I laughed, picking her up in my arms and smiling into her serious little face. "You know what I see? A pretty little girl with a very compassionate heart. Now, where's your little sister? I have something to tell the both of you."
"She's playing dress-up in the cottage. Daddy, did you put another baby inside Mommy?"
My eyes widened and I paused. "How did you know that?"
"You had that same look on your face when you told me you'd put Celia in mommy's tummy."
"What look is that exactly?"
She scratched her arm, her expression contemplative. "I don't know. Kind of like how Sugie looks when she catches a stick."
I laughed out loud, picturing the mostly proud, but slightly shocked look on Sugie's face when she accomplished something she found brilliant. "Well, you're right. And, guess what? It's another sister."
"Another sister?" Her face broke out in a grin, showcasing her missing tooth, and the endearing dimple she'd inherited from her mother. "That's a lot of girls, Daddy."
I grinned. "Yup." Happiness flowed through my heart. It didn't seem that life could hold any more joy than it did right now, and yet somehow, every day it grew just a little bit more. All because of a girl who once bravely walked into my office and proposed marriage. All because I'd finally had the courage to surrender to my sweet little witch and in return, she'd given me a houseful of spirited girls who climbed trees, pretended to be caterpillars, sassed me back on occasion, put me in my place very regularly, reminded me often I was definitely not the ruler in my own home, and generally drove me to distraction.
I set Isabelle down and we entered the small cottage where, once upon a time, a very beautiful witch had lived, and found four-year-old Celia outfitted as a princess, sipping tea at the miniature table in the front room. Several years ago, we'd had the cottage cleaned, updated, and turned into a playhouse for our girls.
"We're going to have another sister!" Belle shouted.
Celia's plastic cup stopped halfway to her mouth and her eyes grew wide. "Another sister," she said, jumping to her feet. She wobbled toward me on plastic heels and threw herself into my arms as I bent to catch her. "Thank you, Daddy. I wished for a little sister."
I smiled into her beautiful heart-shaped face, her green eyes bright with happiness and the slight bit of mischief they always held. "It's my job you know, to make all your wishes come true."
Her expression turned thoughtful as she twirled a lock of her dark hair. "Can I have a pony then?"
I used my index finger to bop her on her nose. "And," I qualified, "not to spoil you rotten."
"Hmm," she grumped, but I could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. She was already plotting a way to get that pony.
I laughed and the three of us went up to the main house where Charlotte was in the kitchen. I took a deep inhale, the air fragrant with a sweet, lemony scent.
"Grammy Charlotte," Celia called. "We're having a baby sister!"
Charlotte laughed and caught Celia in her arms as Isabelle hugged Charlotte's waist. "I know, my loves; I heard the wonderful news. Should we celebrate with a lemon bar, fresh from the oven?"
"Or maybe two?" Celia tilted her head and smiled prettily.
I laughed. "Watch that one."
Charlotte grinned as I kissed her on her cheek. "Have you seen Kira?" I asked.