Page 18 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

Dani managed a small smile. “If any of us could help we would. Does anyone have any other ideas for decor? We need to have Lia design the wine glasses. I was thinking we either etch the Leveau family crest or a fleur de li on them.”

Leaving my sisters to brainstorm, I made my way upstairs where the antique in question was stored. The room was dimly lit because the heavy drapes were drawn to keep the morning sun from fading the delicate fabrics and wood. I hadn’t made it two steps before I could feel the spirit’s presence. It was a restless energy that crackled.

“Alright, little troublemaker,” I said softly as I scanned the room. “Let’s see what’s bothering you.”

As I approached the antique lamp, my attention was drawn to the beautifully carved mahogany chest it rested on.Whatever was going on was not coming from the lamp. It was clear why Kota would think that. The lid of the chest was vibrating slightly. It was as if something inside was trying to get out. Placing my hands on the wood, I closed my eyes and focused on calming the spirit.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, using my abilities to connect with the entity. “I’m here to help. What do you need?” Adèle joined me and watched as I worked. It was unnerving to have the small cat’s eyes on me.

The spirit’s energy was chaotic. There was a swirl of confusion and frustration. Through my connection, I saw glimpses of its past. This was a maid who had worked at Willowberry long ago. I wondered if she was there with Cami. This woman felt forgotten and overlooked. These emotions were new for the spirits I dealt with around the plantation. Ever since we took over and began rebuilding the various buildings on the property, I’d had to help countless find peace and move on. Our activities stirred up their resting places and agitated them.

I managed to soothe the spirit with gentle coaxing. I assured her that she was remembered and valued. As the energy settled, I whispered a simple spell to push her to cross over. I thought of it more as guiding the spirit to a place of peace. The chest stopped vibrating and the room felt noticeably lighter.

“Good work, Dea. Your spiritual powers are developing faster than expected,” Adèle admitted. “That will come in handy in the situations you six will face.”

“I hope it will be more stuff like this,” I chuckled and gestured to the chest.

Adèle shook her head. “I don’t foresee it being that easy. My gut tells me there will be more bodies in your future, however.”

Returning to the kitchen, I found the others still deep in discussion. Kota had secured the jazz band, and Phi wasfinishing up her call with the new caterers. “How did it go?” Dani asked, looking up as I entered.

"The spirit crossed over," I replied. "It was a maid who used to work here. What did you decide for other decor?"

Dani sighed in relief. "Good. Aside from incorporating the antiques, we have decided to add several elements to really bring the theme to life. We'll have elegant wrought-iron candle holders with black and gold candles to give it that classic New Orleans feel. For the tables, we're using deep purple and emerald green linens with centerpieces of magnolias and Spanish moss. They will be accented with small voodoo dolls and gris-gris bags as nods to Marie's heritage.”

I nodded, imagining the ambiance. "Sounds perfect. What about where her family comes in? Are we going to try and spruce that up as you mentioned?” Guests to the events at Willowberry entered through the covered patio between the main house and the summer kitchen that was now the caterer’s kitchen. Dani had decided it was too plain and that we needed to do something grand for guests during events.

“Steve is cleaning up and repainting that elaborate archway we found in the back acreage. He’s going to cover it in ivy and twinkling fairy lights to welcome guests,” Dani explained. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she spoke. It was good to see her excited after spending too many years caring for premature babies in the NICU. “And we're planning to have live jazz music playing softly in the background, creating that unmistakable New Orleans vibe. We're also renting some ornate, vintage-style wrought iron furniture. We will create cozy lounge areas on the patio where people can sit and reminisce.”

“Nice touch,” I said, smiling at her attention to detail. That’s what set our events apart, the details we added went above and beyond. “Anything else?”

"Yes," Dani said, her smile widening. "We'll have a section dedicated to Marie's family history, with old photographs and documents displayed on vintage easels. And for a bit of fun, we're setting up a beignet and praline station. That way guests can indulge in some traditional New Orleans treats.”

“I assume we will set the tables on the lawn where they won’t be far from the buffet,” I added, genuinely impressed. “Marie’s family is going to love it.”

“That’s what I was thinking. We can put up our wedding tent if that helps contain the spirits. Steve and the shifters can create a tunnel with them leading from the gazebo to the main tent.” Dani's expression softened with satisfaction.

“We should do that so the others don’t crowd the gazebo,” Kota said and then made a face. “We've put a lot of thought into every detail to make sure it honors Marie’s legacy while celebrating her family and she’s tried to kill us more times than I can count.”

Lia ran a hand across her chest and eyed Dani. No doubt she was remembering when the two of them had been kidnapped by Marie, and she stabbed her. “We have to be the bigger person and set our grievances aside. People are already starting to talk about how we are hosting the reunion. Our reputation is growing. This will bring more business our way.”

“It had better,” Dre muttered.

“So, what do you all think the family dynamics will be like?” Dani asked, breaking the silence.

Lia leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Marie’s family seems to have a complicated history. I imagine there will be a lot of old wounds and unresolved issues to address.”

Dre snorted, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I wonder if the spirits of the ancestors will have disagreements too. Like,Trina going after Uncle Bob because he didn’t pay back the hundred bucks he owed her. Can you imagine?”

We all chuckled at the thought, the tension in the room easing slightly. “It’s not far-fetched,” Phi added, smiling. “Family disputes don’t just disappear because someone’s dead.”

I shifted the conversation. “That’s one reason I need to do the pre-reunion séance. It’s important to gauge the spirits' willingness to participate. We need to know who’s open to reconciliation and who might still be holding onto grudges.”

Kota nodded in agreement. “It’s a good plan. But what if some spirits are outright hostile? We can’t risk them causing havoc during the reunion.”

I sighed from the weight of her responsibility on my shoulders. “That’s the tricky part. If I sense any hostility, I’ll have to decide whether it’s worth summoning that spirit. But I believe most of them will understand the importance of healing and moving forward.”

Lia looked at me, her eyes filled with empathy. “Do you want to do the pre-reunion meeting using a séance now?”

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