Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor
[ I'll Have A Decaf With A Shot Of A Prozac ]
Nervosa: Niles' home away from home. The most auspicious variety of coffee blends one could hope for. He normally stuck to his double cappuccino, half-caf, nonfat milk. But on occasions, he would step out of the norm; break free of the everyday routine and storm the castle of life. Today was one of those days. As he waited for his turn to order at the counter, he recalled some advice Professor Birch gave him at prep-school. "The larger the dragon, the sharper the sword." Rise to the challenge.
A smirk crossed his face as he remember some advice that his father had given him before seeing him off at the airport when he headed for Cambridge. "Dad?"
Seeing Martin and Ronee sitting in the table that he and Frasier used to frequent pulled him from his train of thoughts. It was his turn to order. He quickly ordered and asked if it could be brought to the table where he would be sitting with his parents.
"Well, hello you two. What are you doing here?" He produced his handkerchief to wipe down his chair.
Martin looked like the cat that ate the canary. "Just came by to see you."
Niles set his brief case down beside his seat and sat down. "Well, this is such a pleasant surprise."
"So how is work going?" Ronee asked.
Okay, have you ever had an "ah-ha" moment for no apparent reason? Niles was having one of those moments. Something was going on. Perhaps he could be mistaken, but to the trained psychologist, sometimes it takes just a whisper or slight movement or gesture that triggers the "ah-ha". It was in the way she said it. "Work is fine," his voice traveled off as if he was expecting a punch line follow up. "And how are things with you?"
"Still not missing a note."
Her wit on her lounge singing was always amusing.
"How are our grandkids?" Martin asked.
"Simply delightful. They are treasures. I love every moment with them. I told them that we would go to McDonald's tonight and Rosalynda was so excited, she raised her cereal spoon in the air and said, 'Do-ads', trying to say 'Donald's'."
Martin and Ronee laugh so at that. Martin laughed so hard, he wiped a tear from his eye.
"How is your morning going?" Martin asked.
"Well Dad, I was just recalling some advice you gave me before I left for England."
"Oh?" Ronee asked.
"Yes, he said, 'Always brave each storm head on. If you try to steer around it, you end up broadsided.'"
Ronee shot Martin a look and then turned back to Niles. "He said that?"
The server brought Niles his coffee. "Thank you." He took the cup and took a sip. "Yes, he did."
"Well the most advice I get from him," she said, "is 'the beer stays colder in the crisper'."
Niles smiled at that.
"It does", Martin said. "So, you heading to work?"
"Alright, what is going on?" Niles asked.
"What?" Martin said in defense.
"You two are up to something, I can tell."
Ronee slapped Martin in the arm. He could never keep his composure with secrets.
"Alright, out with it," Niles ordered.
Martin rubbed his arm. "What are you doing tomorrow night? Ronee and I would like to take you and your family out to dinner."
Niles' eyes narrowed. There was something deeper going on than just an invitation to dine. "Daphne and I already have dinner plans. As a matter of fact, I was just going to call you to see if you'd be willing to babysit that night."
"You'll have to cancel your plans." Martin was too eager – too insistent.
"Why?" Niles found his voice trailing again.
"You just gotta."
Martin's erupting bottle of hidden emotions resulted in another slap to the shoulder.
"We would just like to spend more time with the grandkids," Ronee offered an explanation.
"You don't have any ulterior motive here?"
"No," they replied in unison.
"Are you certain? You're not going to announce that I'm about to have a new brother, are you?"
Ronee stared at him like she was looking through him.
"Oh my God." Niles eyes widened and he felt a hypoventilation attack coming on. He would have another sibling in three quarters of a year!
Ronee smirked. "I'm just pulling your leg Niles."
"Oh! Oh yes." He nodded. "Good one." He tried to stabilize his breathing. He had underestimated her overabundant talents in "leg pulling".
"Geez Niles, are you alright?"
"Yes, of course." He retrieved his handkerchief to dab the sweat from his brow. He took a drink of his coffee in effort to calm his nerves. "I should have ordered a defibrillator instead of coffee."
"I'm sorry Niles", she said.
But Niles knew she loved to pull his proverbial chain as often as she could. He straightened his tie to help regain his composer. He took out his cell phone. "Let me just call Daphne to see if we can reschedule our plans for tomorrow evening."
[ There's Even An Apple Turnover In It For You ]
"It was hard to come here today." The man told Niles in his office.
Niles put his pad of paper on his desk and went and sat in the sofa chair apposing his patient. "I'm sorry, but I think we're done here."
"Please, just give me a moment to say what's on my mind."
"It's time for you to leave."
"After all that we've been through, don't I deserve just a few minutes of your time. Please."
"You do this every time. Do I need to call the police yet again?"
"I am sorry about last time. I should never have spoken to you that way."
"If you've got something to say, you had better say it and then be on your way."
"Don't push me away so easily."
"I have respect for you, but I have other people to see."
"I know, and I respect that. Give me just a moment… to gather my thoughts… I feel like I'm at the most important cross roads of my life here."
Niles looked at his watch. "You have three minutes, then you're going to have to go."
"I find myself thinking of you all of the time."
"We've established that so many times."
"I'd like to see more of you… okay, there. I said it."
"I appreciate that, but I just don't have the time."
"Let me take you out to dinner then. Just dinner. You pick the place. We can meet there if you would like."
"I cannot…" Niles back peddled.
"I have feelings for you."
"That's why you're here."
"I love you so much. And you're my best friend."
"You must have closer friends."
"No, I don't. I never will. Now and always, you will be my best friend."
"Let's discuss your drinking problem."
"I stopped drinking all together. I haven't missed a meeting. I've been dry for four months now."
Niles looked at his watch again. "You're time is up."
"My time is up? That's the fastest three minutes I've ever witnessed."
"Well, you're making me feel uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable? Do you think this is comfortable for me? Ah, this is bull crap!"
"I don't feel your conviction." Niles picked his pad up again and wrote something down. "This 'fertilizer' that you refer to is just the roll playing that will help you get your ex-wife back. You're getting better, but I need to feel your emotions."
"I know doc, but it just feels weird expressing myself to you."
"Mr. Prevbo, if you get down what you want to say well enough to say it to me, then you have a much better chance of staying focused when you speak with her no matter what her reaction is."
"Thanks doctor. Can we do this again? You know, before I go see her?"
"Absolutely. Same time next week?"
"Sure. And thank you, Doctor Crane." He extended his hand.
Niles shook it. "My pleasure. Have a great week."
When Mr. Prevbo left, Niles took a seat behind his desk and hit his intercom. "Ruth, any last minute appointments?"
"No, Doctor Crane. The rest of your day is free."
He readied his briefcase and headed out, getting his coat from the coat rack just inside his office. He would dress down before dinner. He didn't want the staff at McDonald's to recognize him so easily. They would always giggle when they saw him coming. Not for the way that he dressed, but for the way he had placed his first order there, asking them if they could remove the breading from the fish, hold the bun and fry it in garlic butter with a twist of lemon . He knows better now, but he still lets Daphne do the ordering.