Sierra woke up with a pounding head, a weightless stomach, and aching limbs.

She was late but could not put a turbo on her legs. She staggered to Leone's room; seeing the empty cradle, she went to the living room, where she found the boy fully dressed and ready to go.

"Morning Sierra, I thought I could drop off Leone for you. So you needn't rush."

The man spent his night listening to Sierra's shuffles to the toilet. Jonas wondered why she did not sleep in the cabinet to save herself some steps. Sierra was not in her best shape, and Jonas was surprised to see she could stand.

For once, Sierra had no will to protest, "okay."

"I can pick him up too," Jonas added.

The man did not mind seeming eager or ashamed of taking advantage of Sierra's weakened health.

"Okay."

Jonas found himself suddenly hesitating. The woman's responses disturbed him.

"Sierra, are you okay?"

"I'll get ready, thank you, Jonas."

Leone stared at her with a quizzical expression. Where were the kisses and warmth of Sierra's hugs? The heat of Sierra's bosom seemed like an eternity away.

The little boy attempted to stretch his hands out.

"Sorry, Leone, I can't hold you. I don't want you to be sick."

At this stage, the woman did not know if it was a simple tummy ache or the stomach flu.

"Perhaps you should stay at home. I mean, you aren't well at all."

Jonas, as usual, tried to be polite, while Sierra felt like poop.

"I can't. I can't miss work."

Sierra's obsession with her job was another thing that Jonas found challenging to bear.

The woman rarely unwinded. She let work consume her time. Jonas did not need to search further to understand why her relationship's ship sunk. Leone was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

"I'll let you get prepared. Let's go, Leone."

The baby's eyes remained on the woman who waved him goodbye. Leone closed and opened his hand to mimic the gesture.

Once they were out of her sight, Sierra hurried to the bathroom, showered. For the first time, she was glad to have Jonas's support.

The man was right. She was not in a state to work at all. Sierra dreamt of eating a comforting meal like the ones her dad used to make. She recalled the tasty stews her father would cook when she was ill.

Here she had no one, and she did not see herself calling Jacob. Suddenly the woman felt cloaked by a sense of shame and guilt. She always found herself relying on the men around her.

Jonas only had one part of the equation right by thinking she did not want his help.

The woman wanted to prove she could do anything with minimal assistance. She already hated that Jacob had to cook for Leone, but it was a matter of life or death in that particular case.

Sierra wished for Leone to be healthy, and her food was anything but comestible.

As always, Sierra harbored a radiant smile at work. A combination of Mac, Fenty, and Estee Lauder held up the facade, which wilted from the inside.

The word promotion had an adrenaline effect that got the woman hyped. But the day was a tough one for Sierra, who was given a wallet of professional customers prospecting for utility vehicles. The products were not something Sierra felt comfortable selling. The car's lavish interior and imagine yourself on vacation in the south of France argumentation held no ground.

It was worse when over the phone, Sierra still attempted to show she was the man for the job even if she wore Jimmy Choo pumps.

The day remained a catastrophe where customers hesitated and just took estimations.

It was with a heavy heart that Sierra unlocked the door that night.

She took a step inside when her nose whiffed a sweet smell. She pulled off her shoe, hung her coat, and advanced following the scent.

"Jonas."

The man turned all smiles with Sierra's I'm-a-crazy-chef apron. Leone sat in his high chair, mouth-watering, waiting for the dish.

"Oh, good evening, Sierra. I thought we could eat together."

Before she could reply, Jonas accelerated the explanations, "have a seat. I made a dish that should relieve your stomach."

Sierra went and sat down on the seat the man pulled out for her. She watched Jonas bring the dishes.

"This is Kalops; it's Swedish beef stew with red pickled beets and vegetables. It has potatoes, but I made a little rice for you. Since you have an upset stomach."

Sierra blinked twice, no words came to mind, and the man appeared to be waiting for something. Sierra understood Jonas wanted her opinion. She lifted her fork and popped a small portion of beef in her mouth. If Leone were not present, the temptation to remake when Harry met Sally's orgasmic diner scene would be predominant. The heat of the food spread all over her body, warming the cove of her stomach.

Did the man hear her wish?

"So?"

The prompt query brought Sierra's thoughts back to the present, "It's good. It's excellent, Jonas," Sierra said in a poised tone, which she could not believe she managed.

The man smiled, it was particular, and the woman could have sworn the man blushed.

Sierra wondered how such a small, almost petty compliment could have such an impact.

When she thought of it, Jonas's behavior was somewhat out of this world. His candid reactions made Sierra believe in the few privileged people on earth who traveled through life without hardship. Virgin of all difficulties, they did things like volunteering in third world countries to feel the roughness.

Sierra knew her thoughts were stereotypical, but everything about the man inspired that.

The reasons why Cecile fled Jonas begin to sketch themselves in the man's actions. Jonas was too pure; Cecile probably left to preserve the man.

"What is it?"

"What?"

"You've been staring at me for the last thirty seconds."

Sierra lowered her gaze and continued eating. Cecile would have laughed at the awkwardness reigning between Jonas and Sierra. The momentum of the scene was the kind of thing she enjoyed seeing.

"How was your day?"

Sierra looked up, their eyes locked on one another, "a disaster. I swear I should have listened to you."

"You seemed so determined."

Sierra's eyes widened, "you should have stopped me. It was my least productive day. I mean, everything I did was wrong."

"Don't beat yourself up about it. Tomorrow's another day," Jonas said while he fed Leone another helping of potatoes.

Patient and kind, all Sierra saw were qualities when she stared at the man. She could not help but think how lucky Cecile was to have met someone like him.