Behind The Glockenspiel
Frasier came through the door.
"What are you doing here?" Martin asked.
Frasier accentuated each word, "I live here."
"I thought you had a date."
"She cancelled on me."
"Oh," he said unenthusiastically.
"Why do you have to say it like that Dad?"
"Like what?"
"Like it's no big surprise that my date canceled on me."
"Well Niles and Daphne are coming over for dinner tonight."
"Niles and Daphne are having dinner here?"
"Yes, they came by earlier today and I invited them."
"They came over this morning?"
"Yeah, Niles sold some clock to an antique store and they went to buy it back today."
Frasier stopped to think as he hung up his rain coat. "Yes, I recall Niles telling me to mind my business of the whole ordeal. I'm paraphrasing of course. I hope they were able to get it back."
"No, it was bought up before they could get it back."
"Well perhaps the store owner would be willing to give him information on the buyer."
"No chance. They tried everything they could think of."
"That's a shame. So, what do you have to serve our quests tonight?"
"I'm making sandwiches."
"Oh dear God, you ARE NOT serving them DELI MEATS for dinner."
"Well, what do you suggest smarty-pants?"
"I'll whip up a soufflé."
By the time Niles and Daphne showed up, they looked exhausted. "Hey there they are," Martin said with an upbeat tone.
"Any luck with the clock," Frasier asked.
Niles did a double take. "Frasier, what are you doing here? I thought you had a date."
"She canceled on me."
"Oh," Niles said.
"Can someone sound surprised every once and a while when I tell them my date canceled on me?"
"I'm sorry Frasier. And I'm sorry about everything else. I shouldn't have snapped at you at Nervosa. You were only trying to help. The loss of our Glockenspiel has me in the most tainted mood. Please accept my apology."
"Apology accepted Niles. Let me get the appetizers." He went into the kitchen. "I was planning on serving crow, but decided this would be best." He returned from the kitchen with the clock.
"Oh my God, our Glockenspiel!" He hurried over where Frasier set it on the table. "Frasier… how…"
"Well Niles, after our little talk at Nervosa, I didn't think you were quite ready to let it go. So I went over to our favorite antique store."
"How could you be so sure we would want it back?"
"I had a hunch. If I was wrong, I could have just sold it again… But I'm rarely wrong." He shot them a look.
"Oh Frasier," Niles shook his hand followed by a hug. "Thank you."
Daphne waited her turn to hug him. "Thank you Frasa." She kissed his cheek.
"Well done son," Martin added.
They enjoyed Frasier's soufflé, but they were more interested in getting the clock back home.
When they got it home, they found a place to set it out. They decided to reenact the stormy night so many years ago. They started a nice fire, got out the wine, lit several candles and doused all the lights. Daphne found a white silk night gown, much like she wore back then. They relived the night, but this time, with a much different ending.
After an evening they would never forget, they went up to bed.
"I can't believe that we were like two ships passing in the night that night," Niles commented.
"Yeah, headed for a collision course."
Niles laughed in agreement.
"Kind of reminds me of me thyroid pills." She laid her head upon his chest.
"Your thyroid pills? What do you mean by that?"
~ End ~