Between Friends part 5

When Roz entered the bridal salon Daphne was sitting on the row f chairs by the door looking at the floor.

“Hi Daph sorry I’m late” she said sitting beside her “So shall we get this show on the road ?”

When Daphne looked up Roz’s heart skipped a beat , she’d been crying

“What’s going on Roz ?” She asked looking directly at her

“What do you mean ?”

“Well I walked here today , it was such a nice afternoon I didn’t see the point in bringing out the car. I saw you Roz , both of you. And as for that story about Rick and why you were at his office on Saturday , I didn’t buy that at the time and now I definitely don’t , there’s something going on between you two isn’t there ?”

Roz felt like she’d been slapped “Oh god Daphne you’ve got to believe me , there’s nothing go on . I would never do that to you”

“You really expect me to believe you haven’t been lying to me?”

Roz sighed “No .... No I don’t , but there’s nothing between me and Donny . Oh Daphne I really am not the person you should be talking to about this , please speak to Donny , he was going back to the office.”

Just then the assistant appeared from the back of the office and asked them if they were ready to get started

“No” Daphne said “Well leave it for today if you don’t mind I’ll call tomorrow and reschedule” she gripped Roz’s arm dragging her outside “Ok now” she continued pointing across the street “you are going to come with me into that bar and you are going to tell me what’s going on or I swear Roz I’ll never speak to you again”

When they had seated themselves Roz looked at Daphne wishing the ground would open up and sallow her

“I’m waiting” Daphne said trying hard to fight back tears

She sighed trying to decide what to do “I told him I wouldn’t say anything until Saturday , Daphne I really think you should hear this from him.”

“Hear what ?Roz tell me what’s going on !”

“Daphne are you sure you want to hear this ?”

“If it involves Donny then yes”

Roz took a deep breath “OK , well last Friday you remember I told you I got stood up ?”

“Yes”

“Well when i got back to the apartment Donny didn’t go straight home”

“I know you told me”

“Well he .... he .....”

“He what ?”

“He made a pass at me”

“ What ?” Daphne asked as the Roz seen the colour drain from her face.

“He asked me if I’d ever wondered what it would have been like if we had never split up , I told him I knew you guys were happy together and I was happy for you so no I never thought about it. When I asked him to leave he kissed me”

“But why ?” Daphne asked “I don’t understand”

“I don’t know” Roz said , she knew she wasn’t being honest but if Daphne wanted any more details she’d have to ask Donny

“Why would he ask me to marry him if he still had feelings for you ?”

“I don’t know” Roz answered again “But I told him he had to tell you and I said if he hadn’t done by Saturday I’d do it. That’s why I was at his office on Saturday and as for today it was just a chance meeting I stopped for coffee on my way here and he was passing. I asked him why he hadn’t told you yet and he said because the time hadn’t been right , I told him he’d better find the right time and then I left him , that must have been what you seen.”

Roz looked at Daphne trying to gauge how she was taking the news. She stood up suddenly looking down on her, making her suddenly feel very small

“I don’t believe you’d do this !” Daphne said as she lifted her coat and bag “How could you lie about something like this , I mean I know Donny was yours first but things are over between you , he loves me and I trust him I don’t believe he would do that to me. I mean it’s not like he’s the only ex you have why not go after one of the others it’s not as if there isn’t enough to choose from. I thought you were my friend !”

Roz stood up reaching for Daphne’s hand but missing as she stormed out the door. She slumped back in the seat , she’d never have thought Daphne wouldn’t believe her. She’d known it would be hard and she’d even been prepared for Daph to think she’d lead him on in some way but to not believe her at all ! She had to see Donny , she had to be sure he would tell Daph the truth. She lifted her own belongings and hurried out , she hoped she’d make it to the office before Daphne.

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

The elevator doors chimed as they opened and Roz stepped out. She looked around , not sign of Daphne. She stepped up to the receptionist’s desk

“HI , can I see Mr Douglas please” she said

“I’ll see if he’s free” the receptionist answered lifting the phone on her desk “Go right on in” she said a moment later

Roz marched into the office just as Donny hung up the phone. She didn’t stand on ceremony

“Daphne knows” she said folding her arms and waiting for Donny’s response

“But how ?” he asked “You told me you wouldn’t say anything until Saturday”

“She seen us together today and with me having met her in the lobby on Saturday , she put two and two together and guessed something was going on. She confronted me when I met her today . I told her to speak to you but she insisted I tell her what was going on.”

As Roz and Donny’s discussion continued Daphne stepped out of the lift , unlike Roz she didn’t bother to tell the receptionist she was there she just headed straight for the office. She was still fuming , she couldn’t believe that Roz of all people would try to destroy what she had with Donny. No wonder she’d been so anxious for her to tell Niles she had feelings for him. As she approached the door of the office she heard familiar voices inside making her stop in her tracks.

“So what did she say ?” Donny continued inside

“She told me she didn’t think you would do that to her , that she trusted you and that she thought I was trying to break you up because I wanted you for myself.”

“So she didn’t believe you ?”

“No. You’ve got to tell her Donny , you can’t string her along.”

Daphne watched through the slightly ajar door as Donny moved closer to Roz placing his hand on her arm

“And do you want me for yourself ?” he asked pressing himself so close to Roz that Daphne felt her stomach lurch

“No!” Roz shouted so loudly that it made Daphne jump “How many times do i have to tell you. Daphne is my friend and regardless of what we may or may not have had a few years back I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot barge poll. Right now I hate you for making her hate me. Now she may never speak to me again but either way you’ve got to tell her the truth , please don’t hurt her.”

Daphne felt tears well in her eyes as she waited for Donny’s answer.

“Forget it !” he said moving away from Roz and round to the other side of the desk “Why should I tell her the truth. She obviously trusts me and if there’s no chance for us what’s the point in breaking things off.”

Daphne didn’t wait for any more she pushed the door open. Roz’s back was to her and the only clue she had that someone had joined them was the stunned look on Donny’s face. She spun round and came face to face with Daphne.

“Oh my God , Daphne how long have you been there ?” she asked

“Long enough” Daphne said removing her engagement ring setting it in the middle of the desk and looking at Donny with a look that Roz could see brimmed with the type of hatred you can only feel when it’s for someone you once loved “Go to hell” she said as she took Roz by the arm and they both left the room.

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

Only a matter of hours later Roz closed the door on Alice’s bedroom and headed down the hall to join Daphne in the sitting room. Pulling one of the sofa cushions on to the floor she curled up on it as Daphne handed her a glass of wine .

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you” she said also seating herself on the floor

“That’s ok , I’m just glad it’s over and he can’t hurt you anymore” Roz said “You have to know I would never knowingly hurt you Daph. When it happened on Friday night and I knew I couldn’t phone you I felt like there was no one I could talk to. I never want to loose you’re friendship , who else will listen to me going on , and on about all my stuff.”

“Men !” Daphne said a tear rolling down her check “I think I’ll give them up altogether”

Roz laughed “Well you know Daph there’s still a guy who’s crazy about you what ever show he might be putting up , all you have to do is call him and give him the word.”

“I think it’s too late.” Daphne said her eyes so filled with sadness that Roz thought her own heart might break.

“It’s never too late” she said reaching behind her for the phone “Call him , tell him what’s happened , tell him you know how he feels about you and admit not just to him but to yourself that you love him too.”

Daphne took the phone and began to dial as the phone rang she looked at Roz.

“Thank you” she said

“What for ?” Roz replied

“Being there and caring enough to tell me even when you don’t think I want to hear.”

“Hey that’s what Friends are for.”

Roz sat back and watched as Niles answered and Daphne began to talk. Somehow she knew in her heart that things were going to work out fine and this time , she would make sure she had a say in her bridesmaid dress!