Page 4 of Witch Way to the Diapers

Tabitha snorted most unladylike. “It wouldn’t have been except he forgot to specify when they should stop. We woke up the next morning to find the entire town square had been transformed into a jungle! Vines crawling up the clocktower, pumpkins the size of cars, and don’t even get me started on the man-eating petunias.”

Fia’s eyes widened. “Man-eating petunias? You’re joking, right?”

Luna shook her head solemnly, though her lips twitched with suppressed laughter. “I wish she was. Poor Mr. Whiskers - Elsie’s cat - nearly lost his tail to one. It took the combined efforts of half the witches in town to undo the damage.”

“And Vincent?” Fia asked, finding herself drawn into the tale.

“Oh, he hid in his workshop for a week,” Tabitha answered. “Came out eventually with a new line of ‘Gnome-Proof’ garden shears. Sold like hotcakes, actually.”

Fia couldn’t help but laugh. It felt good, like stretching a muscle long unused.

“Speaking of hotcakes,” Luna interjected, “you simply must try Molly’s magical muffins at the Bewitched Bakery. They have a way of knowing exactly what flavor you need that day.”

“Though be careful if you’re feeling lovelorn,” Tabitha warned with a wink. “Last time someone went in after a bad date, their blueberry muffin started serenading with break-up songs. Quite mortifying, really.”

As the conversation flowed, peppered with more tales of magical mishaps and local gossip, Fia felt a warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the tea Luna had brewed. These women, with their easy laughter and welcoming smiles, were already starting to feel like old friends.

“Oh!” Tabitha exclaimed suddenly, sitting up straight. “We haven’t told you about Jasper yet!”

“Jasper?” Fia asked, intrigued by the mischievous glint in Tabitha’s eye.

Luna chuckled, shaking her head. “Jasper Moon, our local librarian. He’s quite... unique.”

“Unique is one way to put it,” Tabitha snickered. “He’s a ghost, dear. Been haunting the library for, oh, a couple centuries now?”

Fia blinked, processing this new information. “A ghost... librarian?”

“Oh yes,” Luna nodded sagely. “And quite a stickler for the rules too. Heaven help you if you return a book late. Last time I did, he made all my bookmarks disappear for a week.”

“But he’s a dear,” Tabitha added quickly. “Just don’t get him started on the Dewey Decimal System unless you have a few hours to spare.”

As the afternoon wore on, Fia found herself inundated with advice on navigating life in Whispering Pines. From which days to avoid the farmer’s market (“Wednesdays are troll day, and they do tend to overcharge”), to the best shop for enchanted household items (“Madame Mirabelle’s Magical Menagerie - but watch out for the self-sweeping brooms, they have a mind of their own”), Fia’s head was soon spinning with information.

“Oh, and whatever you do,” Tabitha said, her tone suddenly serious, “don’t eat the glowing mushrooms that grow in the forest behind the old McAllister place. Unless you fancy spending a day as a talking toadstool, that is.”

Luna nodded emphatically. “Learned that one the hard way, didn’t we, Tabby?”

Tabitha’s cheeks flushed pink. “We agreed never to speak of that again!”

As Fia laughed at their good-natured bickering, something loosened in her chest. The grief was still there, a dull ache beneath her breastbone, but it was now tempered by something else. Hope, perhaps. Or the beginnings of belonging.

When Vienna stirred in her lap, blinking sleepily up at her, Fia smiled down at her niece. “What do you think, munchkin?” she murmured. “Looks like we might have found ourselves a home after all.”

As if in agreement, Vienna’s tiny fist opened, releasing a shower of sparks that danced in the air like fireflies. Tabitha and Luna cooed in delight, and Fia felt her heart swell with a mixture of pride and wonder.

Yes, she thought, watching the magical lights swirl around them. This is exactly where we’re meant to be.

By the time Tabitha and Luna left, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the town. Fia stood on the porch, watching as fireflies danced in the gathering twilight. For the first time since Myla’s passing, she felt a sense of peace settle over her.

That night, after tucking Vienna into her crib, Fia curled up on the window seat in the master bedroom. The stars twinkled brightly in the clear night sky, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of night-blooming jasmine.

“I think we’re going to be okay here, Myla,” Fia whispered to the night. “I’ll make sure Vienna knows how much you loved her, and how much you wanted this life for her.”

As she drifted off to sleep, Fia’s dreams were filled with images of the life ahead – Vienna growing into her powers, surrounded by the warmth and magic of Whispering Pines. And for the first time in weeks, Fia’s sleep was sound and untroubled.

The next morning, Fia woke to the sound of Vienna’s laughter floating through the baby monitor. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, filling the room with a warm, golden glow. As she made her way to the nursery, Fia felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

Vienna stood in her crib, bouncing excitedly as Fia entered. “Good morning, sunshine,” Fia cooed, lifting the toddler into her arms. “Are you ready for our first full day in our new home?”

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