When the elevator doors closed, I stood in the hallway alone, smiling. It was a nice feeling. I didn't mean to kiss her. It just… happened. Who knew that a gift from Frasier of a telescope would lead to something like this?
I was just minding my own business, trying to get some shuteye in the middle of the day when I woke from a startling dream. A woman with a fur coat and bad breath was licking my face. I should have known when I walked into the living room that the dream was actually a nightmare. That Eddie… He was such a nuisance sometimes, but I couldn't help but love him. He was my best friend.
I knew something was up when Frasier and Daphne made a big show out of standing in front of the window and then dramatically showed me the telescope. I couldn't believe he was actually encouraging me to spy on someone! But when I saw that someone was looking back at us, that was it! Woah, it was great! I could see the whole city! However, I never expected to meet Irene. Boy, she was something. We talked for days. Imagine, meeting someone through a telescope! She was fascinating, but meeting her in person wasn't something that I planned. That was Frasier's doing. I put a halt to it after she called, because… well, why would she want an old person like me who can't walk without the use of a cane? I hid it the best I could, but Maris' Aunt Patrice blew my cover. What was she thinking, hugging me the way she did? In addition, right where Irene could see? And what was up with that G-Speak stuff? She sure sounded like she was having a stroke, even if Niles insisted that it was perfectly normal. Normal for a nutcase. But then again she is related to Maris, so that explains a lot.
Irene… It was strange seeing her at our front door after watching her in her apartment for days across the city. She looked better up close; pretty, even. I was nervous as I'd ever been, but once we got to the restaurant and the host brought us to our table, I was a little more relaxed. I found it easy to talk to her. We talked for a long time, long after we'd finished our meals and our desert. After a walk around Pike Place Market, I offered to walk her home, but she insisted on bringing me home. After all, she said, she was the one who asked me out. Isn't that like a woman, wanting to be bolder than the man?
We had so much in common, things we never wrote to each other on the large pieces of paper that we held up to the window. Boy that was fun, making a mess out of the living room. Daphne was a great help. Boy, she was really pushing this romance thing, but I don't think it really is a thing. I don't know what it is, but it's certainly unexpected.
Who knew that a woman who lived so far away that I couldn't see her without the use of a telescope would turn out to be so charming? We walked around Pike Place Market talking for so long that I didn't even notice that it had gotten so late. And frankly, I wasn't ready to leave. But it being our first date and all, I didn't want to push things.
I'd overstayed my welcome, but Irene never said a word; just walked me back to Frasier's where we stood in the hallway in front of the door talking. And then it happened. It was only supposed to be a kiss on her cheek, but somehow our lips touched and… I don't know… maybe I'm making too much of it. I probably am and I'm certainly not mentioning it to Niles, Frasier or Daphne. I'd never hear the end of it. They practically had us married as it was.
"I'll call you." were the last words I said to her, right before she got into the elevator. She smiled. Boy, she had a nice smile. And she dressed so nice. She wore that green sweater that I liked so much. I mentioned it to her in one of my notes. That was when I had the place to myself one afternoon. Talking to Irene through a telescope proved to be more entertaining than watching the Mariners game.
Frasier and Daphne were probably wondering what was taking me so long, but when I finally walked in the door, I was glad that I was alone. I went straight for the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. And then I made a beeline for my chair. I slumped into it and sighed.
Life was good. I was even looking foreword to my second date with Irene. She was nice and I liked her a lot. Okay, Frasier was right. I do care for her. And she seemed to like Frasier and Daphne as well. I suppose I should introduce her to Niles and maybe Roz. I don't want to blow this thing out of proportion in case something goes wrong. But I like her. I like her a lot.
"You'd like her too, Hester." I said to the empty living room.
Just then, the wind pushed against the window from the balcony, rattling it a little. It may sound crazy, but at that moment I felt Hester's presence, telling me that she liked Irene too. I felt Hester's presence, telling me that she liked Irene too.
I need to remember to thank Frasier and Daphne for the best gift they'd ever given to me. It means more than they'll ever know.
~Fin~