Barriers

The rest of the day and evening were spent chatting and having fun. They had been scheming, planning and plotting enough for one day. So, they decided to leave the rest till the next day. Steve decided to stay for dinner and Maria didn't object, which was unanimously accepted as a 'yes' on her part.

As the evening went on, Maria and Steve slowly started talking more easily, which was of course more due to Maria changing than it was Steve changing. But when they started playing board games, that is when the conversations really started flowing. With the awkwardness and the barrier between them, made place for their inner competitiveness against Laila and Noah, no energy was spent on overthinking about what to say or not say. Even when playing against each other as they had rounds of girls vs boys, it seemed as if it had become easier for Maria to show more of her true self.

When it was close to ten o'clock Laila felt herself getting tired. Even though the evening was still young and they were having fun, Laila couldn't keep her eyes longer anymore. The more pregnant she got, the easier tired she felt. So, she excused herself after they finished up the round they were playing and let them know it was her last round for the evening.

In a disappointed and slightly worried tone Maria asked, "Oh no, so soon? Do you really have to go to bed already? You have nowhere to go tomorrow do you?" Laila shook her head. "I have nowhere to go but I am feeling really tired. This fella in here feels like his mommy has had enough excitement for a day and when he has spoken, I have no other choice but to listen. But you guys can stay and play another game or chat. No need for everyone to go up just because I have to."

However this idea was immediately rejected by at least one of the three still standing. In a determined tone Noah said, "I will join you.", and he left no room for discussion. The moment Laila tried to tell him that it really wasn't necessary for him to got to bed too, he let his eyes tell one story while his mouth told another. "I have work in the morning and I want to get there early. So, I should head to bed early. Otherwise I will only regret it in the morning." He got up from his chair and said, "Let's go.", as he placed his hand on Laila's lower back. As he warned Maria and Steve to not say anything with the look on his face, he said out loud for Laila to hear, "I'm sure these two can entertain themselves."

Maria looked away and felt her earlier uncomfortableness resurface slowly from the thought of being alone in a room with Steve at night with no one there to interrupt them, while Steve was amused and mimed him locking his lips and throwing away the key. But their silence did not reassure Laila enough and she asked, "But how can we both go to sleep with our guests sitting here alone? How will they find their rooms? What if they need anything?" Again Noah didn't let himself be talked out of going up to bed with his wife.

"Never mind that. They are both grown people and they have both been here plenty of times before. So, I have no reason to think that they won't be able to manage to find a guest room. If they do, we have staff walking around till at least midnight and they are on call through the intercom all night. That is why we have night staff to begin with. To have someone here for questions and assistance when we are asleep."

Laila shot one more glance towards Steve and Maria, feeling a sense of worry from leaving her friend alone in what could be an awkward situation for her considering where they had started the day. She didn't want to push her and potentially ruin all the progress she had booked today by turning such a pleasant evening into a forced and uncomfortable one. With a look of hesitation on her face Laila said, "Alright, but first I want to talk to Maria alone. I have something I need to tell her. After that we will decide what to do."

Noah put his hands in his trouser pockets and shrugged his shoulders. He leaned over and whispered in Laila's ear, "Suit yourself. As long as you know that I am not staying if you aren't. So, they can join us in going upstairs or they can sit here and see if they really have a connection or not." Laila shook her head and pushed Noah away as she got Maria to join her in the living room while the guys stayed in the dining room.

Once the door was closed, Laila asked with crossed arms and a serious look on her face, "Tell me honestly. Do you want to stay here with Steve alone or is that too much, too soon? If you aren't comfortable with this I will think up an excuse and have you go up with us." Maria was still a bit hesitant and in a way she didn't mind being alone with Steve, not anymore, but she couldn't help but feel as though being alone with him tonight would not help their situation. She would do or say something she would regret out of excitement or nervousness and then spend the rest of her stay avoiding him, which would prevent them from getting together instead of help the matter. As Laila talked to Maria, Steve and Noah had a talk of their own.