"Oh Daphne..."
As quickly as possible, Niles reached into his pocket and handed her his handkerchief.
"Thank you, Dr. Crane." Daphne said, blotting the way the tears. Suddenly she looked at his expensive handkerchief and gasped when she noticed that it was smeared with makeup.
"Oh sod, now look what I've done! I'm sorry, Dr. Crane. I'll just put this in me handbag and wash it right away when I get home."
"No rush, Daphne. In fact, you can keep it."
"Dr. Crane, that's not necessary. I'll just pop this in the washing machine and it'll be as good as new. You can pick it up the next time you come over."
He smiled, wondering if all angels were as thoughtful as she. "All right, Daphne. Although I meant what I said. I have plenty more at home."
"That's very sweet of you. Perhaps after I wash it, I'll keep it in me room and you can come and get it whenever you're ready."
Niles suddenly found it hard to breathe. "I-In your room?"
"That's the safest place I know of. Nothing will happen to it in there. But no tellin' what will happen if I leave it sitting around. Eddie's bound to find it and believe me, once he gets a hold of it, you may never see it again."
Wanting to repay her for her kindness, no matter how small, Niles decided to take a bold step, albeit a small one.
"Daphne, can I buy you a drink?"
"Oh... Well, thank you Dr. Crane. That would be lovely."
He reached into his wallet and stood to make his way to the counter. "What can I get for you?"
"Some cinnamon tea sounds lovely." She replied, startling him with her answer.
How was it possible that she liked cinnamon, too? It had to be a sign.
With a smile on his face, he once more ignored Frasier's look of disapproval and removed some dollar bills from his wallet.
"What can I do for you, Dr. Crane?" The young barista asked.
He smiled at the young woman who had become more of a friend to him in recent months than someone who merely supplied he and his brother with coffee drinks.
"Hello Taylor. I would like another latte with the faintest hint of cinnamon and a large cup of cinnamon tea."
"Right away, Dr. Crane."
Within seconds Taylor was sitting the drinks on the counter.
Niles handed Taylor the money and smiled as she began to hand him back the change. And at the last second he pushed her hand away.
"Keep it."
He smiled at her astonished look. "I can't possibly keep this money. It's much too generous!"
"I insist." He said gently closing her fingers around the dollar bills.
"But-."
"I want you to have it."
Taylor blushed and flashed him a smile. "Thank you, Dr. Crane. That's very nice of you."
Satisfied at his good deed for the day, Niles picked up the drinks and stepped away from the counter, taking a step. But as he did so, the tip of his Italian leather shoe caught on a rug that lay on the floor, sending him flying foreword.
He felt as though he were watching a scene unfold in slow-motion. The lids on the piping hot drinks in his hands popped off. And just as he reached Daphne, Frasier and his father, the hot liquid went sailing through the air narrowly missing Frasier and Martin.
But instead landed on Daphne, soaking her beautiful dress with the contents.