Once the banquet tables filled, Roland's coworkers crowded in to toast him.
Someone praised him.
"A second wedding, and he still throws a spread this big. Mr. Delgado's got real talent."
Roland raised his glass.
"My family's backing me, that's all."
I had a server hand him the drinks upgrade slip.
He pointed at the standard bottles.
"Switch these for the vintage. Every table."
The server read out the price.
"That's an extra twenty-four hundred per table."
Roland took the pen and signed.
"You really have to announce a sum this small? Lorraine, you've been broke so long you think everyone counts pennies like you do."
Delia stepped over to his side.
"The bride's relatives would like to take party favors home. Miss Sullivan won't be too stingy to spring for it just because it's her money, will she?"
Rosamond joined in.
"Add a box of premium seafood for every family. We can't have the in-laws thinking we're cheap."
I handed Roland the gift-box price list.
"Twelve hundred a box, eighteen boxes."
"Add them."
"Please sign."
He glanced at Delia.
"Sign it."
Delia's father asked, "Roland, anything else for the VIP table?"
Roland immediately called a server over.
"Open a VIP hall."
"We'll want tea service, drinks, and staff."
"Arrange all of it."
I passed over the VIP hall list.
"Cigars, tea service, drinks, service charge. Thirty-six thousand total."
Rosamond gave a cold laugh.
"Spelling it out so carefully. Are you afraid we can't afford it, or afraid you'll have to pay a cent yourself?"
Roland signed his name.
His coworker praised him again.
"Nobody could pull off a spread like this. Not even the owner of your ad agency."
He smiled with his glass in hand.
"Enjoy yourselves tonight, everyone."
Kayla set the itemized bill in front of me.
Seven hundred sixty-eight thousand, three hundred.
I checked the accounts.
Thirty-seven signed slips in all.
Every one of them carried Roland's name.
As the banquet broke up, Roland picked up the two cash-gift bags.
He walked to the front desk and pushed the bill across to me.
"Run the supplementary card like always."
"You finish the paperwork."
I didn't touch the bill.
"Settle the hotel first."
Roland laughed.
"Lorraine, drop the act."
"We're divorced. You've really got the nerve to make me pay?"
Rosamond hollered at the guests who hadn't left yet.
"She volunteered to plan my son's wedding."
"Quit playing so noble. Divorced, and she still can't let go of my son."
I took a step back.
Kayla walked up to Roland with finance and legal.
She set the bill down beside the cash-gift bags.
"Mr. Delgado."
"Your wedding banquet came to seven hundred sixty-eight thousand, three hundred."
"The groom is to settle it in full himself."
