Between Friends

Daphne lay curled up in one corner of Frasier couch sipping o a glass of wine and munching popcorn from the huge bowl in the centre of the coffee table while Roz continued with the story of her latest man. Her friend was reclined on Martin’s easy chair as they both enjoyed their man free evening. Frasier and Martin where in Boston from Freddie’s annual prise giving and they had been planning the evening for weeks.

“So” Roz continued between pieces of popcorn “then he comes up to me at the bar and says Did anyone ever tell that you have lovely eyes ?So I said No but I don’t imagine you’ve been paid that many compliments lately either and turned back to my drink”

Daphne nearly choked on her drink “Oh Roz” she said “you are awful , what did he do ?”

“Well of course I’m not expecting him to say anything but he turns round and just keeps talking , telling me about himself and his terrible day.”

“So what did you do ?”

“Well what could I do in the face of that kind of persistence I’m seeing him on Friday night”

Daphne laughed “You never cease to amaze me”

“Yeah , well anyhow I was wondering if you and Donny could baby-sit ?”

“Of course we can.”

“Great , so enough about my love life how are things with you ? Have you gotten over your little Christmas shock ?”

Daphne shifted a little looking into her glass “Yeah” she said “Of course I mean he’s with Mel now , he’s happy , you were right he must be over me now.”

Roz looked at her noting the very obvious level of doubt in her voice . “Daph ?” she questioningly

“Oh Roz , I don’t know what to think , when I first found out I panicked , you know I did , but lately ...... oh I’m sure it’s just pre wedding jitters ..... but lately I’ve been looking at Dr Crane in a whole different way.”

“Oh my god !” Roz said her jaw dropping “You’re falling for him !”

Daphne sat bolt upright looking at Roz in horror “I am not !” she said a little too loudly and quickly to be convincing.

“Don’t give me that”

“OK .... OK I don’t know I mean I can’t be . Roz I’m getting married ! Besides how could I possibly not felt that way for him for seven years and suddenly start now ? It must be jitters.”

“Well I hope you’re right , but if not you need to be deciding soon and do something about it , don’t make the mistake he made and hover around pining until it’s too late.”

*******************

Friday came around quickly and Roz was standing in front of her bed room mirror putting on make up when the phone rang she picked it up

“Hello “

“Hi Roz it’s Daphne” came the croaking voice from the other end

“My god Daph you sound awful” Roz replied

“I feel it I’m just calling to say I won’t be coming tonight but don’t worry Donny says he’ll come on his own so you don’t need to cancel your plans.”

“Ok , feel better” Roz said placing the phone back in the receiver and returning her attention to the mirror.

An hour later Donny was sitting in Roz’s lounge watching the television when she came storming in

“Roz what’s going on ?” he asked shocked

“I’ll tell you what’s going on I got stood up !!!”

“No !”

“Yes ! I can’t believe this little toad , I didn’t even want to see him in the first place.”

Donny went to the kitchen and retrieved another glass filling it with wine from the bottle he had opened and handing it to Roz.

“Well” he said “That looser doesn’t know what he’s missing”

“Yeah!” Roz answered slumping beside him on the couch

“He’s a waste of time”

“Yeah !”

“You’re better off without him !”

“Yeah”

They sat for a moment both staring into space “Well” Roz said eventually “I don’t want to keep you back I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to Daph , with her being sick and all.”

“Actually I’m just going home , she’s feeling terrible so she was going straight to bed.”

“Oh well in that case cheers” they clinked glasses and going back to staring.

After a while Donny laughed quietly

“What?” Roz asked

“I was just thinking , have you ever wondered what would have happened if we hadn’t split up ?”

She sat up and looked at him “Not in a long time , I’ll admit when you and Daph first got together I wondered but I know you’re happy together and I’m pleased for you.”

“Yeah she’s great , I mean she‘s going to make a great wife I‘m very lucky”

Roz looked at him getting a flash back to the tone of voice she had heard only nights before from Daphne “Do I sence a but coming ?” she asked

“I don’t know there’s just something missing , when I look at her sometimes i just can’t help thinking that she just not ...... Well not ....”

“Not what ?”

Donny shifted in his seat looking into his glass exactly mirroring Daphne’s movements from earlier that week “She’s not you” he said looking the other way

Roz stood up panicking “I think you should go” she said

“I’m sorry” Donny said standing up beside her “ I shouldn’t have said anything but I just don’t know what to do. Please tell me you feel it to.”

“I don’t .... I mean you’re marrying my best friend , I can’t believe you’re putting me in this position now just go would you !” Roz said standing pointing at the door.

“Ok I’ll go” he said moving closer to her “but first ...” he put his arms around her waist pulled Roz close kissing her then looking into her eyes “Tell me again you don’t want me to stay.”