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“How did you know about her?” asked the older woman.

“It’s a long story,” said Ruby. “We think that you, Winnie Parker, have some of that magic within you and can help lift a hundreds-year-old curse.”

The woman stared at them and just laughed. When she realized that no one else was laughing, she took a seat, just staring at them.

“You can’t be serious. I’m nothing but a businesswoman. I’ve never shown any signs of havin’ skill,” she said innocently.

“That might be,” said Ruby, “but we believe you can lift this curse either way. We know what was said to place the curse, and we think we can figure out what to say to lift it.”

“You’re really serious?”

“As a heart attack,” said Gaspar. “We’d like to ask you to come with us. Please.”

“But my store is open. I make a lot of money this time of day.”

“My brother and I will stay,” said Antoine, nodding at Rafe. “We can watch the store. We’ve worked in our parents’ store for years.”

“It’s true,” smiled Irene. “You might be shy a few sweets when we get back, but we’ll pay for ‘em.” She stared at the group again, wondering if they’d all lost their minds. Stranger things have happened in New Orleans, and she couldn’t deny that she’d felt the twinges of magic in her fingertips before. Times when good luck suddenly appeared for her, in spite of all that was happening around her.

“Alright. I’ll give you one hour,” she said. Grover suddenly showed himself, smiling at the woman.

“One hour should do it.”

“Why couldn’t we just do it under the tree?” she asked as they explained it all to her in the car.

“Ruby and I don’t think it would cover all the people the man hurt. If we do it where the curse was done, then there’s a better chance this will all lift away.”

“Well, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do, but I do believe all these folks deserve some peace.”

Irene had to do a lot of explaining to the owners of the property to let them know why Bennett Hampton should be allowed on the property, just for a brief time. Finally, they agreed to give him thirty minutes. That was all they would need.

“We think that this is the bedroom that the curse would have been delivered from,” said Gaspar. “Mama and Miss Ruby have written out a counter-curse – I can’t believe I’m saying that – that should lift this one.”

“You can’t believe you’re saying it, and I can’t believe I’m doin’ it,” said Winnie.

“Don’t do it!” yelled Melba, appearing in the room. “Don’t do this!”

“Uh, is she real?” asked Winnie.

“Well, she was,” said Ruby. “She’s the one that placed the curse. Your ancestor, Melba.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Winnie, staring at the spirit.

“Do not lift this curse! They all deserve to suffer and die for what they’ve done.”

“You know, the world is different, and there’s too much hate and suffering nowadays. I don’t want to be a part of that. If I can help, I will.” She turned to Ruby and Irene, who handed her a sheet of paper.

“Just recite it exactly like that,” said Ruby.

“The killing is done, your curse is now lifted. They have paid enough, given enough, and the time has come to end this.You are free to travel with the angels, or the devil, should he come for you. It ends here and now. The debt has been paid.”

They all waited, holding their breath as if something magical would happen. Floating angels or fairy dust, something to tell them that the curse was lifted.

“I don’t hear anything,” said Bennett.

“I don’t either,” said Gaspar.

“No, I mean, I hear nothing. No voices, no whispers, nothing. I think it’s gone,” he smiled.