He rushed into the conference room, carefully placing the boxes on the end of the table and passing out plates and napkins. Zed was midsentence, sounding much more like an elected official than he normally did, “We’re just not ready for the numbers Dr. Assf- Aspern is projecting. We already have drole living in an improvised RV park at the end of Main Street. Theresa’s been fielding calls from businesses wanting to talk to our Chamber of Commerce. We don’t have a Chamber of Commerce, less you count the Boone Family. And giving them more power is the last thing we need. No offense, Bael.”

Bael shrugged.

“And as much as we want to welcome anyone and everyone who wants to live in the Bayou, we’re not ready for a massive influx of new residents,” Zed lamented. “We don’t have the infrastructure, the public works, the supply chain, the stores, anything to support a population boom like this.”

“If it helps, Bonita De Los Santos said that several tour companies have inquired about setting up post office boxes. Tourism dollars will only help local economy,” Adam noted, pulling out a chart he’d printed.

Dani cupped her hands together, a ball of light forming between her palms. It was her usual method of dealing with Adam when he tried to take over meetings, waffling on about how he was single-handedly saving Mystic Bayou’s financial future.

“People want to do tours?” Zed exclaimed, shaking his head. “Do they realize how insulting that is? We’re not a zoo!”

“Maybe instead of letting people wander through the Bayou unsupervised, we arrange some sort of seminar?” Jillian suggested, laying a hand on Zed’s arm. “Guest speakers and lectures all in one contained place, like a visitor’s center? Where they can’t do any damage and it’s sort of contained?”

“We don’t have a visitor’s center, Jillian,” Zed replied, “Or hotels or apartments to rent. And the last thing we want is for a housing development to spring up near the old rift site or something. And how do we feed all these people without running the grocery store empty every other day?”

“What about pop up stores?” Sonja suggested. “Or helping the grocery establish delivery trucks? You know they’re a big hit in the outside world, and it would provide a much-needed service for older residents. Bael could maybe avoid pulling over poor Emily McAinsley every time she drives into town.”

“I think Emily and I would both appreciate that,” Bael muttered. “But construction takes time around here and these temporary fixes to long-term issues are going to involve a lot of trailers. That could be a problem, come hurricane season.”

“We need engineers,” Zed said. “Electrical, sewage, roads, all of the things that communities need to provide for their citizens on a larger scale. We need to catch up.”