After a few weeks, Daphne had Frasier ask Niles to please start visiting again, but Niles didn't.
Maris started a long and drawn out divorce process, but Niles didn't seem to mind. It gave Daphne more time to see just how important her friendship was to him. Niles didn't want Daphne to feel the least bit guilty about the divorce, so he kept from visiting with Frasier and his father all together. His patients with the divorce, aggravated Maris, causing her to throw in the towel early and they were divorce after four long months.
Niles had found himself a cozy apartment in a glorious building called The Montana. It was just over three months since he had moved in that he had gotten a call from Frasier asking him to come over. When he graciously declined such a wonderful invitation, Frasier told him that it was Daphne who was asking for him to come over.
The heart can't do summersaults, can it? Because Niles' heart was doing just that. It had been nearly seven months since Niles had seen her. That was, he did see her from time to time in passing, but just moments frozen in his heart were all they were.
Dinner, tonight. He had just agreed to it and he was so excited about it, he truly didn't remember responding to Frasier. The call had ended too soon because Niles wanted to verify everything. It would act as the proverbial pinch that one asks to see if they are awake.
What time did Frasier say? He did say, "for dinner", didn't he? That did just happen, right? That was what Frasier said. He was just on the phone with Frasier, wasn't he? He had to get ahold of himself. What to do. He would dress down this evening. He wouldn't show up in his regular suit and tie. He would go in a casual outfit that would make the bold statement that he was there to dine as a family member… as a friend. No cologne. A pull over shirt and slacks.
Not even Seattle has a hundred percent chance of rain, but that's exactly what a life without Daphne seemed to be. And now he was going to dine with the family. He could NOT stare at her. He had to act casual. ACT. How good was he at acting, because this was going to be one of his best performances? It had to be. Wow, he hadn't been this nervous in years.
Over half of a year and it felt like an eternity. The best that he could hope for was to start from scratch, like it was the very first day he had met her.
"Daphne," Frasier said, "This is my brother Niles."
Niles was stunned. "You're Daphne?"
"Why, yes I am."
It was music to his ears and it was etched in his memory. Starting all over again would be just fine. If everything was status quo, he would be able to start visiting again. To be back in her world would be… just glorious.
He took a shower, deciding what he would wear while doing so. After his shower, he second guessed the outfit and took another shower to contemplate a different one.
Somehow, he managed to get ready and drive himself over to Elliot Bay Towers. The elevator ride was five times longer and five times higher than it ever seemed before.
He seemed a bit dizzy when he stepped out in front of Frasier's apartment door. He knocked… and waited.