Slate kept silent but remained close to let Dash know he was there. This was Dash’s idea, and he was right. No one knew the portal like he and Slate. His father’s concern about the portal was a made up issue.
“Grandpa,” Dash said, his tone softer. “I know the family moved away from Quakerism after his death, but Ezra believed in being a peacemaker. That includes preventing violence. Can you honestly say he would approve of banishing Theodore and Wilbur without even trying my suggestion first?”
No one spoke, but Meredith bumped shoulders with her brother. Dash didn’t smile, but he nudged her back. The mood in the room shifted. There wasn’t agreement, but the first crack in the wall of resistance appeared.
“He’s right,” Millicent said, her voice quiet but firm. “Ezra would have tried mercy before force.”
“Millie…”
“Don’t ‘Millie’ me.” She squeezed his arm. “You know Dash is right. Ezra would have looked for another way.”
“But what if it destroys the portal?” Morten’s voice lost much of its certainty. “It is one of a kind. Losing it would be felt for decades.”
Everyone was so concerned about the portal, but they didn’t create it or use it to help souls cross over. “Then we make a new one,” he said. “Like Dash said, he and I understand it better than anyone else.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to destroy it, son,” Marjorie said. “It was the culmination of Esmerelda’s life’s work.”
His mother’s weak argument meant this discussion was all but over. “Putting aside that we do have the right—we risked our lives to create it—there’s nothing to suggest it will hurt theportal.” Slate shifted his gaze from his mother to his father. “I know change is never easy, but sticking with something even if it’s wrong isn’t the answer.”
“Well, I think that’s settled,” Meredith said. “Now how do we get those two ghosts here so Dash and Slate can push them over?”
It might have been a bit premature to declare things settled, but Meredith’s declaration appeared to end the debate. She also highlighted the part of their plan that he and Dash hadn’t worked out.
“Thomas and I can help,” Cain said. “Those two have been causing trouble among other ghosts, but we weren’t willing to help if you only wanted to banish them.”
“Right on,” Gary said. “Thomas said we could trust you two. I’m willing to help get those two downers away from our party ghosts.”
“So am I,” Oliver said. “If you tell me how I can help.”
“How do you plan to get them to the ballroom?” Clifford asked. “Dark spirits are powerful and manipulative. They won’t just cooperate.”
“Cain and I can handle them,” Thomas said. “We’ve been around long enough to have met their kind before. They’re bullies, and they see everyone else as weak. Stand up to them, and they back off.”
“They see a crowd of hippies who won’t fight back,” Cain added. “Thomas, Oliver, Gary, and I won’t have any trouble getting them here. Just be ready to hold them once we arrive. Those two chickens will run the first chance they get.”
Slate’s parents sat back, and most of the tension left their bodies. Morten patted Millicent’s hand and smiled. “Sounds like you six have this under control.”
“Not so fast, Gramps.” Dash held out his hand. “You too, Mr. Blackwood. We need your help to change some of thecontainment charms we set around the ballroom. They’re meant to prevent ghosts from accidentally leaving the house, not stop a determined effort to flee.”
“Oh, now you need our help,” Clifford said, a crooked grin crossing his lips. “What happened to you have this all figured out?”
“Clifford, don’t you dare,” Marjorie said. “The boys said they didn’t agree with your plan, not that they didn’t need your help. You’re going to help them, so stop playing.”
“I’m in,” Morten said, raising his hands in surrender. “Millie corrected me once. I don’t plan to make her do it a second time.”
“We’ll need the modifications finished by evening,” Dash said. “Then undo them before the party tomorrow.”
“What happens if you can’t fix things in time?” Gary asked.
“We hold the party without them,” Slate said. “It isn’t ideal, but it’s not important enough to cancel everything.”
“Right on, man.” Gary held his hand up. “You’re a righteous dude.”
Slate braced himself for his hand to pass through Gary’s and high-fived the ghost. To Slate’s surprise, his hand hit Gary’s. The slap was cold, and didn’t feel like flesh, but Gary’s hand was solid.
“Let’s eat before we get started.” His mother pushed off the arms of her chair and stood. “You two are not eating enough.”
Dash rolled his eyes and gave Slate a pleading look to make her stop.
