SIERRA'S LEONE

SIERRA'S CHOICE

A cry interrupted Sierra's reading. She advanced in the hall and stopped in front of the first room with an open door.

"Don't cry," a woman caring for an infant said while she paced around in circles. Suddenly the cries stopped, and the child's eyes locked on Sierra.

Blue eyes, hair as bright as a cornfield, and chubby cheeks, there was no doubt the boy in the beige dungarees and a white shirt was Leone, Cecile's Leone.

Sierra approached, drawn by the's baby eyes, which were the perfect replica of Cecile's.

"You must be Sierra. Are you here to take him?"

"I—I, I heard his cry," Sierra said and pointed behind her.

"He cries a lot, but it's normal. The drastic changes are quite traumatic for a child this age."

Sierra gently touched the boy's cheek, who immediately grabbed her finger.

"He likes you; it's a good sign this boy won't let anyone near him."

Sierra snatched back her finger, but the baby began to outstretch his arms.

"Oh gosh, he must know who you are."

Sierra glared at the social worker, who smiled back, "what does he want?"

"He wants you to carry him. Do you want to take him in your arms?"

Sierra did not have the time to answer as the social worker pushed Leone on her chest, forcing her to cuddle the baby.

It was one of those moments in which Sierra lived like an encounter of the third type. In her arms, it wasn't Leone she was holding but a part of Cecile. The fact was what made tears shed on Leone's head—making the baby look up and sob too.

Abandoned.

Sierra and Leone shared the same predicament. Cecile abandoned them both, leaving sadness and anger behind for them to tackle. Sierra gave Leone back to the social worker, who was bewildered by her reaction.

Crazy reflections raced through Sierra's head; she could not become a mother. Not with her mortgage, the loan she took for her car, and Vincent. Yes, she was not alone; Sierra doubted the man would be keen on dating a mother?

How would the boy fit in with her lifestyle?

Sierra did not have the complete picture, but she knew there would be sacrifices.

Sierra went back to the room, where Cecile's mother cried scandal, "this boy is our grandson. No law should allow such a thing. This woman isn't even Cecile's kin, there are no blood ties, and she does not have the money to raise him."

"Eh, this woman is here, now," Sierra said as she took a seat.

"Miss Lennox, thank you for joining us again. We were going through the terms of the custody."

"Terms?"

"Yes, Miss Gauthier set up the following; Mr. Leone P. Gauthier has an account with the 100 000euros which his mother directly inherited from her grandmother. No transaction can be processed from that account until his eighteenth birthday. Also, miss Gauthier invested in two start-ups in Sweden, and the Tywin Investment group directly handles those assets. Knowing raising a child, you have access to those assets in case of an emergency concerning Leone's health and the expenses you judge necessary. So as far as the money goes, you are covered.

The attorney's reassuring words did not sway Sierra, who pondered on another question.

"Is it me, or is something weird about this situation?" Leone's grandmother interjected.