Page 23 of Witch Way to the Diapers

Molly nodded vigorously. “That’s right! Need babysitting? We’re there. Magical emergencies? Consider them handled. Relationship advice? Well...” she grinned mischievously, “maybe ask someone other than me for that, but you get the idea.”

As the women murmured their agreement, pledging their support in various ways, a loud pop echoed through the room. They all turned to see Elsie, who had quietly slipped away, standing by the painting station. She was covered head to toe in splotches of bright blue paint, holding the sad remnants of an exploded paint bottle.

For a moment, there was stunned silence. Elsie blinked owlishly behind her paint-speckled glasses, looking for all the world like a very surprised blueberry.

Then, as one, they burst into laughter. It started as a giggle from Daisy, then spread like wildfire until even Fia was clutching her sides, tears of mirth replacing those of emotion.

“Well,” Elsie chuckled, wiping paint from her face and only succeeding in smearing it further, “I guess I’m going for the Smurf look tonight. Always wanted to try blue hair.”

Tabitha snorted, nearly choking on her tea. “Elsie, darling, I think you’ve gone a bit beyond hair. You’re givingAvatara run for its money.”

The tension thoroughly broken, the women drifted back to their art projects, still giggling. Fia found herself being gently steered toward a canvas, a paintbrush pressed into her hand.

“Now then,” Ivy said, “let’s talk about something really important. Like how we’re going to get you and that delicious lion of yours together properly.”

Fia’s eyes popped wide. “Oh, I don’t know... We’re just co-parenting, really...”

“Co-parenting, schmoe-parenting,” Daisy scoffed, waving her paintbrush dramatically and nearly splattering Sera with red paint. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. That man is one roar away from claiming you as his mate.”

As Fia spluttered, trying to form a response, the women launched into an animated discussion about Fia and Sayer’s budding romance, their art projects all but forgotten in favor of increasingly outrageous matchmaking schemes.

“You know,” Ivy mused, painting delicate flowers on a mug, “if Sayer asks you out, you could always suggest a picnic in the enchanted glade. Just be careful not to sit on any fairy rings - unless you want your date to last a hundred years.”

Ophelia snorted. “Please, with the way those two look at each other, a hundred years might not be long enough.”

“Ooh, I know!” Daisy exclaimed, nearly knocking over her easel in excitement. “You could go stargazing! I hear lion shifters are great at connecting the dots... if you know what I mean.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Fia’s face flushed hot enough to melt butter, but she couldn’t help laughing. As the night wore on filled with increasingly outrageous date suggestions and heartfelt advice, Fia felt better about relationships with others. Maybe she was deserving of happiness.

As she painted a mug with tiny lion paw prints, Fia made a silent promise to herself. She would embrace this new chapter, fears and all. After all, with friends like these and a future that bright, how could she not?

TWELVE

Sayer settled into the plush couch, creating a cozy nest of blankets around him and Vienna. The toddler’s hazel eyes, so much like her mother’s, widened with wonder as the vibrant opening scene of “Coco” illuminated the room. Sayer couldn’t help but smile at her reaction, his heart swelling with a mix of affection and bittersweet nostalgia.

As the story unfolded, Sayer found himself drawn into the colorful world of the Land of the Dead. The themes of family, memory, and legacy resonated deeply within him, stirring emotions he’d long kept buried. He watched Miguel’s journey with growing empathy, seeing parallels to Vienna’s situation that he hadn’t anticipated.

When Miguel sang “Remember Me” to his great-grandmother Coco, Sayer felt a lump form in his throat. The poignant melody spoke of a love that transcended death and connections that remained unbroken even when separated by the veil between worlds. He thought of his brother and best friend, Dune, and the bond they’d shared for centuries. The pain of that loss, still raw and aching, surged to the surface.

Sayer glanced down at Vienna, relieved to see her entranced by the music, oblivious to the emotional turmoil brewing withinhim. Her tiny hand clutched at his shirt, and he was struck by the realization that she, too, had lost her parents. She’d have no memory of them. Would she feel the ache of their absence as she grew older?

As Coco’s memories of her father returned, triggered by the power of music and love, Sayer felt a tear escape, trailing down his cheek. He thought of all the memories Vienna would never have with her parents – the lullabies never sung, the bedtime stories never told, the milestones that would pass without their presence.

“Thank the stars Fia isn’t here to see this,” he muttered, quickly wiping away the tear. The irony wasn’t lost on him – the mighty lion shifter, a creature of strength and power, brought low by an animated children’s movie. He could almost hear his sister Posey’s teasing laughter, but beneath it, he knew she would understand.

In that moment, watching the joyful reunion on screen while holding the orphaned child of his brother, Sayer made a silent vow. He would ensure that Vienna grew up knowing her parents’ love even though they couldn’t be there to show it themselves. He would be the keeper of their memories, the bridge between the family she’d lost and the one she was building now.

As the credits rolled, Sayer hugged Vienna closer, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. “Your papa and mama loved you very much,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “And they’ll always be with you, just like in the movie. I’ll make sure you never forget that.”

Vienna looked up at him, her innocent eyes wide and trusting. In them, Sayer saw a flicker of his brother, a spark of Myla, and the promise of a future filled with love and remembrance. The mighty lion shifter may have been brought low by a cartoon movie, but in doing so, he’d found a newstrength – the strength to keep a family’s legacy alive through love and memory.

The sound of keys in the lock drew Sayer’s attention. He straightened up, composing himself as Fia entered, her cheeks flushed from the evening air and her eyes bright with laughter.

“Hey,” she said softly, mindful of the sleeping Vienna. “How was your night?”

Sayer opened his mouth to respond, but his words caught in his throat as Fia approached, holding out a colorful ceramic mug.

“I, uh, made this for you,” she said, a hint of shyness in her voice. “At girls’ night. I hope you like it.”

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