When the cabin finally came into view, Niles slowed the car onto the gravel driveway. A mixture of nervousness, guilt and anticipation came over him as they unpacked the car. Their luggage in hand, he led her to the door, but hesitated at the entrance. He hoped that his awkward smile didn't reveal how nervous he'd suddenly become. But if Daphne had noticed, she didn't make any mention of it. And in fact she stood beside him, wearing a smile (a very beautiful smile) that suggested that she was just as nervous. Or was she feeling guilty as well?
No. He refused to give into the unwanted feelings. They would only serve to make things worse and that would never do.
As he watched her peer into the window, she reminded him of a child at Christmas, peering into a department store window in the hopes of spotting the perfect toy. It was a sight that made him smile yet again.
His hand trembled as he inserted his key into the lock and turned the knob. And then he heard the familiar sound of metal as it clicked out of place. He expected the act of pushing the metal door open to take some effort, but he'd barely done so when it floated open, almost like magic.
One glance into the cabin brought back a thousand memories of the times he'd spent here. The large living room with its wooden walls and warm, plush furnishings, accented by lodge pole pine and cherry accent pieces were just as they had been on his last visit. He wished that he could spend every moment of his free time here, but he was only too happy to be spending this time (however rare) with Daphne.
The silence was broken as they stood at the doorstep of the place where they would spend the next few days.
"Here we are." He announced.
Slowly she turned to look at him. "Dr. Crane…"
He stopped adjusting his luggage and smiled at her.
"I-I don't-."
He waited for her to continue, but she remained silent, as though she'd changed her mind about speaking.
"You were going to say something?"
She swallowed hard. "I don't know if I've told you thank you, Dr. Crane. Thank you for bringing me here. I know that you intended on coming alone and the invitation was so unexpected. I just… thank you."
Her words sparked something inside of him. Perhaps it was the sincerity of them, or maybe it was the faint sheen of tears in her eyes. "You're welcome Daphne. It will be nice to spend some time with a friend."
She was looking at him as though he'd paid her the highest compliment imaginable. But surely she knew how much she and her friendship meant to him. Then again, she couldn't possibly know.
He walked into the cabin and dropped the luggage onto the hardwood floor with a soft, final defiant thud. As they had when he'd first opened the door, memories surrounded him; memories of his visits to the cabin with his father, Frasier and his mom.
"Dr. Crane?"
It was only when he felt her hand on his back that he realized that he'd been deep in thought.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, I was just-."
Her eyes swept the downstairs interior "It really is beautiful, isn't it? I remember when I was last here. I…" Her voice trailed away. "Well, anyway. It's beautiful."
He took her words as a compliment and smiled. "Thank you, Daphne." Before she could protest, he picked up her bag. "Come on, I'll show you to your room."
He led her upstairs. Down the hallway there were two doors, each one leading to a bedroom. Both doors were closed; the one that led to the master bedroom and the one that led to the guest bedroom. As he moved past the first door he intended to stop in front of it. But he kept on walking and then paused at the second door. With a gentle turn of the knob, he thrust it open, smiling at the familiarity.
It wasn't as elaborate as his master bedroom at the Montana but it was impressive in its own right. It was even bigger than Frasier's bedroom and the picturesque view from the large window somehow made Frasier's Seattle skyline view seem pale in comparison. He could see the familiar snow-capped mountain, framed by the autumn-hued trees.
It was a sight that no matter how many times he'd seen it, always filled him with awe, but it was Daphne's reaction that made him smile. The room suited her, with its rustic feel that was just right for a cabin in the mountains. He hoped that she would feel comfortable in his bedroom.
As she gazed out of the window, he was pleased with his decision, even if it was a spur of the moment one. She looked as though she was deep in thought, most likely thinking about Donny.
"I'll leave you to unpack."
She turned to him and smiled. "Thank you."
He closed the door and walked into the hallway and then carried his luggage into the guest room. It was a vast contrast from his own bedroom. It was much smaller in size and the furnishings, while nice, were not as elaborate as the log furniture that filled the master bedroom. Even the muted colors seemed to make the room seem somewhat dreary in comparison. He dropped his luggage onto the floor and went to the window, gazing out at the mountainside. It was as though the mountain had decided to show its best side to those who occupied the master bedroom and its rather dull side to those in the guest room. The ridiculous thought made him laugh.
But as soon as he walked downstairs, his smile faded and the guilt that he was trying to ignore threatened once again. He forced it away and descended the stairs to the living room. The plush chair that sat opposite the fireplace beckoned to him and he sunk into it. But as he sat down, he felt something in his pocket. The ring. He shoved his hand into his pocket and removed it and then held it in his fingers, letting the light shine upon it. Absently he twirled it around and around as though doing so would somehow give him the courage to do what he wanted to do for so long; to say the words he so badly needed to say.
His gaze did not move from the band of gold. The engraved words… the four letters… L-O-V-E were etched in his mind.
An image followed; an image of himself and Daphne.
She was smiling at him, telling him that she loved him. He took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss.
I love you too, Daphne…
And when he opened his eyes, he realized that it was not Daphne's hand pressed against his lips, but the small gold ring. The ring which held the promise of a lifetime with another woman; a woman who was not Daphne.