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“What?”

“How much?”

“Why?” she sassed, finally looking up. “Are you suddenly in a giving spirit?”

“I didn’t say all of that.”

“Exactly.” She pointed the clipboard at me. “So don’t worry about my finances.”

“Well, I hope you still have some savings left when this is over.”

She looked offended. “Girl, I know how to budget.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Willow looked around at the mountain of boxes surrounding her before shrugging. “Okay, I know how to make more money.”

I laughed. “That’s what I thought.”

“Look… I won’t go broke after this.” She paused, considering it. “Well… not slap broke. I told you I was sponsoring everything, and I am a woman of my word, even if keeping my word means I might have to mind my damn business financially for a couple weeks.”

I laughed. “That sounds suspiciously close to broke.”

“It is not broke if all your bills are still paid. That is temporarily humbled.”

“Willow.”

“What? There are levels to broke, sis. I’m nowhere near candles-for-lights and ramen-for-dinner broke. I might just be staying my ass in the house until the next deposit hits.”

To Willow’s credit, she hadn’t asked me for a dime.

Not saying she probably wasn’t tempted to ask.

But no, she spent her own money on the decorations, catering, entertainment, and everything else she wanted for the party. Although judging by the condition of the foyer, I was beginning to think she had gotten carried away somewhere between small Halloween gathering and seasonal grand opening.

I picked up one of the smaller boxes and read the label. “Fog machine?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Willow, it’s a mansion. Why do you need a fog machine?”

“For the atmosphere.”

“What atmosphere?”

“The Halloween atmosphere, Lakelyn!”

I shook my head. “I swear, you better not burn this damn house down.”

Her expression immediately changed. “Lakelyn, don’t even joke like that. Because after what happened at Granny’s house, I don’t play about fire.”

I held up both hands. “My bad. Where’s your little fire extinguisher at, anyway?”

“Beside my bed.”

“Of course it is.”

She went back to opening another box while I set my purse on the console table and checked the time.