Page 52 of Witch Way to the Diapers

As soon as they parked, they were swarmed by townsfolk. Elsie appeared as if by magic, whisking Vienna out of her car seat with practiced ease.

“There’s my sweet girl,” she cooed, peppering the giggling toddler with kisses. “We’ve got a special treat waiting for you at the café.”

Before Sayer could process what was happening, they were being ushered down the street toward the Lone Wolf. The normally cozy café had been transformed into party central with every table groaning under the weight of food and drinks.

In the center of the dining room was an enormous cake adorned with an edible photo of the three of them. Sayer felt his throat tighten with emotion at the sight.

“Speech! Speech!” someone called out, and suddenly all eyes were on them.

Sayer cleared his throat, unaccustomed to being the center of attention in quite this way. “I... we... thank you all so much,” he began, his voice rough with emotion. “I can’t begin to express how much your support has meant to us.”

Fia squeezed his hand, taking over seamlessly. “When I first came to Whispering Pines, I was lost and alone,” she said, her eyes shining. “I never could have imagined finding not just a home, but a true family - both with Sayer and Vienna, and with all of you. You’ve shown us what real community looks like, and we are so grateful to be raising our daughter here.”

A chorus of “awws” filled the café. Sayer wrapped an arm around Fia’s waist, pulling her close as he addressed the crowd once more.

“Oh my,” Lady Harmony breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. “What a delightful little town you’ve found, Sayer.”

Lord Eben chuckled, a sound that still surprised Sayer with its warmth. “I daresay this beats any of the stuffy galas we’ve thrown over the years.”

Sayer watched with amusement as his father, usually so aloof, found himself drawn into an animated conversation with Kade about the finer points of running a business in a magical community. Lady Harmony was in her element, charming everyone she met with her grace and genuine interest in their lives.

During Sayer’s impromptu speech, he made sure to acknowledge his parents. “And a special thank you to my parents, Lord Eben and Lady Harmony,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Your support and love have meant the world to us.”

As the party continued, Sayer found moments to observe his family interacting with the townspeople. His father was uncharacteristically relaxed, laughing openly at one of Jasper’s ghostly jokes. His mother had formed an instant bond with Elsie, the two of them fussing over Vienna and exchanging grandmother tips.

“You’ve done well for yourself, son,” Lord Eben said quietly. “This is what truly matters in life – family, community, love. I’m proud of the man you’ve become.”

Sayer sniffled. “Thank you, Father,” he managed. “That means a lot.”

Lord Eben clapped him on the shoulder. “Now, what do you say we rescue your mate before your mother convinces Fia to redecorate your entire house?”

Sayer found himself swept up in the tide of excitement, shaking hands and accepting congratulations from what felt like the entire town. Through it all, he kept one hand on Fia’s lower back, anchoring himself to his family.

“You’ve all played a part in bringing us to this moment,” he said. “We couldn’t have done it without you. So please, eat, drink, and celebrate with us. This victory belongs to all of us.”

A cheer went up as Kade began pouring tea and lemonade and Elsie started cutting the cake. Soon the café was filled with the happy buzz of conversation and laughter.

Sayer found himself pulled into conversation after conversation, accepting congratulations and sharing the highlights of the trial. But his eyes kept straying to Fia, watching as she moved through the crowd with Vienna on her hip.

She was radiant, her smile bright enough to light up the room. Every so often, she’d catch his gaze and her eyes would soften, a private smile just for him. In those moments, Sayer felt like the luckiest man alive.

As the party was in full swing, Sayer noticed Celeste approaching them, little Amara cradled in her arms. Kade hovered nearby, his eyes never straying far from his wife and newborn daughter.

“I’m so happy for you both,” Celeste said warmly, reaching out to squeeze Fia’s hand. “Vienna couldn’t ask for better parents.”

As if on cue, Vienna let out a happy squeal and reached for Celeste and baby Amara. With a laugh, Fia carefully transferred the squirming toddler into Celeste’s free arm.

“Oh, you’re getting so big,” Celeste cooed, balancing Vienna and Amara expertly. “And look how gentle you are with little Amara.”

Vienna’s brow furrowed in concentration as she stared at baby Amara. Then, to everyone’s shock, she pointed to Fia’s stomach and declared, “Baby!”

A hush fell over the nearby partygoers. Sayer’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at Fia, whose eyes were wide with surprise.

“Oh, sweetheart, Auntie Celeste is the one with the baby,” Fia said with a nervous laugh, gesturing to Amara.

But Vienna was insistent, jabbing a finger at Fia’s belly again. “Baby,” she repeated firmly.

Celeste’s eyes widened. “Oh my,” she breathed. “Could it be...”

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