Page 30 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

Dani chuckled and put a hand on Elsie’s shoulder. “How do you think we’ve grown so fast? People respect strength and integrity. And by doing this, you're showing that you have both.”

Mabel looked at Elise, then back at us. “If there is anything we can do to help with security, please let us know.”

“Deal," Dani agreed. “Now, what have you decided on for the menu? Phi can send that over to Marie for final approval when you have it.”

Elise, with her short-cropped silver hair and sharp green eyes, glanced at her two partners before responding. “Well, we were thinking of starting with some classic appetizers. Shrimp remoulade, mini muffulettas, and gator bites with a spicy dipping sauce.”

Harriet's warm chocolate brown eyes glowed as she added, “And for the main course, we want to keep it traditional but elevated. Crawfish étouffée, jambalaya with andouille sausage, and a slow-cooked gumbo with a mix of chicken, sausage, and seafood.”

Mabel's head of braids bounced as she agreed. “We were also thinking of including a carving station with roast beef and ham. Served with freshly baked rolls and all the fixings, of course. There will also be a vegetarian option. I was thinking of a hearty vegetable and red bean stew.”

I nodded, taking notes as they spoke. “That sounds fantastic. What about sides and desserts?”

Elise’s eyes sparkled making it clear why they started this business. They loved food and were obvious kitchen witches. “For sides, we’ll have garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and a seasonal salad with a light vinaigrette. As for desserts, we’re planning on offering bread pudding with whiskey sauce, pecan pie, and a selection of beignets and pralines.”

Harriet smiled. “We want the food to reflect the rich culinary heritage of New Orleans, while also being something special for the reunion.”

“That’s a solid lineup,” Dre said, nodding in approval.

Phi looked up from her notes. “I’ll get this list over to her right away. I’m sure she’ll have some feedback, but it sounds like you’ve covered all the bases.”

Mabel inclined her head. “We hope so. We want this event to be memorable for all the right reasons.”

I glanced at Dani, who gave me a reassuring smile. “This is coming together nicely. Thank you, ladies, for your hard work.”

“We’re just glad we could come to an agreement,” Elise replied.

As we wrapped up the meeting, I couldn’t help but feel asense of relief. Despite the challenges ahead, it felt good to have something concrete moving forward. The reunion was shaping up to be an event worthy of the Leveau family’s legacy.

The drive back to Willowberry was quiet and fast. We were heading to the kitchen for lunch when Dea spoke up and said, “We need to understand these families if we’re going to figure out their current motives. Let’s start with the Montclairs.”

“Give me a sec,” I said and ran down to the ladies’ parlor and grabbed the books from Marie. Back in the kitchen, I flipped open a leather-bound volume with cracked pages. “I was looking through this last night and saw this passage about them. According to Marie’s ancestors, the Montclairs have always been power-hungry. That’s why they began working with the Leveau family. That relationship dates back to the early 1800s. This is the interesting part. Way back then, the two families vied for control over the same spiritual territories here. The Leveaus obviously came out on top.”

Kota poured some pineapple mango tea into her tumbler and made a clucking noise. “Marie’s family has been trying to take over for a long damn time.”

Dea nodded, and grabbed sandwich fixings from the fridge and set them on the counter away from the books. “But they didn’t get everything. Apparently, the Montclair estate borders some of the most potent spiritual sites. They’ve probably been trying to absorb that power for generations.”

“It says here that during the Civil War, the Montclairs struck a deal with the Dubois family to undermine the Leveaus," Dre interjected as she read through a book. “They were desperate to break the Leveaus’ hold on the local magic. I wonder if that was the first time they worked together.”

“Many have tried to thwart the power the Leveaus had over this city for many centuries. You are the first that have been able to do anything which is why your reputation exploded.The book with the worn navy cover has the details you need about their initial alliance," Adèle said into our minds. “The language is ancient, so pay close attention to the nuances."

“I never thought about others trying to oust them from power. I guess it just seemed like no one tried because the paranormals here had given up on it,” I replied, carefully opening the fragile tome. “Let’s see what this says. The Montclairs and Dubois pledged to share any captured magical power. They believed that by combining their forces, they could surpass the Leveaus.”

Dea leaned in with a furrowed brow. “But what about the Rousseaus? They don’t seem to fit into this picture of immediate rivalry.”

Phi grabbed a slim volume with a crest embossed on the cover. “The Rousseaus were guardians. They were tasked with protecting sacred sites. They formed an alliance with the early Voodoo queens, including the Leveaus, to maintain the balance of power.”

“So why would they turn against Marie now?” Dre asked clearly skeptical. “It doesn’t make sense for them to suddenly become antagonistic.”

Kota tapped the table thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s not so sudden. There might have been a shift in their leadership or a change in their goals. We need to find out what triggered their involvement.”

“Look in the green book," Adèle advised. “It contains correspondences between the Leveaus and Rousseaus.”

I gaped at the cat when she stretched out in the stream of sun coming in the window. “How do you know what each of these books say?”

If a cat could roll its eyes, Adèle would have. “I havesomemagic. While I can’t do much on my own, I can turn pages.”

“Huh. You learn something new every day,” I said as I opened the book. Its pages were yellowed with age. “Here’s something. A letter from an early Leveau to a Rousseau ancestor. It thanks them for their protection during a particularly tumultuous period. But later entries show tension. They accused each other of violating sacred sites.”

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