Page 9 of Witch Way to the Diapers

“That’s the gist of it,” Sayer confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact despite the turmoil beneath the surface. “It’s... not what I expected.”

“I bet,” Posey chuckled. “And how’s our dear Fia handling all this? I swear, that woman’s got nerves of steel.”

Sayer paused, caught off guard by Posey’s familiarity with Fia. “You... you know her well?”

“Of course, I do, big brother. Some of us actually attended family gatherings while you were off globetrotting,” Posey teased. “Fia’s become a good friend. She’s got a wicked sense of humor, you know.”

Sayer cleared his throat, trying to regain his footing. “Yes, well, she seems... capable.”

“Capable?” Posey repeated incredulously. “Oh, Sayer. There’s so much more to her than that. Speaking of which, did anything... interesting happen when you met her?”

FIVE

There was a knowing tone in Posey’s voice that made Sayer hesitate. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Posey said innocently. “You sound a little like something’s shaken you up. So I’m wondering if there’s been any... spark? Growling from your inner lion? Sudden urge to mark your territory?”

Sayer’s grip on the phone tightened. “Posey,” he warned.

“What?” she laughed. “I’m just asking if my big, bad lion shifter brother finally met a cute witch that’s going to take him out of his element. It’s about time, if you ask me.”

Sayer sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m... not sure,” he admitted, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. “There was something, but with everything else going on...”

Posey’s gasp was loud enough to make Sayer wince. “Are you telling me the great Sayer Gentry, master of the universe, is uncertain about something? Oh, this is rich!”

“Posey,” Sayer growled, but there was no real heat behind it.

“Relax, big brother,” Posey said, her tone softening. “I think it’s great. You’ve been alone for far too long. And Fia... well, she’s special. If there’s a chance she could be your mate, you owe it to yourself to explore that.”

Sayer’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Vienna is our priority right now.”

“Of course,” Posey agreed. “Which is why I’m coming to visit in a few weeks. Fia already invited me to help her look at locations for her new Enchanted Skincare and Essences store. Did you know about that?”

Sayer blinked, caught off guard once again. “Her... store?”

Posey’s laughter rang through the phone. “Oh, Sayer. You’ve got so much to learn about our Fia. Her skincare line is incredibly successful. She’s opening a branch in Whispering Pines.”

“I see,” Sayer murmured, impressed despite himself. “That’s... admirable.”

Posey huffed. “Listen to you, trying to sound all detached. I can’t wait to see you try to maintain that cool facade around Fia. Ten bucks says she has you wrapped around her little finger within a week.”

Sayer scoffed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. “I think you’re getting ahead of yourself, little sister.”

“We’ll see,” Posey sang. “Just remember, Sayer – it’s okay to let your guard down sometimes. Especially around family.”

As they said their goodnights, Sayer found himself mulling over Posey’s words. He made his way to the cozy bed, his mind whirling with plans. Tomorrow, he’d reach out to Fia to see if they could sit down and really talk about their situation. He’d offer to help with Vienna and be a presence in her life without disrupting the stability she’d found here.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sun casting a golden glow over the enchanted forest. Sayer woke feeling more refreshed than he had in weeks, the magic of Whispering Pines seeming to have seeped into his very bones.

As he made his way downstairs, the delicious aroma of freshly baked scones and brewing coffee filled the air. Amaris greeted him with a warm smile.

“Good morning, dear,” she said, pushing a steaming mug of coffee toward him. “Sleep well? The forest has a way of soothing troubled souls.”

Sayer nodded, wrapping his hands around the warm cup. “I did, thank you. This place is... quite something.”

Amaris chuckled. “That it is. Now, eat up. You’ve got a big day ahead of you, I suspect.”

As Sayer savored his breakfast, he pondered his next move. He needed to talk to Fia and start laying the groundwork for whatever arrangement they might come to regarding Vienna. But he also needed to start making arrangements if he was going to stay in Whispering Pines for an extended period.

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