Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor
[ For All The Times You Stood By Me ]
Daphne's friends filled the apartment. Susan had just experienced a tragic and emotional breakup with her boyfriend for three years and all of the ladies rallied at Niles and Daphne's for comfort and support. Some of the women brought wine, others brought ice cream by the volume and most of them brought tissue.
Jamie pointed to the crowd of girls with the wine glass in her hand. "Men are dogs." Everybody started to laugh, but she continued. "No they are. They're there for compassion and they're there for a little romance, but when it comes to being a true friend, they are nowhere to be found. Am I right? Well… am I right?"
"Daphne wouldn't know about that." One of the girl's voices sounded.
Grace turned to look at Daphne. "What is it like Daphne?" He words were soft.
"What?" the words left her lips like a soft wind.
"You seem to have the best relationship – married or unmarried. How do you two get along so well?"
The tears made their way down her cheeks and fell to her lap. She watched them fall as she held her wine glass, with both hands, which rested on her lap. Why was she crying so? It was a mixture of sorrow for Susan's broken heart and the joy she had in her relationship with Niles. It was almost something she couldn't put into words.
Samantha got up and sat down next to her. She hugged her. "It's okay, sweetie."
"It's just that I love him so much."
Samantha took a tissue and tried to dry her tears. "I know dear."
She found her hands shaking and she opened up. "He loves me so… He brings me flowers for no reason other than to tell me that he loves me. He opens doors for me even still. He always is concerned with me comfort. Always fluffing me pillow or going out of his way to make certain me slippers are at the side of the bed every night so that they're there for me in the morning."
The ladies had no reply. They just stared in disbelief.
"He'll listen to me no matter what time it is or how tired he is."
"Don't ever let that one go," one of them said.
"And I know it's selfish, but I miss him when he's not here… even when he's just at work."
"Oh dear, it's okay," Hellen, who was holding Rosalynda, said trying to comfort Daphne.
"Does he have a brother?" Stacee remarked.
Daphne half grinned, not taking her comment seriously. "I'm sorry. I have so many blessing in me life. And I know there's good men out there for you."
"Not for me doll," Helen said, lifting the hand that displayed her wedding band. "John is as close to a knight in shining armor as I get."
"You have something very special," Caroline remarked. "You and Niles are the exception to the rule."
Just then, the front door opened. Niles stepped in with a large box of Daphne's favorite Chinese food from her favorite restaurant. He stopped in his tracks, looking a lot like he had just stepped into a land mine field. It was just lunch for four. He placed the food on a side table.
Daphne put her wine down and ran into his arms. "Oh Niles!"
Still looking around the room into the many faces, he held her, asking, "Daphne, what's wrong?"
"Absolutely nothing's wrong. Everything is perfect."
"Well… what… what's going on?"
"Me friend Susan just broke up with her boyfriend."
"Ah." It was all clear to him now. "Well, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just brought lunch. I'll head back to the office."
"Please stay," they begged.
"I'm so sorry ladies, but I need to get back." He looked into Daphne's tearing eyes. "Are you certain you're alright."
She nodded as he stoked the tears off her cheek with the back of his knuckles.
He turned to Susan. "I'm sorry Susan. But men who don't value what they have are destined to repeat their failures."
Susan gave him a smile as she nodded to him.
He turned back to his wife and gave her a peck on the lips. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He waved to the ladies before he departed.
"Oh Daphne," Grace said. "He is just the sweetest thing."