Page 48 of Hex and the Kitty

THIRTY-SIX

As her friends compared notes, Molly bit into her cupcake. The sweet cinnamon melted on her tongue, followed by the subtle signature of her own magic—a warmth that spread from her mouth to her chest. Her gaze drifted across the room, taking in these strong women discussing their growing families with such certainty, such joy.

A peculiar ache bloomed beneath her ribs. Before Warrick, she’d poured all her nurturing energy into her bakery, into creating treats that brought joy to others. Now, watching her pregnant friends compare notes, something shifted inside her—a door opening to possibilities she’d never seriously considered.

The image of a little girl with red curls and golden eyes flashed through her mind, followed by a little boy with Warrick’s serious expression attempting to shift into a tiger cub. The vision was so vivid it stole her breath.

“Molly?” Mari touched her arm gently. “You went somewhere far away.”

Molly blinked, realizing everyone was watching her. The tips of her ears burned. “Just daydreaming.”

“About a certain fireman?” Daisy asked, eyes dancing with mischief.

“We’ve barely started dating,” Molly protested, but the words rang hollow even to her own ears. The truth was, from the moment Warrick’s lips had claimed hers—not for show, but with genuine passion—something fundamental had shifted in her universe.

“The fortune cupcakes never lie,” Celeste said softly, nodding at the half-eaten treat in Molly’s hand. “Look.”

Molly glanced down. In the center of her cupcake, where the cream filling should have been, a tiny image had formed—a tiger lily in full bloom, surrounded by smaller buds. Her pulse skipped.

“What is it?” Briar leaned forward, trying to see.

“A tiger lily,” Ellie whispered, recognition dawning on her face. “How fitting.”

The magical vision from her own cupcake rendered Molly speechless. Her magic had manifested her heart’s deepest, most unconscious desire—a future with Warrick, complete with a family of their own. The revelation should have terrified her, but instead, a profound sense of rightness settled in her bones.

“Sometimes,” Sera said with unusual gentleness, “the heart recognizes truth before the mind has processed it.”

Molly’s thoughts drifted to Warrick—his steady presence, his protective nature, the way his serious demeanor melted when they were alone together. She imagined him cradling an infant with infinite care, reading bedtime stories with the same focused attention he gave everything important. The image fit so perfectly, it made her chest tight.

“You’re radiant right now,” Fia observed quietly.

“It’s just the sunlight,” Molly deflected, though she sat in dappled shade.

“It’s hope,” Celeste corrected, bouncing Amara gently on her knee. “It looks beautiful on you.”

The conversation shifted to baby names, giving Molly a moment to collect herself. She traced her finger around the edge of her plate, following the pattern of the tiger lily that had appeared in her cupcake.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Slipping it out, she found a message from Warrick:Thinking of you. Dinner still on for tonight?

Her fingers hovered over the screen, heart thumping against her ribs. She typed:Absolutely. I’m at Celeste’s surrounded by pregnant friends.

His response came quickly:Reed mentioned the baby boom. Should I be worried about walking into a hex?

Molly bit her lip, gathering courage from the vision in her cupcake.Only if you’re afraid of tiger lilies.

The three dots appeared, disappeared, then reappeared. Finally:Tiger lilies are my favorite. They remind me of someone special. Save me a fortune cupcake?

Her heartbeat quickened as she typed:Always.

Tucking her phone away, Molly rejoined the conversation with renewed presence. Whatever the future held—smoke monsters, saboteurs, or tiny tiger cubs—she no longer feared it. For the first time, she understood what her sister and friends had found—that perfect balance where vulnerability became strength, where magic and mundane life intertwined in beautiful harmony.

She picked up her glass, taking a sip of sparkling cider while her gaze drifted to the garden where new life pushed through rich soil, reaching toward sunlight with determined optimism—not unlike the tender hope now blooming in her own heart.

THIRTY-SEVEN

The setting sun painted Whispering Pines in amber and gold, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Warrick stood at the fire station’s back door, keys heavy in his palm, reluctant to lock up despite his shift ending nearly half an hour ago. Something about today—the productive work, the strengthened defenses, the lingering scent of Molly’s jasmine perfume mixed with her unique magical signature—made leaving difficult.

He inhaled deeply, catching the faintest trace of her still present in the air. His tiger stirred, restless yet content in a way that had become increasingly common when Molly occupied his thoughts. Which, if he admitted the truth, had become nearly constant.

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