In her stead

During the hours that Steve would be at I.E. headquarters, Maria couldn't do much to be of help. So, she would occupy herself by thinking out her plan for her charity or she would leave and return when it was time to go back home. Steve was well enough to be left at IE in the care of one of the many people who worked there, while she went to help Laila with some shopping or organizing, or do some light shopping of her own. This had been going on for a few days now and both of them were getting quite used to this change in their previous routine.

During one of her outings, Maria ran into Jake. Although she initially tried to turn around and pretend she hadn't seen him, a reaction that had become an instinct around Jake, even if her dislike for him had lessened a bit. The universe had a different plan for their accidental meet-up. No sooner had she turned around, or had Maria been spotted by Jake and he didn't hesitate to make that known. From a distance he asked, "Maria, is that you?", as he made his way over.

Having been called out like that and him fast approaching, Maria was forced to turn around and did so slowly as she mustered up a smile. "Ah Jake, funny running into you here." Jake however didn't have to muster up anything and was all smiles as he talked to Maria. "I know right. Small world. What brings you here?" Then, as if trying to sneak it in between the other questions would make it seem less obvious, he asked, "How is everyone? Did you come here alone or ...?"

Understanding what Jake was trying to ask, Maria relaxed a bit and let out a soft sigh before saying, "Laila isn't here. I am out on my own today." At first Jake was trying to hide his feeling of being caught and wanted to play it off as if he didn't know what Maria was talking about, but Maria couldn't be fooled so easily.

She placed a hand on Jake's shoulder and said, "I know waiting is hard, but you have to be patient." Seeing the soft look in Maria's eyes and seeing that there was no hope of denying things any further, he dropped his head a bit. Making him seem quite lonely and dejected. In her most kind and comforting voice Maria tried to cheer him up a bit while still remaining firm in how the situation was.

"Things are pretty hectic right now. With Steve having been out of the running for quite some time and Laila working on building up her business, this isn't the right time to add something else to the mix. I know that Laila asked Noah about it and I put in a good word for you as well, but right now Noah isn't open to having you in Laila's life in any capacity. Pushing it would make your case worse. So just wait a bit more."

Although Jake was disappointed, he knew that Maria was right. He just didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel, which made the waiting that much harder. If he knew that it would take a month or even a year, there would be an endpoint. But now he didn't know when or if Noah would agree to letting him have a friendship with Laila. How can you wait for something like that while not letting it get to you?

Seeing Jake look like a rejected puppy whose tail had been stepped on for the seventh time that day, Maria felt a bit guilty. In order to offer him at least some kind of olive branch and helping hand, she said, "I know I can't do much to help you and Laila be friends any faster, but I can offer to be somewhat of a friend in her stead. At least until Noah can accept you. I can give you updates every now and again. We can share a cup of thee or coffee when I go out on my own. And I can show you pictures so you can feel somewhat included."

Jake felt really touched by Maria's offer. He hadn't been the nicest to her in the years he has known her and Maria had also made it quite clear that she was fond of him either. So, to have her of all people be the one to help him out like this, to consider his feelings like this, gave him that gut-wrenching feeling of guilt for his past behaviour. He had felt it before when he thought back on how he had treated Laila, but that also stemmed from the feeling of having lost her to someone else. To feel it in a situation like this, was quite unexpected.

With slightly damp eyes Jake graciously accepted Maria's offer, before they parted ways as it was time for Maria to pick Steve up. During her walk back to the office Maria thanked her lucky stars that Steve wasn't as jealous as Noah. He would not have handled Laila comforting another man, and offering to be in contact with him, very well. But not being as jealous as Noah, didn't mean that Steve was void of it. Something that Maria would be finding out very shortly.