"Jean you know he loves you. Is there any point in denying that you love him too? Maybe James could be the one to make you happy." Laura told Jean as they sat on the sofa in Jean's house having had their monthly dinner meet up.
"Who said that I love him?! Anyway I don't think it could ever work because even if I did love him, the odds are stacked against us."
"You may think that but I don't think they are. I've seen couples survive bigger odds and they're happy."
"Well I bet she wasn't his boss and with in the police force." Jean pointed out.
"Fair enough, do you have a sheet of paper and a pen?" Jean stares at her friend, the confusion clear across her face but still she got up to retrieve what Laura had asked for. When she'd got it she passed it to Laura who drew what looked like a table.
"What are you doing?!" Jean finally asked. "Making a table…"
"I can see that but why?"
"Well you can't see what I can so I thought we could make a list of pros and cons of you and James getting together."
"Fine, but we're starting with the cons."
"I can agree to that. Go on then…"
"I'm his boss, he's nearly half my age, I'm recently divorced, he wouldn't want me and I'd get hurt when he decided he wanted someone younger and prettier."
"You don't really believe that!"
"Don't I?"
"You know him, he couldn't do that to anyone and anyway he's madly in love with you. He would never do anything to hurt you."
"You don't know that, has he ever said that he felt anything for me?"
"No but neither have you but it's as clear as a cloudless sunny day." Jean was about to protest so Laura continued to speak. "Right so the first pro is you love each other, what else?"
"Is there anything else?"
"Course there is, it's a chance of happiness. It's what you both want, he supports you, he acts nearly double his age, he'd never be unfaithful. All he wants is you, he worship the ground that you walk on." They both looked down at the list which clearly showed more pros than cons. "Convinced yet?"
"Maybe a little."
"Well I'll leave you with the list and I'll get out of your hair. It's your call what you do but bear in mine what I've said."