Page 6 of 4 Weddings and a Feud
“Hello. I’m Rochelle Richardson.”
“Nice to meet you, Rochelle.”
“Rochelle is Ray Richardson’s daughter,” Alex said. The words were heavy with meaning.
Mary blinked. Ray Richardson owned several high-end restaurants in town and was the president of the gaming commission. He was one of the most well-connected people in town. His daughter’s wedding would be a who’s who of Las Vegas VIPs. Whoever secured that wedding would be at the tip of everyone’s tongue for wedding planner recommendations.
No pressure.“T-tell me more about your vision for your wedding.”
“At this point, I’m just hoping not to have to get married at the drive-through chapel. Though I guess”—she tittered nervously—“that’s one benefit to coming home to Vegas to get married. I, um, thought I had more time, but, well…” She put a hand on her flat belly. “The universe gave us a sign to move things along. I want to get married before I start showing so I don’t look like the Luxor in my wedding photos.”
“Congratulations!” Mary clapped her hands. “Believe me, you won’t be the first bride in this town who needs a little give in her gown. I know a boutique with beautiful designs for every body shape. How much time do we have?”
“We want to get married by the end of July.”
Less than two months? That was going to be tighter than Rochelle’s wedding gown.
“How many guests are you inviting?” Mary asked.
“Not too many. About five hundred?”
“Five…hundred?” While summer’s heat made it the least popular time to get married in Vegas, pulling off something that size, even in sizzling July, would be daunting.
Rochelle’s smile faded. “You don’t think you can do it?”
“Of course I can do it,” Mary said.“Wecan do it. But you’re sure you don’t want to wait until after the baby’s born?”
“My fiancé’s family is pretty conservative. We think they can overlook the math if we’re married before the baby comes. And after, I imagine I’ll be too tired to want a big party.”
“I understand. And what did you have in mind as far as the ceremony and reception?” Mary pulled a notepad from the pocket of her khakis and jotted down the notes.
“My fiancé and I are lawyers in LA. We don’t have time for a lot of fussy planning, so I want it all done for us. I was thinking something all-inclusive, you know? A big block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests and anyone who doesn’t want to drive home after. His family might not be big drinkers, but my family? We party hard.” She chuckled.
“And a wedding might be a celebration of love,” Mary said, “but it’s also about merging two families. Establishing relationships for the years ahead. Does your mother have opinions we should consider?”
Rochelle’s lips thinned. “My mother died when I was little. Breast cancer. It’s just Daddy and me.”
“I’m so sorry. I lost my mother when I was a girl, too.” Mary blinked to keep her tears in check. This conversation wasn’t about how much she wished her mother were still around to see what she’d made of her life and to stand beside her at her wedding someday.
“What about your dad?” she asked. “Does he have opinions?”
“Always.” Rochelle smirked. “But in the end, he wants me to be happy. So we’re doing it my way.”
Mary heard the subtext: Rochelle was just as much of a force as her father.
“If money isn’t a consideration and you’re looking for something all-inclusive and easy, I think you’d be better off going with one of the major hotels. Like La Villa.” Reluctantly, she gestured at Alex. “They’ll provide rooms for your guests, plus they can host both the ceremony and the reception in one of the large ballrooms, assuming there’s availability. Their food is to die for. Alex lured the chef away from a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York. Plus, they have an onsite wedding planner to make everything go flawlessly. And if you’re looking for Las Vegas bling, this is the place to be.” As if to prove her point, one of La Villa’s buff waiters meandered by in his short leather centurion costume and offered them bottled water.
Busy admiring his thickly muscled thighs, Rochelle fumbled her bottle of water. “I see what you mean.”
Alex picked up smoothly, “We’d be happy to host your wedding, Rochelle. I can arrange availability on the day of your choice.”
If Mary knew Alex, he’d boot a President to make space for the Richardson wedding. He relied on the favor of the gaming commission for his business. Especially after the shenanigans he’d pulled when he opened the casino.
“I couldn’t work with you both?” Rochelle glanced between them. “I just assumed you worked together, since…”
“We’re old friends,” Mary interjected. “We help each other out. But I can assure you, La Villa is a fantastic choice for your wedding.”
“The hotel isn’t what I was expecting, not after all the griping Daddy did when you opened it.” Rochelle glanced at the tray ceilings, frescoed in the style of the Sistine Chapel. “It’s beautiful. But I’d love to work with you too, Mary. I feel like you get me.”
