The first week of Jonas's absence was torture for Sierra, the bed seemed too big, just like the house, but the place reassured her. It was their home, a place without stigmas. A long line of families lived there before them. The previous owners only sold because their children had grown and left to pursue studies or careers.

Sierra felt safe.

From the second week, Sierra got active.

Saanvi persuaded her to join a woman's group. They talked about their issues, marriages, and exchanged recipes. The atmosphere somewhat reassured more than those of a hospital facility or an office. Jonas had appointments for joint therapy, focusing on critical points such as Sierra's adaptation to her life in Sweden, communication, and their loss. The sessions would start when Jonas returned.

"Hey there," Jonas said.

"Hey."

Facetime time had arrived.

"Wow, that tan."

Jonas had gone from lobster red to baked donut. With his bleached hair, he resembled a Californian surfer.

"Do you see that?"

"You lied to me, Jonas. You just wanted some time off to lay on the beach."

The man laughed, "no, look," Jonas showed the photos he had of the construction site and the first suites, "see, I'm working."

"Yeah, yeah."

"We'll be able to come here when we want. The prince says I'm VIP for life."

Sierra grinned, "Awww, Dubai, wait for me."

Everything seemed surreal, like a princess tale. Sierra never dreamt of marrying a wealthy man, a prince, or the stereotypical romance fiction man. She just wanted someone hardworking, and she had that with Vincent.

His ambition was enough as Sierra had a firm intention of bringing her piece to the table. Things were different with Jonas. Her part was now optional, just like anything else she decided to do. There was no financial pressure, and life became leisure.

Who would have thought it possible for the woman who wore hand-me-downs and who held down three part-time jobs to pay her tuition?

Sierra wasn't precious, she didn't ask Jonas for anything, and she didn't need to. The money she made was hers. And it was more than enough now that she had extra hours at work and didn't pay anything except her debts in Paris.

Some would say, as long as we live, and Sierra was willing to believe she lived a fairytale. It was not without sacrifice, but the good times gradually nibbled the rest.

"Jonas, did you get the photos?"

"Yes, they seem to have done a good job. I'll have a look when I get home."

They had put up a fence around the pond for Leone's safety. The boy tended to lean to look at the fish.

"You look exhausted."

Jonas slicked his hair back, "I'm beat; they start working at 5 am here because of the sun, soㅡ."

"I should let you sleep," Sierra felt guilty. Jonas never failed to call. They sometimes spoke up to three hours; the man never complained or cut short.

"No, I want to talk to you."

"Jonas, get some sleep. We can talk tomorrow, okay."

"Okay."

They hung up. Jonas adjusted his position and was about to close his eyes when his phone rang. He sat up and grabbed his phone, "Alstrom."

"Hej, Jonas, sorry to bother you, but I thought you'd like an update concerning Colette. The investigator I sent says Colette is still supposed to be in Prague. She didn't reserve or take a flight out. He went to the hotel where she stayed. Her phone and belongings are still there. So he checked with the police, but there's no missing person alert."

"She couldn't have vanished into fine air," Jonas replied.

"I know; he's still looking into it. I'll keep you posted."

"Okay, thanks, Dirk."

Jonas had no news from Colette and feared the worst. The woman always said if she disappeared in mysterious circumstances, she was dead. Also, he should not seek a culprit other than Bertrand.

"Dirk."

"Yes."

"Can you ask your guy to check the morgues?"

"Jonas, you don't thinkㅡ."

"I don't know what to think or what they're capable of doing since they pursued Sierra for kidnapping."

"Okay, I'll ask."

They hung up, and Jonas got swept away by sleep even though he wished to analyze the situation. He only had a day to go before going home.

He appreciated working with the Emiratis. The cost was never an issue. All they cared about was quality and aesthetic visuals. Jonas was able to install the most recent ecological products. He managed to wiggle himself out of a third week in Dubai but promised to come back to see the end of the works and the finished product.

He hoped to bring Sierra and Leone with him the next time. For the moment, the man imagined the surprise would total for Sierra, who didn't expect him back so soon.

Jonas could not wait to see her face. He loved appearing when she didn't expect it, just like when he went to Paris to ring their engagement. Jonas looked forward to seeing his wife and son.

Another day dawned with its actions to accomplish. Sierra had already prepared Leone's and her outfit. They had breakfast, got ready, and left for daycare. Sierra drove; she felt more confident on the roads now. At the same time, she always took the same routes.

"Hej, Fru Potmann."

There was a slight change in the daycare helper's attitudes. Where before, they took Leone without exchanging too much with her. Now they greeted her with a smile. Some even asked how she was.

Perhaps all they needed was warm-up time. Sierra understood the Swedish weren't cold. They just needed time to adapt as she did. She left and went to work.

"Hi, Sierra."

"Hi, Lydia."

Lydia, too, was someone Sierra had a hard time communicating with. Her stare always seemed to disapprove when her words reflected something else. Sierra understood Lydia didn't appreciate the proximity between Erik and her. She even suspected the secretary of nourishing unadmitted attraction to her boss.

The woman was pretty. She wasn't very tall; she barely stood five centimeters above Sierra. Jet-black hair, blue almond-shaped eyes, and gleaming skin Lydia was a mashup of Sophie Elise Bextor and Zara Larsson.

When Sierra brought Lydia up in conversations with Erik, the man would laugh and say, "she's my secretary; it's the worst ploy ever."

"As if trying to get with a married woman is better," Sierra would retort.

Erik finally admitted the idea did speed through his mind, but Lydia seemed too detached. Erik had seen her with three men, and they had nothing in common. Also, despite the years working together, he didn't know much about Lydia apart from being thirty and single. Thus he didn't know what her type of guy was and what she sought.

"Erik isn't in yet," Lydia said.

Sierra smiled, "I wasn't looking for him. I never do, Lydia. You know Erik is a good friend. You should try going to lunch with him sometime."

"He's my boss," Lydia replied dryly though her eyes gleamed as her mind whisked up the fantasy of having such a lunch.

"He's mine, and everyone else's boss too. He eats with everyone here except you, Lydia."

The woman blinked as she realized it was true. On days Sierra wasn't in, Erik gladly ate with anyone. He didn't seem to be attached to any hierarchy status. The person asked most of the time, or Erik would invite a random employee.

When lunchtime came, Lydia knocked on Erik's office door before he dashed out to ask Sierra, "eh, Erik. Em, would you like to have lunch with me?" The woman's face immediately turned to cherry-pop red.

Erik's eyes widened, but she quickly regained seriousness. He cleared his throat, "eh, yes. I'll see if Sierra wants to join us." Sierra didn't. Instead, she pretended to have an errand to run during her break, leaving the two.

Sierra noted the change in Lydia's behavior when they returned from lunch, and she assumed things went better than expected.

Rufus had an appointment at the vet that morning, and Sierra couldn't take him because of work. Jonas parent's offered to honor the visit for her; she accepted and left the dog at their place the night before. After work, Sierra picked up Leone and stopped by Jonas's parent's house to retrieve Rufus. While she rang the doorbell, Jonas boarded for Stockholm.

"Hej Sigrid."

Sigrid stepped aside to let Leone and her in.

"Leone, come and give grandpa a hug." The little boy ran, and the man scooped him up, making Leone bounce on his stomach. The boy wondered how his grandad managed to maintain his belly blown up like a balloon.

"How is he?" Sierra asked as they advanced to the living room.

"He's almost ten years old. It's long in dog years, but he's holding up. Arent you, Rufus?"

The dog barked and wagged his tail while Leone showered him with affectionate hugs. Rufus loved the child who always thought of him. It wasn't rare to see Leone trying to squeeze himself into the dog's basket. And the boy would probably sleep next to Rufus if his parents allowed it.

"Will you stay for dinner, Sierra?"

"Oh no, Sigrid, I don't want to bother."

Jonas's parents exchanged stares, Sierra was still a little shy around them, and they wished she would be more comfortable. They got the impression she felt she intruded when they actually enjoyed seeing her.

"Please stay, Sierra. I made a chocolate and peach pie for dessert."

"Alright, you got me," Sierra said, surrendering to the invitation.

Sierra was a sucker for Sigrid's homemade desserts.

Leone played with the other dogs while Sierra sat down with Jonas's dad. As usual, the older man was manna of poor jokes that made Sierra laugh.

"I don't know what you find funny, Sierra. His jokes are so flat."

"Unlike you, Sierra hasn't heard them before. Sigrid, my jokes aren't flat. You just don't have the adequate sense of humor."

The Potsmann began to bicker, making Sierra chuckle more and wonder if she and Jonas would be like them in their old age.

They soon sat down to eat. Sigrid's stare lingered on Sierra, who had not stopped going to the toilets since she arrived. The act was anodyne, but the frequency was high for the doctor.

"How do you feel, Sierra?" Sigrid asked when they sat down for dessert, and her husband left for the bathroom.

"I'm feeling better and trying to take things easy. I wasn't sure about moving, I mean, now we live a little far from you guys, but it was a good idea. The house is lovely, Rufus has space, and Leone can play outside. There's no noise or neighbors; it's peaceful."

Sigrid nodded, and her husband came back. Time passed, and before they knew it, it was ten.

"Wow, I didn't realize it was this late I better be leaving," Sierra got up and helped Leone put on his coat.

"Here, Sierra," Sigrid handed her the rest of the dessert in a Tupperware and another packet.

"What's this?"

"It's green tea; it helps calm stress."

Sigrid avoided saying it was also a natural remedy for a weak bladder. In other circumstances, she would have suggested Kegal exercises or acupuncture. It wasn't the moment, and if her analysis was correct, Sierra could not do the activities.

The old couple watched Sierra drive off.

"She looks better," Sigrid said.

"Yes, and she'll be even better in a few hours," Anders added.

Jonas' plane was due to land in two hours.

"He might be in for a surprise too."

"What do you mean, Sigrid?"

"Never mind."

"No, what do you mean? I've been married to you for most of my lifetime. Never mind, means please mind in your language," the man said as he closed the door behind them.

Time.

Seconds, minutes, hours, months, and years, he had waited. He counted the instant. Finally, the moment had come for the snake to greet an old friend.