Chapter 5

FIVE

T here 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.

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. This town, 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.”

Fia nodded thoughtfully. “I think we can make that work. It’ll take some adjusting for all of us, but... I think it’s what Myla and Dune would have wanted. If you’re going to be in the area, you might want to come stay in one of the guest rooms. I mean you don’t have to stay at that B&B long term when we have room here and the idea is for you to spend time with Vienna.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude in your space.”

She smiled. “I’m sure. Myla always told me this house had enough rooms for several family members to visit. She was hoping to have gatherings here.”

“Then I’d be happy to stay here. I’ll bring my stuff over tomorrow.”

As they began to hash out the details of their arrangement, Sayer felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. This wasn’t the outcome he’d envisioned when he first came to Whispering Pines, but somehow, it felt right.

And as he watched Fia’s face light up with excitement as she talked about Vienna’s latest magical accomplishments, Sayer knew he’d made the right decision. Whatever the future held, he was exactly where he needed to be.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a whirlwind of planning and discussion. By the time Vienna woke from her nap, bubbling with energy and magic, Sayer and Fia had hammered out the basics of their co-parenting arrangement.

As Sayer prepared to leave, Vienna toddled over to him, arms raised in a clear demand to be picked up. His heart melted as he scooped her into his arms, marveling at how natural it felt.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, princess,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her curls.

Vienna giggled, patting his cheeks with her tiny hands. A shower of golden sparks erupted from her fingertips, dancing around them like fireflies.

Fia laughed, shaking her head fondly. “Well, it looks like Vienna approves of our arrangement.”

As Sayer set Vienna down and prepared to leave, he turned to Fia. “Thank you,” he said softly, “for being so understanding and giving me a chance to be part of Vienna’s life.”

Fia’s smile was warm and genuine. “Well, thank you for not creating a legal battle trying to take her from me and being willing to compromise. I think we can figure this out. This doesn’t have to be more difficult than it already is.”

He followed behind her. “We can even take turns handling work so someone is always with the baby.”

“That’s a great idea. I can do a few hours and you can do a few hours.”

“And then we can do things with Vienna,” he said from the door.

“You can have some great ideas, I see,” she smiled.

“I like to think I can use my brain when I need to,” he chuckled. “See you in the morning.”