Marietta Hotels 2: An Engagement in Paris

by Rachell Nichole

  The girls introduced themselves to Layla.

  “Your bags are on their way up to your rooms, I take it?” Layla said.

  “Yes,” Addison said.

  “Good. Then let’s take this party on the road. We have a ballroom to help the bride choose.”

  Mandy followed the flurry of girls through the lobby and down the long corridor to a set of double doors on the left. Layla opened them with a flourish to a chorus of oohs and aahs from Mom, Diedre, and Addison. Mandy was thrilled to see her girls, but she knew their vying opinions would make her role all the more difficult over the coming days. They entered the huge room.

  “This is the Coco Chanel Ballroom. And like I was telling Mandy, we can rearrange to make it suit whatever we need. Smaller or larger. More intimate.”

  Nothing could make this monstrosity of a room more intimate, even though it was gorgeous. Gold-leaf columns dominated the room in long rows on either side of the main space. An ornate ceiling and three huge chandeliers completed the Roman effect. No way would her small party be comfortable in this room.

  She shook her head, even as the girls went off exploring the room, sizing it up. “Not gonna happen, ladies,” she called. Her voice echoed, as if emphasizing her point.

  “Boo,” Addison yelled.

  “C’mon, Mandy. This is gorgeous,” Diedre said.

  “I promise all the rooms are this pretty. They’re just different styles and sizes,” Layla told them.

  “Next, please,” Mandy said. She turned to follow Layla and her mom, knowing Addy and Di would follow after they were done swooning over the room. Diedre was keeping possession of Sophie for the moment, and Mandy grinned. Her little girl would be loved and cherished by her Theta sisters as if she were theirs. It seemed Sophie would grow up with more than just Layla for an aunt. But they would all be so far away. Could she really raise her daughter thousands of miles from her friends and family? She wasn’t ready to give up Paris just yet.

  Layla took them down the hall a bit farther to another set of doors. She ushered the small party into the room. It was half the size of the first one, but still ornate as ever. Purples and reds made up the color scheme in this smaller room, which held twenty or more round tables surrounded by chairs.

  “So for here, I was thinking dividing the room in two with some pieces we have in the hotel. Aisle going that way, altar over there, small rows of chairs for the ceremony, and then a few round tables for the reception there,” Layla said, pointing out the areas as she walked Mandy through the steps.

  It still felt too big, even with her additional guests. She could imagine a wedding in here, with the smaller chandeliers, beautiful wall sconces, and the deep jewel tones. But not her wedding.

  “No, huh?” Layla said. She must’ve been able to read Mandy’s facial expression.

  Mandy laughed. “Sorry, too big for us.”

  “I figured you’d say that.”

  “Mand! Come on, lady. This is wonderful,” Diedre said.

  “Gimme that baby,” Addison said, coming toward Diedre with her arms outstretched.

  Mom put her arm around Mandy and rested her head on Mandy’s shoulder. “This isn’t it, baby?”

  “No. It’s just not me.” Mandy lifted her head. “Layla, there’s more rooms, right?”

  “Yeah. Well, one more. But I think it’s the best. It’s where I’d want my wedding, anyway.” Layla winked as she walked by, leading them out of the second most extravagant ballroom Mandy had ever seen.

  Mom linked arms with Mandy as they strolled back through the lobby and off into the other side of the hotel. If walking around Paris for the past few months after Sophie’s birth hadn’t gotten her in shape for her wedding, traipsing through the hotel just might do the job.

  She couldn’t help but take in the detailed ceilings as they walked. Some were painted in frescoes to highlight the age and grandeur of such a place. She was so busy looking up, she didn’t realize Layla had stopped until Mom tugged on her arm. Mandy blinked and refocused at eye level just as Layla opened the doors to a beautiful enclosed garden.

  Mandy gasped. “Oh, my God. Layla, this is stunning.”

  Layla smiled, and Mandy’s stomach flipped. The long corridor before her was bright with natural light from the terrace and stained-glass ceilings. Black-and-white marble floors glimmered in the sunshine, covered in some places by round tables.

  “So this is what I was thinking. Cocktails in this area before the reception. I’d like the staff to hang curtains between the atrium and this room, covering the glass walls,” Layla said as she walked through the space.

  “But the light will disappear.” Mandy admired the teal wrought-iron doors and trim between this room and the atrium.

  “Enough will come through the glass ceiling in this part, and besides, during cocktails you don’t want everyone to see the rest. Because in here is where the ceremony and reception will take place.” Layla pushed open the glass doors to the terrace.

  Mandy and Mom followed.

  “I’d do an aisle here between the existing short hedges, and we’d embellish them all with flowers. The aisle would lead up to the fountain in the center here, where we would have two small semicircles of chairs for guests. On the left here, where the bistro tables are, we’d have just a few larger tables for dinner. Or maybe everyone at one larger table? On the right, the dance floor and DJ.”

  Mandy could picture it. Her breath hitched. The room pitched. She could absolutely see herself getting married here.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Layla snapped her fingers in front of Mandy’s face. “Sorry,” Mandy mumbled. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed.”

  She brought the lobby back into focus and shifted, the corset digging slightly into her side. She’d stolen a few moments of peace alone upstairs after choosing the room for the wedding, changing out of her nursing bra and into one of the full corsets Julien had brought with them. Now she’d been letting her mind wander over all the delightful ways she was going to use the corset to seduce Julien later. It was easier to focus on that than on her prewedding jitters.

  “It’s all right, girl. Don’t worry about it.” Layla put an arm around her, and Mandy tried to relax. Mom had taken Sophie up for a nap after all their excitement, and the girls had gone to freshen up. Which had left her alone in the lobby with wedding-crazed Layla. She smiled despite the vestiges of fear still lingering. She’d woken up so sure of herself for the first time in ages. And now she wasn’t. It had to be the girls showing up and helping her plan the wedding that was making her nervous all over again. It was normal for little girls to dream about their big day. Normal for them to discuss it with their best girls in college and after. But Mandy had always been the one listening to those dreams, not the one having them. Until now.

  “So, I’ve booked the Jardin for the ceremony on Friday. That’s all set.”

  Mandy rocked gently in the swivel chair in the main area of the lobby as she watched the goings-on of the hotel around them. Would her life with Julien really change that much after a wedding band and a piece of paper signified they were married?

  Mandy’s thoughts were interrupted when she spotted a blonde heading straight for them, her lips pressed into a thin line. She looked so much like Layla, Mandy blinked, trying to decide if she was imagining things. The woman wore a dark suit, and her hair was pulled back into a severe bun at the base of her skull. A slender neck was adorned with a classic strand of pearls, and Mandy couldn’t tell if the wide shoulders were real or just an illusion created by the tailored jacket. Inch-high heels clacked loudly on tile as she strode with purpose toward Mandy and Layla.

  “So it’s true, then. You are planning a wedding,” the woman said.

  Layla’s eyes went wide, and she spun around in the chair to look at the newcomer. “Mom?”

  Uh-oh.

  “I can’t believe you would do this to me. I mean, I know you’ve barely spoken to me since New York, but to go off and get married wit
hout even telling me?”

  “Whoa, Mom. Relax. I’m not getting married,” Layla said, shaking her head. “But leave it to you to come barging in here like you know what the hell’s going on and pass judgment. You never change, do you? Well, at least I know what to expect.” She sounded disgusted.

  Damn. Mandy couldn’t imagine talking to her mom like that, no matter how angry she was. Maybe Layla hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d described her controlling mom.

  “But you are planning a wedding?”

  “Yes. Hers,” Layla said, pointing to Mandy.

  She so did not want any part of this conversation. She’d asked Layla repeatedly if it was okay they were there. She hadn’t wanted the big wedding to begin with. And she hated being an imposition.

  “I’m sorry, Layla. I just…I thought…” The woman shook her head.

  Layla’s face softened as she stood and moved closer to her mother. “I know we have our issues, Mom. Believe me, I do. But you would know if I was getting married. I promise.”

  Mandy’s heart clenched for Layla, and she forced herself to sit still instead of jumping instantly to the woman’s defense. Layla was a good person. Why was Layla’s mom looking at her with such disapproval? Mandy didn’t really have much business sticking her nose in their mother-daughter relationship, but it was hard to quell the urge to interfere.

  “Mom, this is Tyler’s sister, Mandy. Mandy, my mother, Estelle.”

  Mandy smiled and stood. “Nice to meet you. I’m the bride-to-be.” Time to redirect some of Estelle’s anger.

  Estelle reached out a cool hand and shook with Mandy, her light blue eyes assessing. She’d never felt so scrutinized in her life. Layla cleared her throat, and Estelle turned toward her daughter.

  “I’m…sorry,” Estelle said again. The words were stilted. Formal. What the hell had gone so wrong in their relationship that had caused such tension?

  Mandy didn’t want to become her mother. It was truthfully among her greatest fears. But she loved Angela with all her heart. Tyler had mentioned in passing a couple months back he was trying to get Layla to reconcile with her mom, and now she understood why. If this was what they were like after his efforts, she couldn’t imagine what the relationship must have been like before.

  “I’m sorry too,” Layla said. She took a hesitant step toward her mom and held out her arm.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, come here,” Estelle said, pulling her daughter closer and into a short and very awkward hug. But Layla was smiling when she stepped away.

  “I checked with the local manager, and they had a few empty spots this week that I offered for Mandy to use. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  “No, darling, it’s fine. We’re not losing any money using rooms that were empty.” Estelle waved it away as if it was nothing. “What about the food for the reception?”

  Mandy hadn’t thought of that. God, at a place like the Marietta Paris, no doubt food would be ridiculously expensive. She’d blown through her savings quicker and quicker since Sophie had been born. No way could she afford it. Especially since her wedding party had practically doubled in the past day.

  “Tyler and I are taking care of the food cost,” Layla said.

  “I can’t let you do that,” Mandy said.

  “Bull. Of course you can. It’s our wedding gift to you.”

  “That’s too much.”

  “It’s fine,” Layla insisted. “You’re family now, girlfriend.”

  “Yes, well, at least you’ve decided to use the money that was just sitting in your trust fund,” Estelle said.

  Mandy could tell by the tone this was an old argument. She didn’t want to be a charity case that Layla was using her mother’s money to help out. But what could she do? She couldn’t call off the wedding now because she couldn’t afford to feed the guests after the ceremony. Why hadn’t she thought of the cost when Layla had mentioned cocktails and the bar? Now it was too late.

  “Tyler and I have pretty much everything we need. I used some to buy the apartment and redesign it a bit.”

  “And I believe I saw a loan payment come out a few months back. But you didn’t have any student loans,” Estelle said.

  “Mom!”

  “What? I got a notice from the bank since the money had sat there untouched for so long. They wanted to make sure it was a valid transfer. I take it he doesn’t know?”

  Mandy was lost.

  “No, and I’d like to keep it that way. At least for now.” Layla turned to Mandy. “Ty had a lot of student loans to pay off. He was waiting to move on to what he really wanted to do at the Innocence Project so he could make the payments. I tried to tell him we could pay them off, but he didn’t want to hear about it. I couldn’t stand the thought of him working for those slimeballs at Malcolm, Johnson, and Klein or leaving a place he really loved to go to a similar law firm just for the money. I have it, and I’m not using it. Now it can be used for good things instead of just sitting in the bank. Like letting Tyler follow his dream, and giving you and Julien a wedding you’ll never forget.” Layla shrugged, but since she was still looking at Mandy, she missed her mother’s smile, and the gleam of what Mandy thought might be tears in the older woman’s eyes.

  “Well, good, then. So you’ll be here through the weekend?” Estelle asked.

  “Yeah,” Layla said. “And Tyler’s mom is here. You should meet her.”

  “As it appears this is more than a passing fling for you, I suppose I should.” Estelle snapped her mouth closed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that.” She huffed.

  Layla shook her head. “Yes, mother. It’s more than a passing fling.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

  Layla’s eyebrows rose as if she couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mother’s mouth.

  “No, really. I am. I think he’s been good for you.” Estelle straightened her shoulders, seeming to change her whole persona into a stronger front. Mandy had used the same technique a time or two, putting on a brave face and the no-nonsense air when emotions got too hard to handle. “Well, I have a meeting to go to. I’ll call you later.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Layla gave her mom a quick kiss on the cheek, and Estelle walked off toward the bank of elevators.

  “That was so weird,” Layla said as soon as her mom was out of sight. “She’s usually much less personable.”

  “It looks like she’s at least trying. That’s a step in the right direction, isn’t it?” Mandy said. Tyler was determined to improve Layla’s relationship with her mom. Maybe Mandy could help that along.

  “It is. Definitely. But…Damn. I never know which I’m going to get now—the disapproving ice queen she was my entire childhood or the slightly warmer frenemy she’s turning into.”

  Mandy put an arm around Layla’s shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. “Well, maybe you should invite her for tomorrow’s festivities.”

  “What?” Layla said, her eyes going wide. “You’ve got to be kidding me. No way am I inviting her for a relaxing day at the spa. Her being there would eliminate the relaxation part entirely.”

  “Come on, Lay, you saw the effort she just made. You should at least offer.”

  “She won’t come, even if I invite her.”

  “Invite her anyway,” Mandy persisted. “Besides, it’s her money you keep spending, isn’t it? Who knows? Maybe she’ll surprise you. It’d be a nice neutral place for her to meet my mom.”

  That was not a meeting Mandy looked forward to. Angela Lachlan was not known for her class or her tact. If she felt Estelle was being phony, or less than wonderful to Layla, she wasn’t going to just sit back and watch. No doubt she’d come to Layla’s defense, the same way Mandy had wanted to. But Mom wouldn’t stop herself like Mandy had.

  It was no secret Mandy’s mom cared greatly for Layla. Mandy had seen that when she first got to the hotel on Friday. Mom was already treating Layla like a daughter. She wouldn’t take kindly to Estelle attacking someone under her motherly prote
ction. But they couldn’t keep the two women apart forever, so it was better for the future in-laws to meet on neutral ground. That way, Mandy could play mediator if things got nasty.

  “Okay, you’re right. I’ll invite her. But don’t hold your breath. I’m sure she’s too busy for me—well, us.” Layla shook her head. “Can we go over the menu tomorrow? I think I want to go upstairs and find your brother. Warn him she’s here. He’s already been ambushed by her once. And that ended badly.”

  Layla’s eyes were wide, and her voice was unsure. So unlike the take-charge force of nature she’d been since Mandy met her. “Yeah, no problem. I should probably spend some time with my groom anyway.”

  Layla smiled at Mandy, but it was weak. She was quiet as they rode the elevator upstairs. “I’ll see you later,” Layla said as they walked down to the bank of suites.

  “Sure,” Mandy said and went into the room she was sharing with Julien.

  JULIEN CLOSED THE wardrobe in the bedroom when he heard Mandy call him from the living room. He didn’t want her to see the suit he and Tyler had picked out that morning. They had spent over two hours in that damned tuxedo shop Layla had sent them to. She’d insisted he couldn’t wear just any suit to the wedding. He’d tried to tell her Mandy was wearing a simple white dress and his plain suit would be just fine, but she’d assured him Mandy would be wearing a more traditional wedding dress Friday. Though apparently Mandy didn’t know that yet.

  While expensive, the store was the best in town. The charcoal-gray suit with a lavender tie looked tailor-made for him, even though it hadn’t been. And Layla had good friends in high places, because the salesman had given Julien the suit for half of what it was worth. Perhaps even less.

  He couldn’t wait to surprise Mandy with it. She loved when he dressed up, and he wanted to make her fall in love with him all over again on their wedding day.

  Julien rushed out of the bedroom to meet her in the black-and-gold living room. She was gazing out at the city as the sun began to set. He couldn’t believe how quickly the day had flown by.