Daphne raced about fluffing pillows and rearranging things. She looked very harried, she dropped a thing or two. but she mananged to catch them before they broke on the floor. This was providing much amusement and entertainment to who was watching. Daphned turned to face the people who had entered the door and were now watching her.
"Dr Crane! Dr Crane! and Mr Crane.I didn't hear you coming in." Daphne said.
"You seem to flitting around faster than a hummingbird. What seems to be the matter?" Frasier asked as Niles took his coat off. Martin hobbled over to his chair and sat down.
"It this about this cousin of yours?" Martin asked.
"Cousin?" Frasier asked.
"I have a cousin stateside." Daphne said.
"I never knew you had any family over here." Niles said, imagining that she looked every bit as good as Daphne. Maybe not. How could he think that?
"I certainly do." Daphne said. "Her name is Catherine. She is coming over to visit. We havent seen each other since we were wee ones. Her family lived in England for a bit but they moved over here." Daphne said sighing. "I have no idea what to expect."
"Do you know what time to expect this Catherine?" Frasier asked.
There was a knock at the door.
"That should be her now. I told her to come over as she as she got here, if possible. I'm so nervous. I'm sure I got goosebumps all over me body." Daphne said running toward the door.
"I'd be honored if I could check for you." Niles offered. He looked at Frasier and Martin. They were giving him a look. He decided to be quiet.
"Oh you." Daphne said playfully. She opened the door. "Catherine?"
"Daphne?" The dark haired woman answered with a quite un-british like accent.
"It's so good to see you." Daphne said as Catherine came in the door.
"I know. I've missed you so much too." Catherine said as Daphne closed the door.
"Catherine this is...."
"Dr Frasier Crane." Catherine finished for her. "I heard you on the radio this morning. Very good advice to the woman with the eating disorder."
"Why thank you." Frasier said, always happy to hear compliments on his work.
"But you wre duped." Catherine said honestly.
"Why do you say that?" Frasier questioned.
"The woman on the radio said she had not eaten for days. But she sounded like she had a full kind of voice. I checked her phone. Don't ask me how. Anyway she was calling from a phone outside a Chickey-Lickey on Avenue C." Catherine said.
"Ah." Frasier asked. "This is my brother Niles and my father Martin Crane."
"I see where all the good looks in the family come from." Catherine said smiling.
"Ah, eh, thanks." Martin said unsure how to react.
"Catherine we would like you to stay for dinner if you could." Frasier said. "Daphnes bangers and mash are a delight to the nose and the mouth."
"Oh please. I just got back from a trip in London. If I see one more banger I may do away with myself. I'd rather have some of your lovely chicken piquet." Catherine said smiling at Daphne.
"Sure. I hope you still remember the recipe." Daphne said. "I'm not even sure I can tenderize the chicken right anymore. I'm all thumbs today."
"Maybe I can help Daphne..." Niles said while keeping an eye on his brother and father. "Put your hands where they should be."
"Thats ok, Niles." Catherine waved him off. "I'll do it."
The two went into the kitchen to make dinner. Martin and Frasier turned their attention to Niles.
"What?" He asked. "I'm becoming very useful in the kitchen. I just wanted to help out."
"I'm sure you did." Martin said turning the tv on.
After dinner
Catherine and Daphne insisted on washing dishes, although there was protest from the men of the house.
Catherine dried dishes while Daphne washed them.
"I think Frasier likes you." Daphne said while passing Catherine a dish.
"It's not Frasier I'm thinking of right now." Catherine said putting the dry dish away.
"What do you mean?" Daphne asked.
"Niles. He acts a different way when you are around." Catherine leaned in as if to reveal a secret. "To tell you the truth I think he is madly in love with you."
Daphne stood back.
"What gives you that idea?" Daphne asked.
