Page 72 of 4 Weddings and a Feud

“Oh, God. Notinthe pool?” Could Rochelle have accidentally fallen in? Mary hurried out of the ballroom.

“No. Just come. Quickly, please. I’m no good at this.”

She broke into a run as soon as she reached the hall that led to the exit nearest the pool. When she pushed open the exterior door, she easily spotted Rochelle’s white dress. It caught the light from the neighboring casino and seemed to glow as the bride paced across the pool deck.

“Hi, Rochelle.” Mary approached her cautiously. “How are we doing?”

“Not good. Not good.” The whites of her eyes were wild in the dim light. “This is a sign. I thought the baby was a sign we should get married, but now the universe is telling me it’s a mistake.”

Evie melted into the shadows. She really wasn’t good at this.

But Mary had to try. “The universe?” She stepped closer. “So we had a tiny fire. And a blackout. You should see the ballroom with everyone’s phones lit up. It’s so romantic.”

“Andmy dress. And I know about the rings falling into the drain. Devon told me about it. I’m afraid if I step down that aisle, Rohaan’s going to get struck down with appendicitis. Or Daddy will have a heart attack.”

Mary held out her palm. Rochelle looked at it for a moment, then laid her trembling hand on top. Mary clasped it.

“You don’t have to get married tonight,” she said.

Evie gasped in the darkness.

“You don’t,” Mary said, her voice stronger. “But there’s a reason you decided to marry Rohaan. Even before you knew about the baby. Do you remember why?”

“I love him,” she muttered. “But that doesn’t mean I have to marry him.”

“No, it doesn’t. Why do you love him?”

Rochelle paused. “I’m the best version of myself when I’m with him.”

Mary’s heart fluttered. She felt like that with Alex, too. She wondered briefly if she made him a better person. Then she forced her attention back on the bride. “Sounds like a good reason to stay with him.”

“Of course I want to stay with Rohaan,” Rochelle snapped. “But marriage? It’s a big commitment. What if all these disasters are telling me it’s not right for us?”

“In the big scheme of things, none of the things that have gone wrong are all that important. Everyone’s safe. You’re glowing. And Rohaan wants nothing more than to be your husband. Do you want me to get him?”

“No. No,” Rochelle muttered, pacing away. “He’ll just hug me and kiss me and make me feel better. I’ll think more clearly on my own.”

“Will you? I always do my best thinking with someone else. My brothers. My employees. And Alex.”

“Alex?” Rochelle snorted. “He has a nice hotel, and he’s bent over backward to accommodate this wedding because of Daddy, but you’re the one doing all the work. Meanwhile, he’s getting all the credit.”

“You think so?” The flutters died in her heart, and her stomach felt heavy. She remembered the curl of Alex’s lip when he turned away from her in the ballroom. If he didn’t appreciate her help, why was she even doing it? Her tripled fee and the spa treatments weren’t worth the time away from her brothers. The near-disaster at the reception for Teagan and Twyla, who’d believed in her when few others did.

“Rohaan would never take credit for my work. He always shines the spotlight on me.”

“He sounds like a winner.” Mary’s voice trembled. But this wasn’t about her problems. She cleared her throat. “You sure you don’t want to prove how much you love him by walking down that aisle despite everything that’s tried to get in your way?”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s a test.”

“Like God tested Job,” Mary said.

“God was an asshole to Job.”

Mary was glad for the darkness that hid her shocked expression. She and her brothers had a healthy respect for God, who’d done a lot of taketh-ing away in their lives.

Rochelle continued, “And the universe has been an asshole to us tonight. But I’m going to show everyone, including the fucking universe, how strong we are together.” Rochelle pointed her middle finger at the sky. “Screw you, universe. I love Rohaan, and we’re going to live happily ever after, starting tonight.”

Mary sighed her relief. She tapped her earpiece. “Joey, start the processional. We’re on our way.”

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