Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor
[ Kitchen Aids ]
Niles came down stairs in one of his best suits. "Frasier, how do I look?"
"My, you're looking quite dapper."
"Thank you. What's that?"
"What? What's what?"
"That in your hand. Is that your little black book? You're keeping a few irons in the fire, aren't you? You old scallywag."
Frasier tucked the palm-sized address book back into his shirt pocket. "Well, if you must know, I'm contemplating a formal date on-the-cuff for the future."
"Wait, you're not looking for a date to take out now? You're looking for a date to ask at a moment's notice for the future?"
"Yes. Well… if you must know, I'm trying to decide who to take as a date to Roz's wedding."
"What? Roz and Richard are getting married?"
"Well… not quite yet."
"Frasier, you're scaring me. Should I be leaving my children in your hands tonight?"
"Oh, I'm not losing my mind you ninny. Roz is expecting."
Niles started talking slowly. "Expecting… what?"
"Expecting-expecting."
"Roz is pregnant?"
"Shhhhhh, keep your voice down. Where is Daphne?"
"She's up stairs getting ready. How come Roz hasn't mentioned this to me or Daphne?"
"Roz doesn't know yet."
Niles shook his head once as if he was trying to shake off the words Frasier had just said. "What?!"
"Well…"
"Frasier, if you say 'If you must know…' one more time, I'm going to scream."
"You'll just have to trust me on this. I know. She's having morning sickness. Roz is just in complete denial. All of the signs are there."
"Oh my, I have to let Daphne know."
Frasier turned to him. "You will do nothing of the sort. Do you know how much hot water I would be in with Roz if she found out I told you before she was able to?"
"Well, don't you think she would want Daphne to be there for her?"
"Yes, but I have to get a foot in the door to somehow get Roz her job back to give her the chance not to be in denial anymore."
"Frasier, I have to run a small errand. Is there anything I can bring you back from the planet Earth?"
Frasier shot him a look.
"What in the devil are you talking about?"
"I went to the station and found out that Roz has been out sick for a few weeks and they are looking to fire her when she returns."
"Oh my." Niles looked to the side as if the pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together. "What can we do?"
"Nothing to worry about Niles. I am going back to the station tomorrow and demand my job back. Once I have it, I'm going to use my clout to get Roz her job back."
"Wait a minute, she was the station manager. So, you plan to get hired back by the station manager of KACL, to then ask the station manager to step down so that Roz can take his or her position?"
"Well… when you put it that way… it sounds much more complicated than it is."
Daphne stopped at the top of the stairs. "How do I look?" She had left her hair down to flow gracefully over her shoulders and she was wearing an incredible full-length light blue dress. She spun around once.
"Oh my," Niles said, "You look ravishing."
"Quite stunning," Frasier added.
She descended the stairs, enjoying every moment of the full attention from her husband. "Now Frasa, remember their bedtime…"
"I know Daphne, their bedtime is eight o'clock. They can watch TV until then. And their dinners are already prepared and ready for them. You've both covered that quite well."
Niles turned to his brother. "Thank you for doing this."
"Well, thank you for having me as a house guest. Now you are sure we can do s'mores?"
"Absolutely," Daphne replied. "You mentioned oven s'mores."
"Yes, of course. No open flames."
"I can assure you our children are in good hands," Niles told his wife.
She smiled at them both. "I know that. Let me just pop into the kitchen and check on their meals." She headed that way.
Frasier motioned towards Daphne with a nod of his head.
Niles spoke softly, "No, I haven't told her yet. Tonight is very special for us and I'm going to keep it that way. I'll tell her tomorrow."
Frasier gave a nod of understanding.
Niles checked his watch. "Darling, we'd best be going."
Daphne returned from the kitchen. "All rightie."
"And where are my little ankle-biters?" Niles asked as they entered the room. He scooped up Lynda for a great big hug as Daphne kissed David good night.
"Now, don't you worry. They are in good hands." Frasier reassured them.
Niles and Daphne couldn't stop hugging and kissing their children. "Now you be good for Uncle Frasier," Niles told them.
"You betcha Daddy," David said.
"Ou Techa," Lynda repeated.
With that, Niles and Daphne slowly left with several waves and kisses blown.
Frasier closed the door behind them and turned to his nephew and niece. "All right good lady and good sir. Are we ready to have fun?"
"Ou Techa," Lynda said once more.
"Alright. I have a Disney movie to watch and we'll make some s'mores. And then you know what we'll do?"
David shook his head.
"We'll eat some more s'mores."
It made David laugh and David laughing, made Lyndie laugh. Frasier escorted them into the kitchen and set the oven to broil. He had Lyndie open the mini marshmallows and David open and break-apart the chocolate bars. He took out the cookie sheet and wrapped a sheet of aluminum foil over it. He took the gram crackers and broke them into squares and placed them on the cookie sheet and put a single layer of mini marshmallows on each gram cracker. "Alright," he said as he popped them into the oven. "In no time, the marshmallows will toast and then we put on the choc…" When he looked over, he found both kids eating some of the chocolate bars. "… we put some of the chocolate bars in our mouths, eh… before dinner?" He smiled at his niece and nephew with the chocolate marked mouths.