A mistake that could end it all

Noah was now thoroughly shocked. Quite frankly, he was astounded. Did Laila really just ask if he would be okay if Jake became her friend?? What was she thinking??! Although he had thought of showing mercy to Olivia a few hours before, this mercy would never have reached as far as them become any type of friends. Yet here his wife wants Jake, someone who was not only someone they had considered an enemy but who was also her ex, to be granted that privilege? For what? For being a semi decent human being?

Despite his initial reaction being a strong 'no', stemming from not only his long-lasting strong dislike for Jake, but also the role he had played in Laila's life, Noah didn't want to dismiss Laila's request so easily. Even his employees got a chance to explain the reason behind something they had asked for, this was his wife and partner in life. If she asked something like this, full well knowing how he felt about Jake, there must be a reason. There must be a thought process behind it. So, with as much open-mindedness as he could muster up, he forced himself to let Laila elaborate. Although he couldn't help feeling sceptical and annoyed at the very thought of Jake becoming his wife's friend.

Noah's calm and kind expression had made way for a less than amused one. With a clenched jaw and visible irritation, he asked, "I see. And what would this friendship look like in your eyes?" As he was saying this, he placed the final items, which he had been clenching in his hands, in the suitcases in front of him and closed them up while he waited for an answer.

Laila was taken aback a bit by this question, as she hadn't really expected Noah to entertain her suggestion so calmly. She could of course tell that he wasn't very amused by it all and that if he would end up agreeing to her friendship with Jake, he would be doing so reluctantly, BUT he had not dismissed it off the bat! This meant that there was actually a chance of her succeeding on convincing him during her first try. Laila stammered a bit initially, with the 'eh' and 'ehm's that everyone is familiar with, before she began to answer Noah's question.

"Well, uhm, I haven't really thought everything out yet, but I guess I would like for the friendship to resemble what I have with Maria. One where we talk to each other, help each other out. After some time, he could maybe come over for dinner at our house and when he finds a nice girl, maybe he can bring her over too. Their kids could come and play with our kids. Things like that. But at the beginning I would think it would be mostly us talking, sending each other messages on the phone. Maybe meet up for a coffee or lunch from time to time. See how that goes and take it from there."

While Laila was telling Noah her vision of how things would progress and turn out, he was patiently waiting for her to finish, so he could open up her eyes to how things could also go.

"That is one way how things could go. But let me paint you a picture of how things could also turn out. You will send messages back and forth, his feelings for you will grow again and this time even stronger as it won't be some puppy love, but a guy getting the chance to get back with the one who got away. Messaging will turn into calling and calling will turn into meeting up. To him this starts to look like the early stages of a relationship and his imagination shows him how things could be if you two get back together. Since he has been there before, he doesn't need a lot of it."

Laila was trying to protest, tell Noah that it wasn't like that. That she had talked to him. Explained things to him. But Noah wanted to open Laila's eyes and see things from his perspective. Something he was not done with yet and wasn't willing to stop with halfway either. So, he went on despite Laila sounding upset.

"You will begin sharing things of our lives with him, and he will use that information to create problems in order to drive a wedge between us. Problems turn into arguments and arguments then turn into fights. He will of course make sure that every little everyday argument is turned into day long fights. After some time, he will start telling you that you are better off without me and that I am not the man you think I am. The more we fight, the more distance we create between us and the more you will be willing to believe his words. He will offer you a shoulder to cry on and feed into your doubts and insecurities until you think they are true. Maybe we will survive the fights and his interference, but it will be a constant strain on our marriage, until one day you decide you can't do it anymore and leave. OR, he will take advantage of a vulnerable moment much earlier and break us apart much sooner. One drink too much, sitting a bit too close, it only takes one second to make a mistake that could end it all."