"Mama."

Leone patted Sierra who sat up, "Joyeux anniversaire, mon amour [happy birthday, my love]."

The time had come. Leone was one.

The boy touched his hair. A lot was missing. Why did his mom scalp him?

His neck was cold without his blonde locks. Also, how would Dona recognize him now? The boy thought as he patted his crown.

Leone wasn't happy with his mom. Lately, she let Black Beard come every day, and she even gave him the metal things that opened the doors.

Also, there were the meals she didn't eat and kept climbing on this cold metal square in the bathroom.

What was wrong with her?

Leone had to find a way to tell Dona about the dark goings-on in the household.

The boy could not imagine Sierra was cautious not to put on weight before the wedding.

Sierra carried Leone to the kitchen and prepared his breakfast.

Something was fishy. She smiled too much and gave too many kisses to the boy's liking.

Sierra scheduled his birthday for two. Jacob would pick Leone up at 1:30 PM to take him to the park. The operation was to give Sierra time to set up the decorations.

Even though Sierra knew the child would probably forget, she wished to surprise Leone. Jonas gave no sign of life, and Sierra thought that perhaps he would opt to Leone at two.

Strangely enough, the idea of seeing Jonas didn't stress her. The wedding was less than a fortnight away, and it took up most of her thinking space.

At 1:30 PM, Jacob was right on time like Vincent, who picked up the birthday cake and last groceries. One thing that bothered Sierra was the absence of kids. Doctor Hertz assured her that everything would be fine as long as the people Leone knew were present.

The little boy's behavior progressed. Leone interacted more, and the whole neighborhood knew his laughter. Sierra was startled to hear the doorbell ring as Mrs. Micheals, her neighbor, brought a gift just like the Alaouis who lived on the ground floor made Moroccan pastry for Leone. Bussy also gave Sierra a present on behalf of her staff and her when Sierra came for Leone's haircut. Since the day they found out Leone would stay, their attitude changed. They accepted the boy as Sierra's son.

Leone's world was a colorful one, where notions of ethnicity were blurred, just as for Sierra, who embraced all around her.

Everyone's support gave Sierra strength. When Sierra looked back, she had the impression her life began the day Leone came into her life. Until then, the woman just went with the flow. Never would she have imagined what a tremendous change he would bring. There were difficult times, but everything was worth it, thought Sierra.

There wasn't anything in the last six months the woman wished to erase. On the contrary, the memories were probably the best of her adult life.

Together with Vincent, she began to blow up the balloons and place the various decorations.

Sierra smiled at herself as all the memories from the day she brought Leone home till the moment they woke up that day strutted by. The sleepless nights, the errors that included warming his milk in the microwave all teased her.

"Sierra, what you think?"

"That looks great," Sierra said while looking at the birthday banner the man hung up.

Vincent came down from the ladder, "I think we're good."

"Yes, thank you, Vincent. I'm sure Leone will love it."

The man grinned, he was trying, but the woman saw Leone was still reluctant to trust Vincent. As always, Sierra hoped time would help them, for it wasn't like Vincent would be gone the following week.

Sierra went on to prepare the trays of hors-d'oeuvres. It was the afternoon, and most guests had lunch. She chose light and easy-to-digest snacks.

It was a small gathering that would also allow the few wedding actors to have a relaxed moment together before the big event.

"Vincent, can you turn on the music?" Sierra said as she entered her kitchen.

Nostalgia, Sierra needed music when she prepared something over ten minutes in her kitchen. He had got her used to it, and she could no longer do without the melodies flowing into the room.

Tom Odell's voice flowed into the house with Another Love.

Why did it have to be this song?

"Vincent, can you skip this one."

Sierra almost regretted it as it was Coldplay's Clocks that howled.

She sighed and prepared the trays of food. Another flood of souvenirs crashed into her mind: the chickenpox followed by toothache. What endeavors, again the man's face appeared. How would she have survived without him?

Her eyes locked on the I'm a crazy chef apron. The woman found herself wondering when Jonas would arrive. Though frustration lingered, she wished to see him. After all, he was family. They would all be linked for the rest of their lives, whether she liked it or not.

None could suspect the setback Jonas experienced. From 6 AM that day, the man was at the police station.

Money laundering.

Jonas was dumbfounded by the accusation that weighed on the Potsmann. His brother Lars was behind bars, and Jonas discovered why people snooped about during his absence.

Whether the Gauthiers were behind it or not was irrelevant. Jonas had to get his brother out of jail and figure out why Lars set up offshore accounts for Moder Yord.

"Jonas, they say you can't see him for the moment."

"I can't leave him here, Dirk."

"I know," the lawyer said.

"Can't I bail him out?"

"There's a hearing at three. The judge will announce the amount there."

Jonas grasped his head and paced. There was no way he could leave Sweden with such a problem on his hands.

It broke the man's heart to think Leone waited for him. Jacob had given him all the details, and the man had planned to take an early flight. How was he to explain this? And it wasn't like he could take a flight the next day.

Lars was not the only issue the man had. His entire company was in turmoil without forgetting the rest of his family, who didn't know about the incident. As much as Jonas wished to see Sierra and Leone, he could not shrug off his responsibility towards his family in Sweden.

"I know you've got a lot on your plate Jonas, but I have to tell you. The Gauthiers are contesting the custody, and they're not attacking Ms. Lennox but you."

"On what grounds?"

"Your words can't be trusted. Since your company bathes in fiscal frauds."

"God, they're good. When did they file their complaint?"

"Three days ago."

The timing was perfectly calibrated. Jonas now knew the investigation on Moder Yord's accounts was their doing. The Gauthiers probably tipped off the police after having gathered enough proof. Unfortunately, thanks to his brother, Jonas had a skeleton in his closet, and they got what they wanted.

The only good thing was that he separated the work he did as an architect from Moder Yord, where all the family members held shares, and Jonas remained the primary shareholder.

Still, his reputation would suffer in the backlash. Of course, this was trivial for the man at that instant as he tried to think of a way to get his brother out.

Back in Paris, the guests arrived.

Leone was asleep when he came back from his promenade with Jacob. Sierra could not be happier. The surprise would be total.

Leone woke up in Sierra's bed, "mama."

oh, why am I dressed like this? Leone thought when he looked down on himself. He moved to the side of the bed and climbed down.

The boy looked at himself in the mirror and touched his head. He missed his hair. Wait and see, mom. I'll never let any snipping thing near my head again. I'll keep my hair long like Dona.

Sierra wanted him to be comfortable with the summer heat he needed to have on something light, and so she dressed him in a white short-sleeve shirt, navy blue shorts.

Leone tugged on the bow tie; mom, these aren't wings. How do you expect me to fly with these small things, thought the boy, "mama."

Sierra entered the room," tu vois comme tu es beau [see how handsome you are]. She scooped him up and kissed him.

"Mom, tell me, what have you done? All these cuddles are suspicious," the boy said.

"I can't wait to understand all you're saying."

"Excuse me, mom. Please don't join Black Beard's team."

"Es-tu prêt, Leone? [Are you ready, Leone]"

"Ready for what, mama," the boy said while he tapped on her chest.

They entered the hall. The house was tranquil," oh, mom, what's happening?"

Pop.

Bang.

The boy widened his eyes in shock before grinning.

Joyeux Anniversaire.

Joyeux Anniversaire.

Joyeux anniversaire, Leone.

Joyeaux Anniversaire.

Everyone in the room sang happy birthday.

"Awww," Leone hid head in Sierra's chest before looking up, "mom, why is the whole planet in our house? Oh, my, they're unicorns. Mom, run, it's an invasion."

Wait.

The boy turned and let his stare sweep the room. He tapped on her chest and looked up at her. "mama, où Dona [where Dona]?"