Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor
[ Home Sweet Home… For Now ]
Daphne rolled over in the morning when she woke and lay her head upon Niles' shoulder.
He opened his eyes and smiled at the sight of her. He reached a hand up to caress her cheek as he closed his eyes again to rest a little more.
"I had a wonderful evening last night."
Niles smiled without opening his eyes. "So did I. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling on top of the world today."
"I'm glad. I was a little worried that we might get sick after being out in the rain."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
"Neither would I." He kissed the top of her head. "I loved every minute of it."
"What's that?" Daphne asked.
Niles lay still for a moment. "I don't hear anything."
"No, it smells like pastry?"
Niles took inhaled deeply. "French toast," he announced.
"I must be Frasa."
Niles grinned. Of course it was Frasier. Not unless a burglar broke inside to make them breakfast. They gathered their robes and headed down stairs.
There, Frasier had the children in their chairs, the table was set, and he was serving…
"French toast brioche'!" Niles announced.
"Frasa, you spoil us. I don't know how long you plan on staying with us…"
Niles finished her sentence, "…whatever it is, it's not long enough."
"Oh, it was nothing." He pulled out Daphne's chair for her and they sat to be catered to. "I've got walnut French toast brioche' served with hot syrup and Daphne… I have the berry preserves here for you. I know you would rather have that than syrup."
"Thank you Frasa." She said as she shot an impressive look to her husband.
"Let me just pop into the kitchen and get your scrambled eggs and fresh fruit." He headed for the kitchen. "I hope you don't mind me tending to the children. They woke up a bit earlier and I didn't want them to wake you."
"No, not at all." Niles responded. "Frasier, this is incredible."
He returned with the fruit and eggs which were scrambled with peppered potato cubes. He even served them with freshly squeezed orange juice before sitting to have breakfast with them.
They thanked him again.
"Oh I was happy to do it." He took his cloth napkin and lay it across his lap. He took a toast half and spread it with strawberry preserves. "So, how did things go last night?"
"Amazing," Daphne answered.
"Couldn't have been better." Niles added. "I hope the children weren't too much trouble."
"Are you kidding? We had a wonderful time, didn't we kids?"
David nodded twice with his eyes still fixed on his uncle. Rozalynda mocked him, but closed her eyes when she nodded. Their reactions brought a smile to Frasier's face.
"Well, we can't thank you enough," Daphne said.
"You're more than welcome."
"How about joining me for coffee at the café before I go to work?" Niles asked.
"I'm sorry Niles, I can't. I have an appointment at Elliot Bay Towers with the property manager this morning. I'm also going to get my job back as KACL and I'm meeting with a friend tonight, so I'll be home late."
"You have high-hopes for getting your old apartment back?" his little brother asked.
"Why yes, of course. Why not?"
[ Can You Go Home Again? ]
"Apartment 1901 is just not available at this time. I'm sorry Dr. Crane."
Frasier's jaw tightened. He couldn't picture himself anywhere other than his old apartment. He had envisioned it on the entire flight to Seattle and all the while there-after. He cleared his throat and leveled his stare across the large oak desk at the property manager. "I see. Well, what is the closest apartment that you have to that exact view from that exact angle, and at that exact level?"
"Let me see…" She thumbed through her spiral-binder. "It looks like the closest one… happens to be… 1024."
"1024," he repeated. He raised an eyebrow. "Half the elevation?"
"Yes-yes. I'm sorry, it looks like that would be the closest to what we have available right now."
"1024," he repeated again.
"Yes. Unfortunately, it is facing away from the city."
"I see." He nodded aggressively like he was doing his best to keep his composure.
"Would you be interested in seeing 1024?"
The little nerve in Frasier's forehead was popping out. He finally blurted out, "Sure! Why not."
They went up to the apartment and the manager unlocked the door for him.
When Frasier stepped inside, even with the apartment lacking in furniture, he still could tell that it was all wrong. Half way through the tour of the place, Frasier stopped the manager. I could not stand being so far off-set from his old apartment, yet even less, he couldn't stand even thinking about living somewhere else. "You know what? I'll just take it."
"You will?" The manager seemed quite surprised from his mannerism about the whole ordeal.
"Yes, of course."
"Great. I'll run your application right away."
"Alright. Oh, and I'll have my employer information for you this afternoon. Would I be able to move apartments as one with a better view comes available?"
"Yes sir."
"Wonderful. Do you mind if I stick around a bit? I want to try to visualize different concepts of my furniture arrangement."
"Of course not. Take all the time you need. Just lock the door behind you."
"Thank you.' Frasier closed the door after her, dismissing her as soon as possible.
He took a look at the apartment from this angle and that, but the thought of him not getting his old apartment was burrowing into him like a splinter making its way deeper into his finger. He left the apartment and headed for the 19th floor. He just had to find out who was living in his old apartment and figure out how they would be willing to trade apartments with him.
When he reached is old door, he went to knock, but stopped. What is a good way to do this? What is a promising approach that would make him seem conniving and desperate, just as he really was?
He stopped to listen to the door to find if he could hear anyone inside.
He was so startled when the elevator doors opened again, that Frasier bounded from the door like he had been electrocuted. "Wow!" He even called out.
"Frasier? Frasier Crane?" A voice called from behind him.
He turned. His face was flushed from being startled and he was so embarrassed, but he managed a smile. "Regan?"