The big day finally arrives. The day Poppy moves in with Tom and Damien. I insisted Damien take the day off at the very least. Trying to get him to take time off is nearly impossible, but I want him to spend the entire day with Poppy.
I also said if they felt up to it, they should bring her by so we can meet her. I even have some grapes that she can give the rabbits because I thought she might enjoy meeting them. I have warned them that they better be on their best behavior and not get too obnoxious. I don’t want her to be afraid of the rabbits or Stumpy.
Damien texts me to let me know they’re on their way in and that Poppy is very shy, but she loves hot chocolate with little marshmallows and is excited to meet the rabbits. Aranya and I are standing in the middle of the dining area underneath an enchanted sign I created.
It reads, “Welcome Poppy” with swirling pink and purple colors and a unicorn at the end. After many frustrating misses, I finally discover the proper spell to have bubbles float down from the ceiling to top the whole thing off.
Right before they arrive, we decide perhaps we look a little too eager. We don’t want her to think we’re pouncing on her just as they get here, so we dash behind the counter and pretend to work.
When Damien, Tom, Bubbles, and Poppy walk in, my heart just melts. Poppy is just a scrap of a thing with pigtails and pink bows. She’s nervous at first but as soon as she realizes bubbles are floating from the ceiling she’s so busy trying to catch them she forgets why she’s nervous. Bubbles, their Pibble, is wearing matching pink bows in her ears and a hat.
“How did Bubbles get a hat?” I laugh.
“That was Poppy’s idea,” Tom tells me. “She loves her new dog.” Damien makes large gestures behind them to emphasize how Poppy really, really loves her new dog. And from the looks that Bubbles is giving her, I’d say the feeling is mutual.
“Poppy, this is Aunt Charlotte, and Aunt Aranya,” Damien says.
The poor girl looks like she’ll never remember all of that. “You can just call me Char if that’s easier,” I explain while she smiles. Then she looks at Aranya and says simply, “Yaya.” We all laugh, but I guess that’s Aranya’s new name.
“Marshall, Marcus, Stumpy, come out and meet Poppy.”
All three of them come running but skid to a halt the moment they see her.
“You didn’t tell me it was a kit,” Marshall says.
“I did so. I told you it was a little girl. And I told you to be on your best behavior!”
“Here Poppy, would you like to feed the bunnies a grape? They love them.”
“Bunnies,” she sighs.
I hand her the grapes and she takes them carefully into her little hands. She slowly approaches the rabbits, her hands outstretched.
“You know, if I licked her hand right now, I bet I’d scare the snot out of her,” Marcus chuckles.
“You scare her on purpose and I swear there will be no carrots for a week.”
“I hear that kits have cooties,” Marshall says, eyeing her hand cautiously.
“Oh, you don’t even know what germs are, just take the grape.”
The rabbits then give me the stink eye as they each gently take a grape from Poppy. She giggles and says, “Cootie.”
My mouth drops open in shock as the rabbits turn to me, equally surprised. “Can she hear us?” Marshall asks.
“I don’t know.” Wow. I’m dumbfounded. Gran and I are the only ones I know of who can communicate with the rabbits. Is it Poppy’s age or… Damien has enough to be nervous about right now as a new parent. I don’t want him to know what I’m thinking just yet.
“And here’s a cookie for Stumpy,” I tell her.
She gently hands the cookie to him, but then she tilts her head at him while he tilts his head to match.
“What is happening here?” Marcus asks.
“I still don’t know.”
“What are they saying?” Damien asks, getting suspicious.
“They’re saying they didn’t realize she’d be so small.”
“Huh. Well, I suppose we should get home now. We’ve been out shopping for some things.”
“More like buying out the entire store!” Tom chastises.
“Oh! Wait!” I tell them. “I have something for you.”
Drew and I decided to give Poppy her blanket early. To match her unicorn bed. I’m relieved to see she’s a rip open the present as fast as she can kind of girl. It’s even funnier to watch Damien cringe as she does.
She squeals with such a high pitch upon seeing the bright unicorn blanket it sends all three of the boys tearing back into the kitchen.
“I think she likes it,” Aranya tells me.
“I may never hear again,” I answer back.
“What do you—” Damien starts to remind her to thank me.
“Thank you!” she shrieks.
“You’re most welcome,” I tell her, my ears still ringing.
They carefully bundle her back up to go outside and just as they’re walking out the door, Marcus shouts from the back. “When are you going to tell them, the kit is a witch?”
“Not until I have to!” I shout back.