expeditiously hasten over here at this late hour to boast about all the fine attributes of Mel --- I --- I also wanted to make sure that you knew that I will always be eternally grateful to you for the brotherly advice you metered out to me this afternoon."

"Well, we all need a push now and then," Frasier mumbled as he patted his brother arm. "I just didn't want to see you go through the same torment that you did with - "

"I know, I know," interrupted Dr. Crane. "But at least, I have some hope now of having a real relationship."

There was a hint of desperation in his voice. Frasier picked up on this and seemed to become much more animated suddenly.

"Are you --- are you really hopeful Niles?" said Frasier. "Do you think someone like Mel could be the one to let you forget --- really forget --- about --- her?"

"Of course it's only one date, but yes, I can see how Mel could be the one to --- to help me bury the past and start looking forward in my life. The potential is there, I think."

"Well, don't rush into anything," his brother cautioned. "Take time to get to know her, please. She may not be everything you want her to be. You may find that she isn't right for you."

"In that case, I'll just press on," Dr. Crane said solemnly. "What other option do I have? That was made abundantly clear to me with the choice that --- that she made."

He looked down at his shoes and sighed.

I bit my lower lip fighting back the tears that seemed to be unexpectedly welling up in my eyes. He had been so badly hurt by that ex-wife of his! I shook my head and wondered how much of a blind fool that woman had to have been to reject the love of such a man!

"Bloody wally!" I whispered under my breath. "You never realised what a prize you had in your grasp!"

Frasier cleared his throat and then glanced over at his brother.

"I'm sorry I was so harsh this afternoon, Niles --- I just want my little brother to be happy, you know."

"I know, I know," Dr. Crane said deliberately. "And I think it is finally possible now."

"Well then let's end on that note!" Frasier declared and they both rose off the sofa and headed for the door, saying their goodnights as they walked.

I took the opportunity to sneak back to my room undetected.

I'm kind of anxious to meet this new girlfriend of his. It sounds like she may turn out to be just what the good doctor ordered.

Goodnight Diary.

Stay tuned for Part 11 (to be continued)