I FELL IN LOVE ON THE JOB

LEAH BYEBYE

" Would you at least tell me how your journey was? " Leah asked as she got Sarah settled in her room.

Sarah paused, scrutinizing Leah from head to toe.

" What? " Leah noticed her fixated stare.

" Did you add weight? "

Leah gasped dramatically, " Did you lose weight? "

" Let's see, I fell from a building, was in a coma for about four years... I lost my boyfriend to another woman, " Sarah squinted, " And oh, my ex-boyfriend's sister and a long-time friend tried to assassinate me twice, I got sh__

" Okay... okay your life is a hot mess, skip to the finish line. " Leah chuckled.

" So of course, I will lose weight, what's your excuse? "

Leah went mute, her hands were situated awkwardly on her stomach as she bit her lower lips. " I uh... I'm uh__

" It's okay Lee, " Sarah smiled rubbing her fingers together as an idea popped into her head, " I forgot I said we should keep our pasts to ourselves. "

" Sarah__

" So the room is in great shape, I haven't been here in ages. How did you manage to maintain this house with your IMPORTANT job in the big city? " Sarah teased falling to the bed.

Leah sat next to her, " Well, I'm an executive chef so yes it's an IMPORTANT job. "

They both laughed.

" I'm serious, the house look really, " She whispered, " Expensive. "

" With my pretty okay pay, I hired help once in a while. "

" But seriously, I'm super proud of you, " Sarah paused placing her hands on Leah's, " At least one of us carried the dream on. "

" No, no no no! " Leah replied shoving Sarah's hands off her, " I refuse to believe that you have given up on cooking. "

" Leah__

" I remember when we use to host mediocre cooking exercises, you always won. You were amazing! "

" That was in the past, I can't__

" Your food was always unique, tastes were spot on! don't tell me you've lost your mojo. "

Sarah smiled getting caught up on Leah's praises, " Of course not, have you forgotten who I am? "

Leah played on, " The food__

" Magician! " Sarah yelled laughing loudly.

" You love to cook. "

" Not anymore. " Sarah returned to her initial tone.

Leah stood up exiting the room, " I disagree, but if you say so. Get comfy, rest up, I assume you're tired. " Leah paused at the entrance of the door, " Hey, with everything that has happened, I think cooking might be your redemption. It might be that big break you need to get back on your feet, don't give up. "

Sarah retreated to bed, her hands buried inside her face as she got lost in thoughts. Leah's words weren't far from the truth, if it wasn't for her cooking, she'd have committed suicide a long time ago. It was funny even as she thought about it, when she cooked for herself she relished the delicious taste that got her longing for more. So she continued cooking behind closed doors, her love for food and skills kept her pressing forward. Sarah had drafted future cooking combinations to experiment on, but her fear of association kept her locked up.

Sarah sat on the cold floor as she felt the water drip down to her, what was the point of coming back here? she thought. She had come back home to stay with Leah to relieve herself from the loneliness she felt but would that change anything? Leah would be returning to work soon and she would be all alone again. She ran the comb through her soaked hair as she realized the reality of her situation. She searched for a bright side and she found one, at least she would be far away from her trauma.

She had successfully secluded herself from the world as she wanted to. And as long as she stays here she would have no reminder of what happened. She would bear with the loneliness, after all, she should have gotten used to it by now. It wasn't long after she got from the shower, Sarah fell asleep. She dreamt of him once more, she hated the fact that he still appeared in her dreams even after all that happened. She still reenacted their blissful memories, and it only filled her with more pain. Just when would she stop causing harm to herself?

Sarah was woken up by a peculiar smell, it was so strong that it forcefully pulled her from her sleep. Sniffing as she went down the stairs, Sarah traced the smell to the kitchen with Leah in there.

" You're awake? " Leah asked smiling.

" The smell... " Sarah continued sniffing.

Leah folded her hands, " I'm trying out a new dish for my recipe book, you like the smell? "

" Yeah, smells unique... I can't quite place my finger on it. "

" Well you've been opportune to be the first person ever to taste my stew, I won't disclose the secret ingredient first... I'll let you figure it out when you taste it. " Leah bragged.

" What if figure it out without tasting it? " Sarah smirked.

" No way... "

" Yes, way. "

Dinner was served pretty quickly, white rice and Leah's mystery stew. Sarah took a seat opposite Leah inhaling her food deeply.

Leah laughed, " Just give up, will you? I know you have an exceptional nose but__

" I got it! " Sarah yelled, hands in the air.

" let's hear it. "

" I perceived garlic from the get-go but I knew there was something else. "

" Hmm-mm, " Leah urged her to continue.

" The smell of the garlic appeared to be filtered, not the usual raw garlicky taste. so... " Sarah tapped on the table, " You had it fried with curry and... "

Leah tapped her foot as she bit her lips in anticipation, " You rascal. "

Sarah laughed, " Maybe a pinch of seasoning here and there but there's a liquid you added and it's not alcoholic. "

" Well, what is it? "

" That's where the guessing begins, "

" Ooh, the all-so-great kitchen magician is guessing? " Leah teased, " You have lost your mojo. "

" Common, cut me some slack, even Bobby flay wouldn't be able to single out that smell. "

" Tick, tock, time is ticking. "

" I'm being strategic here, it's also very important in taste__

" Sarah just tell me already! " Leah laughed.

" Okay, since it's not alcohol, I'm not getting any in here, it has to be something that would go well with this dish. Something mild but potent, sweet but not too sugary. Milk? "

Leah bent her head.

" It's milk, isn't it? it has to be milk. "

" You are amazing... it is milk. "

" Yes! " Sarah yelled, " I haven't lost my mojo, don't play with me again. "

" You're indeed the kitchen magician, wow. " Leah was impressed.

" What can I say, I'm the greatest. " Sarah smiled.

" You should be working at Guvin, you__

" I can't go back to the middle of all of that Lee, I want to remain in this quiet, peaceful town. "

Leah paused, " I'm pregnant. "

Sarah shifted her gaze from Leah as soon as she heard her. She suspected that was the case as soon as they saw her, coupling with her reaction when she asked about the weight issue. She hadn't expected Leah to come clean about it, at least not now. Sarah didn't think she was ready to take in any more drama, she already had a lot on her plate. The sudden look in Leah's eyes spoke to her, she could tell Leah was not too happy about her pregnancy. Sarah was concerned but was too afraid to ask because she wasn't sure she could deal with whatever the reasons were. Sarah could barely help herself talk more of someone else, she was afraid.

Sarah awkwardly nodded.

" I'm sorry, I... it came out of nowhere. " Leah apologized.

" No, why should you be? I'm... it's good news, right? "

Leah sighed, " I don't know. "

Sarah didn't want to indulge any further, but it looks like she had to. " Why? "

Leah suddenly felt the urge to cry, " I can't... I am__

Sarah took her hands, " it's okay, whatever the reasons are, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. " Sarah was relieved.

Leah nodded, " Thank you. But whatever mistake I did isn't the baby's fault, so it is good news still. "

" Right, but I feel like there's more to this... " Sarah replied in agony. She secretly hoped it wasn't as shocking as the first one.

" Drumrolls... I'm opening my own restaurant! " Leah stated in excitement.

Sarah was surprised, but in a good way, " What? "

" Yes, I'm almost concluding my recipe book and when I'm done, I'm opening my restaurant in this town. "

Sarah shook her head still stunned, " Wow, I'm shocked. "

" The good kind of shock or... "

" Of course, it's the good kind... so wait, you're going to leave Guvin? " Sarah asked.

Leah paused, " I have to, for my baby's safety. "

Sarah and Leah exchanged weird glances, " Okay... ? " Sarah was adamant about not wanting to know anything.

" So... I'm offering you a job. Work with me, Sarah. "

Sarah arched her brow, " Leah__

" And you don't have to leave, you can work with me right here! "

Sarah nodded, " I will think about it. "

" We would be unstoppable together, think of what we could accomplish. "

Sarah ran her hands on her face, " Okay... I accept. "

" Yes! " Leah yelled, filled with joy. " Thank you so much, Sarah! "

" No, thank you. "

" I need to travel back tomorrow to get one final recipe, will be back after a few days. "

" Why do you need to travel because of that? "

" I was working on a full course meal with a... with a friend. "

Sarah noticed how Leah spoke, the more she listened to Leah the weirder she sounded. " Okay, so you've officially resigned? " Sarah skipped whatever Leah was about to reveal about her so-called friend. She stuck to her resolve of keeping Leah's personal life away from her.

" Not yet, I still have issues to settle, I'll be back soon. Then we can begin our plan to get our place. " Leah smiled.

" Have you told anyone else about this? " Sarah didn't know when she asked, she quickly regretted it, " I mean... it's okay if you don't__

" It's okay only you and__

Sarah yawned, picking her plates on purpose to avoid Leah's words.

" Don't worry, I take care of the dishes. " Leah insisted.

" You sure? "

" Go to bed. "

Sarah lay on her bed as she did her usual overthinking before she drifted to sleep. Leah looked like she was going through her fair share of s**t and Sarah felt guilty for not wanting to hear any of it. But was it her fault? she was still shaken anytime she thought of her past experiences, how would she deal with Leah's? All she could do for now was to hope whatever Leah was going through isn't as serious as she feared. Sarah thought about Leah's decision to open a restaurant in town, and to her surprise she was glad. It was the first good news she'd heard in a long time, and she would take this opportunity.

The thought of Leah's pregnancy still left her puzzled, why was she getting a weird feeling about it? And the way Leah's resolve was, didn't seem like the regular expecting mother. Sarah was sure she didn't want to get involved, but she couldn't help thinking about it. But not to worry, Sarah thought, Leah's problems seem to be coming from her workplace. Her deciding to open a restaurant far away was probably her ploy to escape whatever drama she had. Sarah smiled, maybe this was it, this was what she needed to move on.

" I'll give you a call this evening okay? " Leah replied as Sarah walked her to her car the next morning.

" Are you sure you should be driving? " Sarah replied arching a brow.

" Don't give me that crap, I'll be fine. "

" Okay... if you say so, just be careful. "

" You too, don't forget to call me if you need anything. "

" Take care. " Sarah bade her goodbye with a kiss.