Page 10 of Witch Way to the Diapers

First things first, he’d call Fia to see if they could meet.

His hand trembled slightly as he dialed her number, his lion rumbling with anticipation at the prospect of seeing his mate again. Sayer firmly pushed those feelings aside. Now wasn’t the time to complicate things further.

“Hello?” Fia’s voice came through the speaker, slightly breathless. In the background, Sayer could hear Vienna’s delighted giggles.

“Fia, it’s Sayer,” he said, his voice coming out rougher than he intended. He cleared his throat. “I hope I’m not calling too early.”

“No, not at all,” Fia assured him. “Vienna and I were just having a bit of a magical mishap with her breakfast. Apparently, she’s decided that oatmeal is much more fun when it’s floating.”

Sayer chuckled, picturing the scene. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”

“Never a dull moment,” Fia agreed, a smile evident in her voice. “What can I do for you, Sayer?”

“I was hoping we could meet today,” he said, forcing himself to focus. “To discuss... well, everything, I suppose. Our situation with Vienna and how we might move forward.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. “Of course,” Fia said finally. “That would be good. Why don’t you come by the house around lunchtime? Vienna will be down for her nap then, so we can talk without interruptions.”

“Perfect,” Sayer agreed, relief washing over him. “I’ll see you then.”

As he hung up, Sayer caught sight of his reflection in the window. The man staring back at him looked... different. More relaxed, more open. Whispering Pines was already working its magic on him, it seemed.

With a few hours to kill before his meeting with Fia, Sayer decided to explore the town. He needed to get a feel for the place that might become his home, at least for the foreseeable future.

The streets were bustling with activity, a charming mix of the mundane and the magical. He passed a bakery where the scent of cinnamon and sugar mingled with the sparkle of fairy dust. A group of children raced by on broomsticks, their laughter echoing off the cobblestones.

As he turned a corner, Sayer found himself in front of a vacant storefront with a “For Lease” sign in the window. The location was perfect - right in the heart of town, with large display windows and a welcoming entryway.

Remembering what Posey had said about Fia looking for a location for her skincare line, Sayer made a mental note of the address. It couldn’t hurt to inquire about the property, just in case it might suit Fia’s needs.

The morning passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was time to head to Fia’s house. Sayer’s stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and nervousness as he walked up the path to her front door.

Fia answered his knock promptly, looking slightly harried but still beautiful. “Come in,” she said, stepping aside to let him enter. “I just got Vienna down for her nap. I swear, that child has more energy than a lightning bolt.”

Sayer chuckled, following Fia into the living room. “She takes after Dune in that respect. He was always bouncing off the walls as a kid.”

A soft smile crossed Fia’s face at the mention of Dune. “Myla was the same way. I guess Vienna never stood a chance of being a calm child.”

They settled onto the couch, an awkward silence falling between them. Sayer cleared his throat, deciding to dive right in.

“Fia, I want to apologize for how I approached things yesterday,” he began. “I came here with preconceived notions about what was best for Vienna without fully understanding the situation.”

Fia’s expression softened. “Thank you, Sayer. I appreciate that. And I’m sorry if I came across as defensive. It’s just... Vienna is all I have left of Myla. The thought of losing her...”

“I understand,” Sayer said quietly. “She’s all I have left of Dune too.”

Their eyes met, a moment of shared grief and understanding passing between them.

“So,” Fia said, breaking the silence. “Where do we go from here?”

Sayer took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about that. A lot. And I think... I think the best thing for Vienna would be for me to stay here in Whispering Pines, at least for a while.”

Fia’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? But what about your work? Your life?”

“My work can be done from anywhere,” Sayer assured her. “And as for my life... well, maybe it’s time for a change. Thistown, this community... I can see why Dune and Myla chose it for Vienna.”

A smile bloomed on Fia’s face, making Sayer’s heart skip a beat. “That’s... that’s wonderful, Sayer. I think Vienna would love having you around more.”

“I was hoping we could work out some sort of co-parenting arrangement,” Sayer continued, encouraged by her positive reaction. “I don’t want to disrupt the life you’ve built with her, but I’d like to be involved. To help and be a presence in her life.”

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