"Don't worry, we'll be home soon." She reassured him.
As if he needed reassurance from an angel. He trusted her with his whole being. And he prayed that Frasier wouldn't be home to suggest that her playing along with the notion that a flour sack could be a substitute for a child constituted a visit to one of his psychiatrist colleagues. Daphne could be a little strange at times but it was one of the things that Niles loved most about her.
As they headed for the Elliott Bay Towers, Niles wanted so much to have a friendly conversation. But instead he found himself at a loss for words. He needn't have worried about the lack of conversation, however, because before he knew it, they were pulling into the parking garage.
"Here we are, home at last." Daphne said cheerfully.
"I really appreciate this, Daphne, more than you could possibly know." Niles said, in all sincerity.
"Well, I was happy to do it." she replied, giving him a sweet smile that made his heart flutter.
He began to unbuckle his seat belt but Daphne scrambled out of the car and ran to the passenger side where she opened the door to help Niles with his seatbelt. And then with the utmost of care, she reached for the sack of flour. "I'll take him while you get out of the car." She said quietly, as though trying not to disturb the bundle in Niles' arms. "I promised I won't let anything happen to him." She added.
And he felt a strange sensation at the words, as though they were a sign of what was to come.
When Niles was out of the car, she smiled and handed him the flour sack. "Here you are."
Once more he felt compelled to express his gratitude. "Daphne I can't thank you enough for this, really. I wish there was something that I could do."
"Nonsense, Dr. Crane. It's no trouble at all. You're my friend and it's the least I can do after I…. well, after Eddie destroyed the last flour sack. But I'm the one who was so cruel about it. I'm so sorry."
"Please don't apologize, Daphne. It wasn't your fault, or even Eddie's that the flour sack was destroyed. It was mine, for leaving him… um… it in a place where it shouldn't have been. Your kindness and generosity has absolutely overwhelmed me."
She smiled and he could have sworn that she was blushing, as though embarrassed by his sentiment. But he couldn't have been more honest. "Well… thank you, Dr.
Crane." She said, a tinge of guilt in her eyes. "That makes me feel a bit better."
"I'm glad. Because I meant every word."
His comment was rewarded with a hug so gentle that it almost brought tears to his eyes, the way she was taking such care not to crush the flour sack in his arms and he knew that he would never think of a grocery store item in the same way.