Chapter 5
On Friday, Niles locked up the store and hung the sign he made specifically for his Tuesday and Friday afternoons. While neither Frasier or Martin knew that Niles took time away on those days, his father's voice would echo in his mind about how it was bad for business to close the shop early so often. So Niles, in a bid to quiet the critical part of his inner parent, amended his opening hours so he wasn't technically closed: after 2pm Tuesday and Friday was appointment only.
He'd had no requests for those times so far, and he felt that this was a suitable enough compromise.
One of the obstacles to delivering Daphne's order himself was how to transport it to her. Something that was easily resolved when Niles found a basket that was large enough to carry the entire order in one go (six small bouquets; one for each table) but was still easy to carry on the walk to Daphne's.
Niles had to admit he poured a lot of time into the flowers he provided Daphne. While he was somewhat constrained with the type of flower she wanted, there were multiple other ways he could make each order unique. This set of flowers were paired off by color - two in yellows, two in blues, and two in pinks, with grevillea and lemon leaf foliage to complete the look.
Niles realized that even though Daphne paid him for her orders, between his custom tea order and the afternoons spent in her café, Niles easily spent the same amount back on her store in return. An unintended outcome, but one that secretly pleased him.
Turning down the next alley, the now familiar sight of Daphne's store greeted him. Instead of heading through the front, Niles instead headed down the side and entered through the back door to avoid disturbing patrons. They had both quickly learned their busiest times were different - Niles' store in the mornings, while Daphne's was busy in the afternoons.
Niles walked through the kitchen to a bench at the base of a set of stairs, which led up to Daphne's apartment. Apart from the first time they met, neither of them had been in the others home, their visits usually contained within their respective shops. Daphne wasn't in the kitchen - most likely dealing with a customer out the front. Niles glanced around, inhaling the aroma of tea and baked goods. A notebook was open on the bench next to where he placed the basket down. A quick glance saw several ideas Daphne had jotted down for tea blends, as well as a phone number for a supplier.
A brief flurry of sound caught Niles' attention, and he turned towards the door that lead out to the dining room. Daphne entered, and the sound died down as the door swung close again. "Hey, Niles!" She smiled, pleased to see him.
"Hello, Daphne." Niles smiled in response, equally happy to see her. His stomach did the same little somersault it always did whenever he saw her. At first it was a confusing feeling, but now Niles looked forward to the brief giddiness.
Daphne walked over and inspected the flowers. "They're lovely, as always. I'll put them out shortly; don't want them wilting in the kitchen."
"Have you been busy?" It was a question he asked every time he arrived; started as an awkward ice breaker, but now it was playful banter.
"As a bee, Niles," was her now familiar reply. "Did you want your usual?"
He nodded. "What tea is on the menu today?"
"Depends - are you feeling adventurous?"
Niles headed out into the dining room. He spied a table in the corner free, noting that the tearoom was about half full as he sat down. Not a bad day for her. Daphne followed shortly, carrying a tray with a small teapot, teacup, scones, jam and cream.
She started setting up the table, speaking as she did so. "Thanks for agreeing to try this blend. I think it tastes good, but is missing a little something. It's a Ceylon tea with ginger and peach. I'll be back to see what you think."
She left, checking on the patrons at one of the other tables, before disappearing back into the kitchen. Niles took the teapot - just large enough for one cup, and lifted the lid, smelling the steam that wafted out. The ginger scent was delightful, and he let it steep for a couple of minutes, preparing his scones as he waited. They were warm, and would have been freshly made that morning. Niles pulled them apart, and meticulously spooned jam and clotted cream on each half in equal portions.
He poured out the tea, and sipped it. The ginger and peach flavors complemented each other nicely, but Daphne was right - it was missing something. Niles mulled it over for a bit as he ate, watching as Daphne moved through the store with ease - replacing the current flowers with the ones he just brought, serving customers, sharing a laugh, smiling - just existing.
This is heaven. Niles felt content and at peace; a feeling he hadn't felt for months, maybe years.
Daphne came and sat down at the table with Niles about half an hour later, during a lull in business. She had brought her notepad and more tea, pouring herself and Niles another cup. "So, what do you think?"
"It's lovely. The warmth from the ginger pairs nicely with the sweetness and floral notes that the peach adds. But you're right about needing a little something else. Something that adds a smoothness that ties the flavors together, without detracting from either."
Daphne sipped her tea, contemplating what Niles said. "You sound almost like a professional. I don't think I would've been able to say it like that, and I put the blend together."
"Well, I'm a bit of a wine connoisseur. I used to be in a club where we would taste and discuss different wines. Very fascinating hobby. I guess old habits die hard."
"Used to? Why did you stop going?"
Niles gave a noncommittal shrug. He didn't want to sour their time together by recounting how his divorce had permeated through and tainted every aspect of his life. How he would go to wine club, or the opera, and inevitably someone would approach him to sympathize over the circumstances of his marriage dissolution, but in the same breath talk about the soiree Maris and her new beau threw. How Maris and her affair partner made such a handsome couple. How they were so well suited for each other. Listening to the hushed tones in the corners of the room that were always just loud enough to hear, feeling like someone disgraced, someone to be pitied.
"Maybe vanilla?" Niles suggested, sipping his own cup contemplatively.
Daphne thought about his suggestion for a moment, before standing and disappearing to the kitchen. She returned shortly, with a small bottle of vanilla extract. She added a couple of drops to her cup, mixed it briefly with a spoon, then took another sip. Smiling, she nodded.
"That does the trick nicely. Thanks, Niles. I knew you'd have an answer." She added a few drops to Niles' cup, and watched as he sipped it and hummed appreciatively. The vanilla added a pleasing smoothness after the initial heat of the ginger, and complemented the peach flavor perfectly. Daphne wrote down a couple of notes, tapping her pen idly for a moment as she spoke quietly to herself. "Of course, I'll add a small amount of actual vanilla bean to the blend - the extract was a quick solution to test the flavor profile..."
Niles smiled. Watching her work was enjoyable. She loved what she did, and it showed. Her face was full of happy concentration as she experimenting with a little more vanilla, taking a few more notes as she sipped her tea...
The bell above the door rang, and Daphne looked up to see who had entered, before glancing at the clock. "Oh, that'll be my 3 o'clock." She stood, closing her notepad and tucking it under her arm as she grabbed the tray with the empty teapots and cups. "Did you want anything else before I get settled with them?"
"Maybe one more cup of tea. What's the appointment for?"
Daphne grinned. "Tarot reading."
Niles hadn't had the opportunity to see Daphne work in this capacity yet. She'd hinted to him a couple of times that she would like to do either a tarot or tea leaf reading for Niles, but he hadn't taken her up on that offer yet.
Daphne had already previously elaborated during one of their Monday morning visits, that while she had some enhanced intuition and the occasional vision, her psychic powers worked best through divination. Niles had listened, nodding along, but not quite sure if he bought into the idea that she was psychic. It didn't detract from his feelings for her, (feelings which Niles wasn't sure were just a crush, simple infatuation, or something deeper still) but Niles never knew what to say when Daphne started talking about the paranormal. It just wasn't something he believed in, and he was torn between lying to humor her, or telling the truth and risking alienating their relationship when it was something he valued so dearly. So far Niles had been able to avoid voicing any actual opinion, but he knew that wouldn't last.
Daphne dropped off his new cup of tea, and then went and sat down at a table on the other side of the store with her client. She had brought them tea as well, and held a couple different decks of what Niles assumed were tarot cards. The earlier patrons had left, so apart from himself, Daphne, and the woman here to have her fortune told, the store was empty.
Niles watched discreetly, as Daphne seemed to explain things with the young woman, before placing the three different decks on the table in front of the woman, who pointed to one of the decks. Daphne removed the others, while the woman picked up the remaining deck. She seemed to focus intently for a moment, before shuffling, and being returned to Daphne, who laid out several cards from the deck onto the table.
Niles wished he could see and hear what was going on better. For all he didn't believe in divination and psychic ability, Daphne seemed to be doing something that resonated with the woman. She turned the cards over one by one, talking at length as she did so. The woman's face during the process seemed to go from curious, to surprised, then amazed; seemingly enraptured with whatever Daphne was saying. The woman nodded along, becoming more and more excited as they went.
The entire reading took a little over 30 minutes. Once it was done, the woman seemed quite emotional, shaking Daphne's hand and even hugging her briefly, talking animatedly, before she left. Daphne gathered up her cards, and rejoined Niles at his table.
"So," she looked at him expectantly. "What did you think?"
Well. How do I answer that?
"She seemed impressed." Niles knew that answer was a cop out.
"It was a strong reading. A lot of the cards rang true and resonated with her." Daphne seemed proud. "It also helped that there was quite a lot of positivity in the fortune - some people are less impressed when it's bad news."
Niles picked up the deck in front of Daphne, and pulled a card off the top, looking at it. "Four of pentacles," he looked up at Daphne, expecting her to elaborate.
Instead, she shrugged. "It can mean several things, but none of it will apply to you right now. This deck has been used."
"You can only use them once?"
"In a way. You have to cleanse them after each use, so they're free of the energy and question the previous person put into it."
"Oh." Niles didn't want to ask more than that. Unsure what a cleansing involved; he worried it involved something to do with crystals and lunar phases. Something which Niles didn't know he could remain tactful about.
Daphne took the cards from him, tucking them into a box. "I also only do one reading a day. Sometimes two, but usually one, in the mornings. So if you want me to do one for you, it'll have to be another day."
"Any reason for the once a day rule?"
"Practicality wise, it takes time, and I'm the only person here. And it's best to do it uninterrupted. That's why I mainly do them in the mornings - before 10am this place is pretty quiet. Spiritually wise, each reading is somewhat taxing, so I don't want to spread myself too thin." She smirked at Niles as she said the second part, as if she knew he didn't believe in all this.
"I wish I could have heard what you were saying. The woman seemed fascinated."
Daphne shook her head. "If possible, it's best done in private. For tarot, at least. Reading tea leaves is different."
"How so?"
She leaned back, raising an eyebrow. "Are you really interested? I would think, as you were a psychiatrist, this kind of thing would be..." She seemed to search for the word a moment. "I wouldn't expect you to believe in psychic ability. You don't need to humor me, Niles."
This was the moment he was dreading - where he would have to commit to a stance. Niles thought for a moment. "I guess... well, I mean..." He swallowed. "I don't believe in it, no. But it's important to you, Daphne. So, I want to at least understand it."
Daphne smiled at his response, softening. "Thank you, Niles. I'm not surprised you don't believe in any of this - not many people do, so I'm used to that, but they're usually so dismissive about it all. That you want to understand divination, despite not believing in it... That means a lot to me."
Niles felt relief. He didn't realize how much he was expecting flat out rejection for not going along with every little thing she said and believed, despite Daphne giving no indication she would do that. Past hurts are hard to escape.
They sat in a comfortable silence together for a moment. Niles looked at her, and thought back to his conversation with Frasier a couple of weeks ago. It had been 11 months since his divorce with Maris was finalized, and they had been separated for another year before that. And the nervous fluttering, the general feeling of happiness he felt around Daphne, he hadn't felt around anyone else. He took a breath, steeling his nerves.
I can do this. Just ask her to dinner.
"Um... Daphne, woul-"
"Oh, it's almost four." She spoke over him, not noticing that Niles had started speaking as she looked at the clock on the wall just behind him. "Sorry Niles, I've got to start closing up before I get ready for a date tonight."
Niles stopped what he was about to ask, not quite registering what Daphne had said. "Date?"
"Oh, yes." She looked a bit sheepish. "With Joe. You know - he does your deliveries?"
"Yes." The reality started to sink in, and it hurt. "How long have you..."
"Just a week or so. We had a good time together when we got drinks a few weeks back, and got to know each other a little more after Joe started doing deliveries for me. He asked me out not long after that." Daphne had been clearing their table as she spoke, and started heading towards the kitchen. Niles followed. "We've only been on a couple of dates so far, but it seems to be going well. Honestly, I wasn't sure about it at first, but it's been about six months since Clive and I broke up. I might as well get back into the dating game, you know?"
"I do. I... was recently thinking the same thing..." With you, he thought sadly.
"Really? Well, I hope you find someone wonderful. You deserve someone who sees how great you are, Niles."
Niles smiled sadly, although he was doing his best to hide it. "So do you, Daphne. Don't settle for anything less."
Arriving back at his store, Niles placed the basket on the counter, which now held a plate of leftover scones, along with some jam and cream. Daphne had insisted he take them for free, despite his protests - and who was he to say no to her? Thinking about what Daphne had told him earlier, Niles wondered if he should have been bolder. Apparently Joe didn't have any problem with asking someone out immediately after meeting them. Niles though... He was so thrown by the feelings Daphne created within him, that he missed his chance.
Maybe it won't work out. Who knows. He didn't want to wish unhappiness for Daphne. And if she finds happiness with Joe...
No. He didn't want to think about that. He needed to think about something else. Anything else. Niles found himself picking up the phone and dialing a familiar number.
It only rang a few times before a familiar voice answered. "Dad? It's Niles. No, nothing's wrong, I just- are you and Frasier free tonight? I thought I'd come over for dinner. Great, I'll see you then." He glanced down at the scones in his basket. "I'll bring dessert."