"Jacob, do you think mom is in heaven?"

"Yes."

"Do you think she sees us?"

"Yes."

"Do you think she loves me?"

"Yes," answered Jacob, who read his five-year-old little sister a bedtime story.

Sierra.

Jacob loved her from the moment his father placed her in his arms. She was unique and their mother's gift to their family.

"Jacob, always watch over her."

"I will, dad."

Jacob vowed to protect Sierra.

What was he doing now?

Had he succeeded?

Time sure flew, and here she was, ready to marry. The man didn't know if he fulfilled his duty. Jacob spent his life worrying about her. There wasn't one minute where Sierra didn't fill his thoughts until his arrival.

Jonas came and spoke his intentions. His honesty reassured Jacob, who could detach himself from the lifelong task for the first time.

Never had one of Sierra's boyfriends appeased his mind as Jonas did, yet he wasn't Sierra's lover.

Vincent was a good man, but his being was scattered. He was ambitious, the type of man who planned everything and who hated improvisation.

Jonas was all about the unexpected, yet his poised manners made even the most stressful situation seem like nothing. Everyone saw his qualities. 

How could Sierra ignore them?

From their first encounter, Jacob trusted Jonas. He could not explain why. They just connected; he even found himself waiting to see Jonas in his confessional booth. When Jonas did come, Jacob feigned to lecture the man.

During the months Jonas was there, his sister didn't need him. Where most would be jealous, Jacob was glad.

Now Sierra chose the man with whom she wished to be. Jacob had no say. Still, he thought the situation was biased. He secretly found himself rooting for the outsider who was more the inside man than anyone was willing to admit.

Even if all the odds were against Jonas, something told Jacob it wasn't over yet. When Sierra told him the engagement was off, Jacob's first idea was to call Jonas, but he backed out of it. Scheming was not a righteous deed. Even if it was for a good cause, it was not his role to intervene.

The wedding was up and running and even scheduled for between the end of July and early August.

Sierra wanted to have good weather, especially since she would replay everything in England.

The ceremony in France would be small with only seventy-five guests, mostly friends.

Some would say it was a micro wedding. Vincent's family wished for something big; Sierra preferred a discreet party.

Jacob found himself wondering if his sister feared the expenses. Her wedding wasn't the first where he officiated. Jacob was well aware of the price ranges.

"Sierra."

"Yes, Jacob," she answered without turning away from the shelves she dusted with diligence. Jonas's imprint was strong. The woman continued to maintain his cleaning standards as if they were his legacy.

"Can we sit down for a minute?"

"Just a sec," Sierra replaced the elements and came to sit on the sofa.

"Eh, I know presents are supposed to come after the wedding, but I have something for you."

"Oh, Jacob, you needn't."

"It's not from me, at least not all of it. It's from dad."

Sierra frowned, and Jacob pursued with the explanations, "dad put money aside for your wedding."

"Jacob, you can't be serious.

The man took out an envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to her, "dad hoped his investment would hit the fifteen thousand mark by the time you were getting married, but you know how Share fluctuations go. He lost quite a lot of money in 2008."

Sierra's eyes widened in front of the check's amount, "but there more than fifteen thousand on this."

"I added to dad's contribution." the man said with a weak smile."

"Jacob," Sierra's mouth made aww motions as she tried to sink in the information and the immensity of the gift.

"I told you, Sierra, I'm you're brother. All I want is your happiness."

"But this is too much," Sierra said, almost shoving the bank statement in her brother's hands.

Jacob pushed her hand back, "I know how expensive wedding dresses are. If dad were here, you'd have a princess wedding. I don't want the Patels to think we're freeloading."

"Jacob," Sierra's face etched with sadness at these words her brother never used.

"I have a little pride, too," Jacob said with a slight corner smile.

"I don't need all this."

"Use it, Sierra, for the wedding or even your mortgage. It's yours."

Sierra, like Jacob, spent all her childhood and teen years wearing second-hand clothes and eating the hardest of discount foods. For a young girl living in a modern world where friends got vacations in exotic locations, computers, or phones, it wasn't easy. Her dad worked hard; how come they never saw where his money went. He neither drank nor gambled, but they lived like the poorest citizens of Dijon. When others got gifts, all Sierra got was a cake and promises.

When Sierra did eventually get something, it was always after the trend wagon left the station.

The first real presents she ever got were from Cecile.

Sierra never said something, but Jacob always knew she suffered from their financial precarity. Unlike his sister, he was aware of how Mr. Lennox prepared for a future where he would not be there to aid them.

The lifestyle that made people embrace the hard-working ant's life had the contrary effect on Sierra, who spent regardless as an adult.

Sierra made money, but for once, Jacob wanted her to have something from her family, neither borrowed nor a loan.

"It's yours, Sierra. Dad wanted you to have it. I want you to have it."

Sierra nodded and leaned to hug him, "I love you, Jacob."

"I love you too, Sierra."

Tears, for once, the salty droplets were those of joy.

Jacob broke away, as it appeared to be the right moment to confess his secret, "Sierra."

"What?"

"I've been talking to Jonas."

The woman blinked, "pardon."

"I called him with Leone."

"Why Jacob?"

"Jonas is his father. I think it's essential for them to stay in touch."

Sierra gulped the lump in her throat before speaking, "good, dr. Hertz said the same thing about that."

"Then why don't you do it?"

Sierra sighed and slicked her hair back, "Jacob, it's good if you're doing it already."

"Jonas says he might be able to free himself for Leone's birthday."

At that instant, Sierra was about to dial 15 [French emergency number].

Her heart thumped so loud, and her eyes darted in the living room, searching for loudspeakers as she was sure its beat reverberated in the entire room.

"He-he-he said what?" The woman stammered.

"Leone's birthday is on the 25th of June, right. Jonas might be here."

Sierra's mind bolted. Her wedding was in two months. Could she be married before?

She needed to be married.

Why did she need to be married?

Why did it have to be before Leone's birthday?

Ridiculous, she could never prepare a wedding in the time frame left.

Jacob's doubts dissipated the instant Sierra turned to face him.

Her face shone with a mask of sweat as though she fried Ntaba [grilled goat in Lingala], Makemba[fried plantain in lingala], Tilapia, and Mikaté [dumplings] all day long.

"Sierra, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, why shouldn't I? Eh, hmm, did Jonas give an exact date?" Sierra said with a loose string smile that rippled.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, like, will he be here on the 25th or a little before? I need to know."

"Call him."

Sierra shook her head in panic, "no, I can't."

"Why?"

"Jacob, I can't you talk to him."

Jacob cocked an inquisitive brow, "you're still angry, aren't you?"

"Yes, yes, Jacob. I am. Have you got a problem with that?"

"Your anger is overdue, and you know it, Sierra."

"Jacob, I have a wedding to prepare."

"Speaking of which, when are you guys free for your premarital counseling?"

If Sierra wanted to play that game, Jacob was ready for the match point.

"Our what?"

"Sierra, come on, you didn't really think you walked up to the altar and said I do without any preparation. Being in love is one thing. Marriage is a whole other multiverse, Sierra."

"I need to speak to Vincent."

"Good. Do it quickly, since all of you are in a rush. I'll need to see you two at least four times between now and the end of July."

"We're not in a rush," Sierra said while wishing to wed the next day.

"Excuse me, we're mid-May, and you're getting married in less than three months. You've only been engaged what? Two weeks. That's Las Vegas to me," Jacob stopped. He had promised himself to refrain from the outbursts. The exercise was more challenging than he thought.

"But four consultations Jacob, that's a lot. Vincent has the restaurants, and I work."

Jacob crossed his arms, "usually, I see couples during the whole year. People take this seriously. You will stand before God and men to attest Vincent is your husband. Vows are sacred. No sane person plays with that."

"I hear you, Jacob."

With all the goings-on, the woman almost forgot the fundamentals.

Sacred vows.

Saying I do.

It wasn't a fickle good morning that found itself forgotten and replaced by a good afternoon at midday.

The delay was short, and decisions needed to be thoroughly thought through, for it was not just her existence that weighed: Leone, Vincent, the Patels, and Jonas; everyone swayed with her.

Yes, Jonas weighed as he was alive, well, and Leone's father. He, too, was part of the equation.

Jacob brought him from backstage to the spotlight.

Now Sierra needed to figure out how much the man weighed on her balance.

Hi,

I hope you liked the chapter.

Jonas seems to be on his way.

Who is glad to hear that?

Sorry, guys, the next chapter will be on Saturday. I want to catch up on writing the following titles: 

New Growth, Blushed, Sexless, and I want to finish When You Heal, which only has about six chapters left before the end.

I'll be going back to work from the 19th. From then, I'll probably update three times a week, depending on my schedule.

Take care