Over the edge

In her usual high-pitched cheerful voice Olivia said, "Oh Noah, how fortunate to see you. I was just about to leave as I figured you two must be having dinner soon and I wasn't invited by your wife to join you guys so, I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Not all people like being welcoming and hospitable. I can only decide what happens in my house, where I will now go to have dinner by myself. But I am glad that I was able to see you before I head on home and go to the empty house across the street that is waiting for my return. At least the meal will keep me warm I suppose."

With each sentence reeking of self-pity, Olivia would turn to look at Laila to see if she was ready to extend the invite she was so desperately waiting for. So far Olivia had used this tactic for three days in a row with success. Chances are that she would be successful this time as well as too much was at stake. Aside from potentially pushing Olivia to do something that would harm themselves, there was also the big risk of Olivia's guilting.

The guilting was something that would usually follow a rejection and from past experience, Noah knew that her guilting was was much more to bear than having her over for dinner. Though he knew that, the desire to say no was very great. But he wasn't the one that would suffer the consequences. So, it wasn't his place to say anything until Laila herself said so.

With this in mind, Noah had reluctantly started his ingenuine invite. "I guess that if you want, you could also-" But before he could finish his sentence, the sentence that had caused Olivia to turn around with anticipation and glee, Laila interrupted him. She was done with her constantly coming over and staying for dinner, wanting to stay for the night. Enough was enough. The fact that she had been so close in avoiding this situation altogether had made her even more annoyed. Seeing Noah look so unwilling and tired, had been the thing to push her over the edge and do what she was about to do.

"I'm sorry Olivia. I would have loved to invite you for dinner today as well to make it a quartet but since I am leaving for a few days tomorrow and we are having a guest next week, I think it is important for me to have at least one evening alone with my husband." Olivia wanted to protest. But she couldn't get further than a single, sad, "But-". Laila was standing firm on her decision. With her arms crossed and a look that told Olivia there was no changing her mind, she continued to speak with an unwavering voice.

"I promise you will be the first person I will invite when I get back but I'm afraid today you will have to do without the two of us. But you being the catch that you are, I am certain that you will be able to get yourself a dinner date with the snap of a finger if you wanted to. So, there is no need at all for you to have dinner at home alone. If you don't feel like going on a date, I am sure that you are more than welcome to join your parents for dinner. They live next door don't they?"

By now Noah had moved from one side of the door to the other in order to stand by his brave wife and support her. With a look that looked as pleased as could be, he stood next to Laila and had his arm over her shoulders as she gave a stern look at Olivia.

Olivia was clearly shook by Laila's words. She did not expect to be rejected much less in such a way that left no room for her to argue. So all she was left with, was acting offended. "Well, no need to say it like that. I never asked to be invited. I only stated some truths in front of my two friends. You act like I asked to move in with you. Is it so wrong for me to not want to eat alone? I guess I overestimated how good of a friend you are if a few days of my company can make you behave in such a way."

Though Laila felt her patience running thin by Olivia's words, she knew she had to bear things for a little while longer. So, instead of coming back at her, she put on the role of the apologetic 'friend'. "Oh don't say that. The only reason I can be so frank is because we are such good friends. I knew that you, a person so close to both of us, would forgive us for not inviting you for dinner for one evening for the sake of our relationship. You are after all our biggest supporter are you not? I too would rather eat with you by my side than without you. But I am not alone and being someone's wife, I need to sometimes act according to the part, which unfortunately means that I sometimes have to be the lesser friend."

This seemed to have done the trick as now Olivia was officially left without any words to say. There was no way to respond to that without making herself look bad, unless her response was one of acceptance. So, as gracefully as she could muster, Olivia agreed with Laila and made her promise once more to invite her as soon as she was back at the house.