Chapter 4

The rest of the afternoon went by barely noticed by Niles. He'd only spent a couple of fleeting hours with Daphne, and found himself already smitten. He couldn't work it out. Niles couldn't remember ever feeling quite this way about someone. Not even Maris ever made him feel so... so giddy.

He was still in the same chipper mood when his phone rang around 3pm.

"Niles, it's Frasier."

Ah. Right on schedule for the monthly lecture. "I'm not changing my mind about the store, Frasier."

He heard his brother sigh down the other end. "Do you miss psychiatry? At all?"

"At the moment? Not one bit."

"But all your work, your time spent building your reputation and standing-"

"Reputation and standing didn't matter one whit when Maris divorced me."

"That's different, Niles. You were an excellent psychiatrist."

"I'm still an excellent psychiatrist, Frasier." Niles sighed. "I may return one day. But for now, I'm content to take a step back. And Persephone; while it may not seem like a worthwhile venture for you, is exactly what I need. A fresh start away from those pressures."

There was a long pause, before Frasier spoke again. "All right, Niles. As long as you're happy. Now, are you free tonight?"

Having a spare ticket, Frasier invited Niles to the opera. It had been several months since Niles had gone out, and he would have turned Frasier down yet again, if not for the fact that he met Daphne. She had revitalized him in a way Niles still didn't understand.

"Thank you, Frasier. I think I will. Meet you at the theatre at 7:30?"

"Well, if you're sure- sorry? You would like to come?" Frasier was so used to his brother's refusals, the acceptance caught him off guard.

"Yes. It's been a while, and I'm in the mood for a night out."

"I'm so glad, Niles. I'll see you tonight."

Niles had missed the opera. He'd been avoiding the usual haunts of the crowd he used to associate with, not quite up to facing the disparaging glances and whispers behind his back while his wounded heart and pride were still healing. All anyone wanted to talk to about when he was around was Maris; eager for gossip and drama. And for Niles, that was the last thing he wanted to discuss or hear.

But tonight, despite the occasional simpering sympathy while scandalous stories susurrated through the room, it didn't seem to bother him quite as much.

Frasier was his usual self. Niles enjoyed his company, even if his brother grated against his personality a bit. They were too alike, too competitive, so they were often at odds. But Frasier meant well, and cared for his brother. And Niles appreciated the concern. Frasier and Martin were the only ones there for him during and after his divorce, when everyone else had abandoned him.

After the opera they went to dinner. Niles let Frasier do most of the talking, mostly about his radio show and it's popularity. He groused about Martin living with him - an arrangement that became necessary when it became apparent that the gunshot injury to Martin's hip made it harder for him to live alone. The most recent complaint was due to the fact they had to hire yet another person for Martin's physical therapy; they never seemed to hold onto anyone for more than a year or two. And Frasier touched on his love life, or lack thereof, before turning his attention to Niles.

"So Niles what about you? You've been divorced for nearly a year now. Have you re-entered the dating scene?"

"Not as yet. My store has been keeping me quite busy. Although..." He paused, unsure whether he should mention Daphne.

"Hmm?" Frasier picked up on the pause.

"Well, I did meet someone recently. She works in another store near mine, and I think we've hit it off. It's early, but there might be something there."

"Tell me about her."

Niles shook his head. "Not yet. I don't want to tempt fate."

"Tempt fate," Frasier scoffed. "You know as well as I do that fate isn't a real thing."

Niles frowned at his brother. He could be so pedantic at times. "You know full well that it's a common turn of phrase. Or are you going to criticise my use of idioms now?"

Frasier waved the argument away with his hand. "You could at least tell me something."

"Fine." Niles took a moment.

What could he tell Frasier? Her name? The color of her hair? How her hair falls around her face, cascading in brunette waves? Her smile? The way her nose scrunches slightly just before she laughs? How she makes the sun look a little dimmer, and the rainy days brighter? Her voice? Her accent? The way his name sounds on her lips? Those lips... How they were as red as the petals of the roses he sold, and that Niles longed to find out if they were just as soft?

"Her name is Daphne. She moved here from England a few months ago, and opened a tearoom not far from my shop." Niles carefully sipped from his wine, trying to quiet his swirling thoughts. "We've only met a couple of times, but she's lovely company."

That seemed to satisfy Frasier. "Well, I hope it works out, Niles. Maybe I should visit that tearoom... what was the name?"

"You will do no such thing." Niles was alarmed.

"I don't see why not. You know I happen to be quite the anglophile-"

"That would be awkward; my brother, stalking someone I just met-"

"It's hardly stalking if I am there for the business specifically-"

They continued to argue for several minutes, until Frasier begrudgingly agreed to wait before visiting Daphne's establishment.

Satisfied, the brothers called it a night and parted ways. Niles was glad. The evening, while nice, had been taxing. He had a great affection for his brother, but despite moving back to Seattle a few years ago, the two brothers were no closer. Niles had kept his visits with his father and brother short and infrequent, while married neither of them got along with Maris, and Maris usually viewed such social visits with disdain.

But despite all that, they had stuck by him through the messiness with Maris, and that had brought the three closer. They were still awkward in a way family shouldn't be, but it was an improvement. Family dinners had become more frequent during and for a while after his divorce, but since Niles had changed careers, he had withdrawn from their company again. He wanted to avoid the concerned looks and questions, the prodding around his life that he was subject to by Martin and Frasier whenever he visited. It cam from a place of love, he knew, but Niles didn't want the concern. He wanted to be left to himself.

As he went to sleep that night he wondered, as he had every night since he met her, what had come over him. He'd known her less than a week, and something within him had changed. Daphne had an effect on him that no one else had before. For the first time since his divorce - maybe even since before his divorce - Niles looked forward to the morning.

The next couple of weeks found Niles falling into a routine with Daphne. They'd developed a quick and easy friendship, different to any friendship Niles had in the past, and even though it had been less than a month since they had first met, a level of comfort and familiarity had been reached with Daphne that Niles couldn't recall having with any other person. The thing that stood out the most for Niles was that there was no expectation on his end as to what he could offer Daphne in return for her association, unlike those with his high society connections. Niles found himself evaluating the friendships and connections he had lost and, up until a month ago, been so devastated to lose and found that none of them were genuine. That realization stung and Niles found himself hurt and rejected anew over this.

Although the time spent with Daphne more than made up for that.

It was only a few days after the opera with Frasier that she graced his shop again, to purchase more flowers. Daphne decided that the previous floral arrangements were perfect, and after some discussion, they worked out a standing order twice a week would keep Daphne's store full of fresh flowers. Niles did insist she could get away with once a week, but she laughed, happy to replace the flowers in the store a little earlier and enjoy the last of the blooms of the previous in her modest apartment upstairs.

Niles had dutifully confirmed everything; as meticulous and fastidious in his work as a florist as with any other aspect of his life. They agreed that Niles had free rein over the colors, arrangement, and the quantity of each flower used, but the actual flowers would always be the same as Daphne's first order: alstroemeria, hydrangeas, camellias, peonies, and hoary stock.

Niles was surprised she didn't want to mix it up a bit, but Daphne was adamant that those five flowers were used each time. When pressed, Daphne said she had a good feeling about those particular flowers, winking and tapping the side of her head as she said this. Niles didn't question further, assuming that feeling had something to do with her self professed psychic powers.

Personally, Niles didn't believe in psychic ability or the supernatural himself, but didn't dare say anything to Daphne. His friendship with her was important, and the fear that any perceived slight or insult could end it terrified him. Besides, using the same flowers for each order made it a bit easier to put together. And with endless color combinations and the use of different foliage to bulk out the arrangement, they were never the same arrangements twice.

Instead of organizing for Joe to deliver Daphne's order along with the rest in the afternoons, Niles identified that a standing order would give Daphne less reason to frequent his shop. With that in mind, Niles decided to take the initiative to come to her.

So, on Tuesdays and Fridays, Niles closed at 2pm and made the short walk to deliver the flowers to Daphne himself. Mid afternoon seemed to be one of her busiest times, so after completing the delivery, Niles stayed for a couple of hours, ordering tea and scones. Daphne would talk or sit with him whenever it was slower, but between 2pm and 4pm Tuesdays and Fridays for Niles was a chance to relax and reflect, just content with being present in the same space as Daphne.

Niles also took a page out of Daphne's book and set up a standing order of his own for her tea. Daphne offered custom loose leaf tea blends which allowed customers to pair different teas and flavors together. Instead of picking his own flavors, Niles asked Daphne to surprise him with a different combination each week. On Monday mornings, Daphne dropped in to deliver his order, and they shared a cup together, conversing while Niles put together the flower arrangements for that day. It was a new ritual he cherished.

Their friendship developed, and their routine became more comfortable with each week. The frequency with which Niles now saw Daphne pleased him, and she seemed just as happy with their friendship as he was.

Things were wonderful. Things felt absolutely perfect. That is, until Niles learned that Daphne had started dating Joe.