Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor
[ The Talk ]
Daphne and Niles had tucked the kids in bed and they had just settled down to relax on the sofa. He sat forward and took her soft hands into his and looked into those warm brown eyes. "Daphne, there is something we need to talk about."
"Alright." She sat forward to join him. "What's on your mind Niles?"
"Well, you know how I've been able to come home early lately and meet you for lunch?"
"Yes," she said to coax him on.
"Well… the truth is… I haven't had the patient volume I normally cater to."
"We're just in a slump. We'll bounce back. You'll see."
"I've hoped for that, but this is more than a rut. I fear that it's time for a dramatic change."
"We're doing alright, aren't we?"
"Yes, but I want to do better than alright. In order to continuously pace the kids' college funds toward Yale and Harvard, I feel that we definitely need a change."
A more concerned look came over her. "What type of change?"
"I have entertained all venues and have broadened my options. I've been offered a handsome partnership in Phoenix, Arizona."
"Really?" Her voice sank.
"Now, I know it's not Seattle, but people from Seattle vacation there all the time. It doesn't rain nearly as much there."
"What about Martin and Frasier just moving back?"
"We'll come back to visit once we're settled in. And once I'm well established, we will be able to visit often."
Daphne looked down at their hands. For several moments, nothing was said. It seemed like an eternity. She looked up at him and smiled. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him tightly. "You know what's best and I trust you completely." She kissed him on the neck. "I think this calls for a celebration, don't you?"
Niles pulled away and smiled back at her. "I most definitely agree. You won't be sorry Daphne."
She could feel that all of his tension was gone; lifted like a heavy blanket over the both of them.
His lips met hers. "I'll find us a nice bottle of wine." He gave her another hug and then got up to head for the kitchen.
When he left the room, Daphne put her hand to her mouth. She just had to fight back the tears. She couldn't let her husband see her break down. Her shoulders started to shrug as she started to cry. She took a deep breath to calm herself, to stop the tears. She dried her cheeks with her shirt. "Hold it together Daphne," she told herself. Oh, they would finally be rid of all of this rain… She found herself holding in that last breath she took in. She couldn't even pretend to fool herself. She was going to miss the rain. She loved it. All of the green vegetation, the tall trees, the fresh air… not to mention the only place she lived in America.
She stood and went into the next room and out to their balcony. The cool breeze from the city washed over her like a refreshing stream of water. Seattle: the city where she met and fell madly in love with her husband. Oh God, how she was going to miss it.
The wind blew through her hair as her husband stepped out onto the terrace with two wine glasses. He handed her a glass and wrapped his arms around her as he stood behind her admiring the same view of the city that she was. "Are you sure you're alright with this?" he asked.
She lay her hand over his which was on her stomach. She turned her head to give him a kiss. "My home is in your arms Niles. It always has been."
He pressed his lips to hers.