Taken Back by Patrick Councilor

Mel was dressed to kill in a beautiful full-length, off-white gown. Niles' jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw her. They were seated at a well-lit table with white table cloth. She already had the table when he arrived and took the liberty of ordering champagne.

"You look absolutely lovey," he said as she stood to give him a quick kiss.

Niles' cell phone sounded. "I'll just ignore it," he announced. It continued to sound off.

"Go ahead and answer it, but please make it quick. I want you all to myself."

Niles took his phone out and went over to the entrance of the restaurant so his phone conversation wouldn't bother the other diners. "Hello?"

Daphne asked, "Niles, where had ya gone?"

"I'm meeting with Mel for breakfast."

"I made you breakfast," she said defensively.

"Oh, I'm sorry Daphne. It's more of a place just to talk."

"I'm worried about you."

"Please don't worry yourself. We're at a quaint place called Glo's Café. I took a cab."

"Niles, I'd like you to came back."

"I'm sorry Daphne. Mel's waiting for me. I have to go. The champagne is going to lose its fizz. I'll see you in a bit." He hung up, but hesitated for a moment. When did she start calling him by his first name? He returned to the table. "I'm so sorry about that darling."

She smiled. "I've missed hearing you call me that."

He took his seat. "I am so glad that we are on the road to salvation. I am very happy. We are on that road… aren't we?"

"IF…everything goes well. Perhaps we can have a nice little breakfast. I've cleared my schedule for the morning. Maybe we can have dessert at my place."

He returned her overwhelming smile.

"Tell me your plans for the road you're talking about," she requested.

"I plan to take you in my arms and show you for the rest of my days just how much I love you."

They toasted to that.

"Why did we ever break up in the first place?"

"It was something so minuet, I don't even remember."

He moved his chair closer to hers and they dined just as close as they could. They had a wonderful time rekindling their old flame. The eggs benedict were quite tasty. They enjoyed fruits and house preserves on their fresh baked bread.

"How dare you!" Daphne was standing beside their table with David on her hip.

"Daphne!" Niles called out.

"What are you doing here?" Mel snapped harshly.

"I can't believe you'd take advantage of this sweet man while he's dealing with amnesia."

"Oh Daphne," Mel said. "Oh little whorish Daphne."

"Mel, don't you dare talk to her like that," Niles firmly insisted.

"And you," Daphne turned to Niles. "I told you to take things slow. But would you listen? Would it have hurt to give it some time?"

"I think you should leave now," Mel told her.

Daphne turned back to Mel. "And you. I'm not through with you."

"I'll tell you when you're through!"

Hearing Mel speak that way to Daphne put a fire in Niles…

[[[[[[[[[ "I'll tell you when you're through!" Mel's words rang in his ears.]]]]]]]]]

[[[[[ "I'll tell you when you're through!" ]]]]]

[[[ I'll tell you when you're through, you spineless twit, AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE!"

"That's it, Mel, I'm sick of these games!"

"Niles, don't make a scene."

"I don't care! I love Daphne, and I'm not putting her through this torture another second! This sham of a marriage is OVER!" ]]]

"Niles, are you okay?" Daphne's tone had softened at the sight of Niles' flushed face.

He was shaken. Tears were forming in his eyes when he turned to Mel. "YOU LIED TO ME!"

"Niles, whatever are you talking about?"

He stood and took Daphne by the hand and led the way to the front of the restaurant. He took her and David into the men's room and closed the door behind them.

"Niles, what are you doing?"

He had a stern look in his eyes, but his eyes also held a great volume of hope. "Tell me one thing. Do you love me?"

"Niles… let's not do this in the washroom…"

"Just answer the question. Do you love me?"

She started to tremble and a tear made its way down her cheek. "Yes. Yes, I love you so very much. I…"

He stopped her with a long, hard kiss. He cupped her face with both of his hands and kissed her again and again. "I love you Daphne. I've loved you for years."

"I know."

"I will divorce Mel right away."

"You already have."

Niles had a pleasantly shocked look on his face. He smiled. "Even better. What about you and Donny?"

"I never did get married to Donny."

"You never married him? But the ring? You're wearing a wedding ring."

"Niles, I don't want you to feel like you've missed out on anything, but you put this ring on me."

"Oh my God, Daphne. That means that David…"

"David is our son."

Niles was shaking so badly that his teeth were chattering when he took David from Daphne and hugged him tightly. A tear swept his cheek. "Oh my God."

"Are you alright?"

"Am I alright? How can I be? It's like waking up one day and every wish you ever had is granted in one fleeting moment. Let's go home. My family."

They left the restroom and headed out of the restaurant. "Do you remember now Niles?"

"I'm sorry Daphne. The only thing I recall is my breakup with Mel to be with you. I'm sorry but it will take me a while to recall, I'm afraid."

"And none too soon for that memory to come back. Don't worry, Niles. We've got nothing but time. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm better than alright. I love you Daphne."

"And I love you Niles. Perhaps we can reenact everything. "

"Oh, I would love that. Where would you like to start? Our wedding?"

She laughed. "We've got to go to Vegas for that."

He kissed her with but a whispering touch of their lips that brought chills up their spines. He then turned to his son. "And I love you too David. It's Da-da." He kissed his son.

"Da-da." David hugged his father with everything he had.

~ fin ~