That slender, almost skinny figure, that ivory complexion…
"Oh, my God, it's Mel!" Roz yelped.
The outburst was mortifying. I didn't know why Mel Karnofsky was here, but I certainly didn't care to attract her attention. Roz was so headstrong. Didn't she ever think before she spoke? The only consolation was that Roz was appropriately embarrassed. I had never been so upset with my best friend before.
"Oh, no…that was embarrassing," Roz said hoarsely. "Holy crap, she's coming over here. How to escape, how to escape…oh, hiya, Mel."
"Don't worry, Roz. I'm used to your heedless behavior," Mel said in her usual lofty tone. "It must be quite a surprise after all this time and all that happened."
"Hey, what are the odds of that? Running into Mel?" Martin joked weakly.
"Isn't this the broad that Niles—," Simon began.
Roz kicked him. I was so grateful that she'd helped avoid a scene that all my resentment disappeared. Anyone might have reacted to seeing Mel materialize after so long, I reflected in retrospect.
There was a murmur of confusion from friends and relatives who weren't familiar with Niles and Mel's history. Those who had been along for the ride looked at Mel with restrained caution.
"I'm here to apologize," Mel said stiffly.
"Apologize?" Niles said weakly. This was his first time speaking to Mel since their showdown in Frasier's apartment (which I still remembered with great pride) and he was almost speechless.
"For being vengeful. That was unprofessional for someone of my standing," Mel explained crisply. "Niles, you did what I asked to make up for leaving me for that—that…well, never mind. I took advantage of it. I let myself get spiteful and that's completely out of line for a doctor with ethics—especially one as prominent as myself. I still don't know what you see in her, but whatever it is…only that could make you finally grow a spine."
Mel's stabs at us didn't go unnoticed, but nobody said anything. For all of Mel's prideful words and lofty tone, she did seem genuinely penitent, even if the apology was more out of vanity than empathy.
I worked up my politest smile (somewhat like the 'party face' Mel had forced Niles to practice). Despite her apology, I still couldn't forget how controlling and manipulative she had been to Niles even before he'd left her.
"Thank you, Mel," I said carefully. "I know that wasn't easy for you. I'm sorry we hurt you, but…"
Mel shrugged.
"I don't understand the love you two share," she said with cool contempt. "I just never imagined Niles falling for…well, someone so different. Goes to show you love is something that can't be controlled."
"Thanks," I said weakly, hiding my displeasure at the way she said 'different'. I was sure she meant I was too low in social status—in her mind, anyway—for Niles.
"I have to go now," she proclaimed airily. "I have a date with a very prominent doctor, but I won't name names. You'll see it in the society pages if we get engaged. I have refined my standards for any potential partners. This one knows how to conduct himself in social standings without coaching."
This thinly veiled barb at my husband made me seethe inwardly. He squeezed my hand as if he could tell what was upsetting me. No, I wouldn't give Mel the pleasure of getting upset.
Mel turned to walk away, but Martin spoke up with the curiosity he'd developed as a policeman.
"How did you know we were here?" he asked.
Her face suddenly flushed.
"A friend of mine was staying at the lodge when they,"—here she nodded dismissively at me and Niles—"were consulting with the staff. She overhead them making plans. She reported back and told me to stop the wedding. I fully intended to but at the last minute I couldn't. Despite what happened between us, I wouldn't be that cruel."
Mel sounded almost human. I thought that if she wasn't so caught up in climbing the social ladder, she might be quite pleasant.
It took the astounded wedding party several moments to collect their wits and make their way to the reception hall with us. We discovered later that the confrontation had become the gossip of hotel guests and staff.
A/N: I'm not a Mel fan. She really could be self-centered and mean, but it still had to be hard for hr when Niles left. Don't get me wrong, I think Niles and Daphne were ultimately meant to be and Niles+Mel wouldn't have lasted, but I wish the show had had some closure for Mel. I tried to make her apologetic without completely changing her character.