Post by melinda on Nov 17, 2013 16:43:06 GMT -6
Daphne Douglas was going about her day, folding laundry and other mundane housework, but today was no ordinary day. Her husband of almost a year, Donny, had called her to say that he would have a surprise for her that day, and that she should stay home. She had to admit to be taken by surprise; Donny was not the most affectionate of husbands. In the beginning he'd given her small tokens of affection, but nothing too grand. It didn't matter, in the long run. Growing up in Manchester the youngest of a large family, she really wasn't used to surprises, not really. According to Simon the biggest surprise to happen to the Moon family was Daphne herself. She sighed, thinking of her brother. It was a bit disheartening growing up believing that she was an accident. But after confiding that secret to her best friend Niles, he'd promptly reassured her that there were no accidents. It was only after he'd left their coffee meeting that she remembered that Frasier was the Freudian, not him. Still, it was so sweet of him to try to reassure her.
She looked at the clock. Noon. Still a whole day ahead of her, a whole household of chores awaiting her, Daphne didn't really care about any of that at the moment. Her favorite soap opera was on, so she made herself a cup of tea and started to veg out in front of the television.
“Oh, Dack, you're so dreamy. I had never dreamed of ever finding you again. And then when you found out that I'd given away your child all those years ago...” The show's heroine, Marilee, sighed as she looked deeply into her lover's eyes.
“Oh, but how could I ever hate you? You were but a child of nineteen when you gave away our son. Even though I've been remarried over and over again, I knew-always- that it was you who had my heart. Always have, always will.”
As the fictional couple fell into a passionate embrace, Daphne smiled and sighed to herself. Yes, Donny thought these shows were corny and below her, but she didn't care. A little romantic daydreaming in the afternoon never hurt anyone.
Soon the couple were starting to disrobe, and she sat up in the chair, looking forward to the love scene that was promised. Of course, being a soap opera, the actually lovemaking might not be revealed onscreen until the next month, but still, Daphne found herself being drawn in to the characters' fondness for each other.
Suddenly the doorbell rang, causing her to nearly spill her tea.
“Oh, bloody hell,” Daphne muttered to herself. “Who could it ….”
Then she remembered. Donny had promised her a surprise. What could it be, she giggled as her imagination ran as she made her way to the door. Flowers? Candy? Even better...jewelry?
She smiled broadly as she opened the door to receive her caller.
“Daphne Douglas?” The man returned her smile.
“Yes, that's me.”
“I have something for you.” He presented her with an envelope, wished her a good day, then walked away.
An envelope? What could possibly be in that...maybe vacation plans. That was it. Donny must have remembered her lifelong dream to visit Hawaii, and had taken the liberty to surprise her. Unable to wait any longer, she tore open the envelope then pulled out the papers.
As she read through them, her heart sank and her eyes filled with tears. This was not what she had expected at all. Instead of a grand romantic gesture, Donny had just broken her heart. Those papers were not vacation plans; instead they were the initiation of divorce papers.
She tearfully read through them again to make sure this was real, that it was not his sick idea of a joke. Not that it would have been; Donny being a divorce lawyer did not like to joke around these matters. But there in front of her in black-and-white was the undeniable proof that her biggest fear had come true- her husband no longer loved her. Had he ever, really?
She tried to call Roz, but according to Frasier she had taken a lunch date with her newest suitor and would not be back for half an hour. Frasier asked if he could help, but she couldn't reveal this to her employer, not now anyhow.
Then an idea came to her mind. True, the other Dr. Crane was technically also her employer, but he'd grown to mean so much more to her than that over the years. He was the kindest, sweetest, most attentive friend she'd ever had, and she knew that he would do anything for her, if only offer a hug and support.
Yes. She knew what she had do to. Daphne grabbed her car keys, locked the door behind her, and made her way to her best friend's office.
TBC
She looked at the clock. Noon. Still a whole day ahead of her, a whole household of chores awaiting her, Daphne didn't really care about any of that at the moment. Her favorite soap opera was on, so she made herself a cup of tea and started to veg out in front of the television.
“Oh, Dack, you're so dreamy. I had never dreamed of ever finding you again. And then when you found out that I'd given away your child all those years ago...” The show's heroine, Marilee, sighed as she looked deeply into her lover's eyes.
“Oh, but how could I ever hate you? You were but a child of nineteen when you gave away our son. Even though I've been remarried over and over again, I knew-always- that it was you who had my heart. Always have, always will.”
As the fictional couple fell into a passionate embrace, Daphne smiled and sighed to herself. Yes, Donny thought these shows were corny and below her, but she didn't care. A little romantic daydreaming in the afternoon never hurt anyone.
Soon the couple were starting to disrobe, and she sat up in the chair, looking forward to the love scene that was promised. Of course, being a soap opera, the actually lovemaking might not be revealed onscreen until the next month, but still, Daphne found herself being drawn in to the characters' fondness for each other.
Suddenly the doorbell rang, causing her to nearly spill her tea.
“Oh, bloody hell,” Daphne muttered to herself. “Who could it ….”
Then she remembered. Donny had promised her a surprise. What could it be, she giggled as her imagination ran as she made her way to the door. Flowers? Candy? Even better...jewelry?
She smiled broadly as she opened the door to receive her caller.
“Daphne Douglas?” The man returned her smile.
“Yes, that's me.”
“I have something for you.” He presented her with an envelope, wished her a good day, then walked away.
An envelope? What could possibly be in that...maybe vacation plans. That was it. Donny must have remembered her lifelong dream to visit Hawaii, and had taken the liberty to surprise her. Unable to wait any longer, she tore open the envelope then pulled out the papers.
As she read through them, her heart sank and her eyes filled with tears. This was not what she had expected at all. Instead of a grand romantic gesture, Donny had just broken her heart. Those papers were not vacation plans; instead they were the initiation of divorce papers.
She tearfully read through them again to make sure this was real, that it was not his sick idea of a joke. Not that it would have been; Donny being a divorce lawyer did not like to joke around these matters. But there in front of her in black-and-white was the undeniable proof that her biggest fear had come true- her husband no longer loved her. Had he ever, really?
She tried to call Roz, but according to Frasier she had taken a lunch date with her newest suitor and would not be back for half an hour. Frasier asked if he could help, but she couldn't reveal this to her employer, not now anyhow.
Then an idea came to her mind. True, the other Dr. Crane was technically also her employer, but he'd grown to mean so much more to her than that over the years. He was the kindest, sweetest, most attentive friend she'd ever had, and she knew that he would do anything for her, if only offer a hug and support.
Yes. She knew what she had do to. Daphne grabbed her car keys, locked the door behind her, and made her way to her best friend's office.
TBC
I hope that things get better for Daphne really soon in your awesom new Fraiser story that you are writing about Daphne Douglas. 
