The next day, I ask Mark to see if he could get me all the financial reports and employee records from the casino and have them dropped off to me at the hotel. He says that he would be happy to deliver all the paperwork personally if I would agree to have lunch with him again. I tell him I would love to if he agrees to a quick lunch in my hotel room. He sounded so excited until I told him that Kyle would be joining us.

I asked for the paperwork to be delivered instead of going to the casino because I don’t want my first time meeting my employees to come off looking like I’m inept to do my job. I’m pretty sure a woman running a casino will be undermined to begin with. So, I figure I better know as much as I can before I make my first appearance.

A few hours later, Kyle is still working on my dress in his bedroom when I hear someone knocking on my door. I open the door to find Mark standing there with a busboy pushing a cart filled with boxes, and then a second busboy has a cart with our lunch. I guess presuming what I would like to eat or drink is going to be a habit for Mark and an annoyance to me.

“Come in, Mark.”

“Thank you. Well, I got all the paperwork you asked for, and I took the liberty of ordering our lunch, including Kyle’s, of course.”

“So I see, thank you. Have a seat.”

I tell the busboys where to put everything. I then tip and thank them.

Kyle comes into the room. “Is that food I smell? But we didn’t order yet.”

“Mark took the liberty and ordered for us.”

From behind Mark’s back, Kyle makes the gagging face, and I have to stifle a laugh.

We eat pretty fast, and I give Mark the old heave-ho, sending him on his way.

Kyle says, “Well, he’s interesting.”

“No, no, he’s not. But he’s nice. That’s important.”

“Yep, because the nice guy always gets the girl.”

“Shut up. Let me get to work, and you go back to making me that beautiful dress you promised.”

“Oh, hey, the desk clerk told me that there is a parade tonight and the hotel has a stand set up for their guests. Can we go, please, slave driver, can we go?”

“Fine, but let me try to get some work done first, then we can go.”

Kyle skips back to his room while I start going through the boxes Mark brought.

Hours later, I’m still no closer to finding the reason for the casino to be losing so much money. I decide I need to work on the employee records. I would need to know who works for me and when.

A couple of more hours go by, and Kyle comes in the room. “Time’s up, my lady. You need to get dressed, so let’s go. No dresses or heels.”

“What, that’s all I got?”

“Wrong. I altered a couple of jeans you bought the other day, and I stopped earlier to buy you some flats.”

When shopping the other day, Kyle made me buy some casual clothes, saying I would probably need them down here, and I guess he was right. Flats, though; I haven’t worn flats in years.

After dressing in my new casual clothes, we head out to see our first parade.

Oh my God, we have so much fun. The parade is awesome. There are so many people, it is unreal. They even have bands playing music. People dance, and women flash their breasts for the floats. We catch so many beads. Kyle even tries to get me to flash, but hell NO! So, he does. It doesn’t work quite as well, but we have a blast. My ears are still ringing from the music, sirens, and screams of people yelling, “Throw me something, mister.” We need to do this every year.

Back in our room now, I thank Kyle for convincing me to wear flats. I never would have made it in heels.

* * *

The next few days I spend researching all I can for my first day at the casino. I haven’t heard any more from Judith or the Sterns, and I haven’t been threatened as of late. So, besides the funeral and the unending supply of research, it’s been a pretty good week. But I guess any week of not being threatened would fall in the row of good weeks.

I’m still having a hard time figuring out why my dad borrowed against the casino. It doesn’t make sense; the casino has been doing well. I mean, it could be doing better, but it’s not in dire need of any kind of money issues. I wish I had more time to ask him so much more before he passed.

One more day till the ball, and I start noticing that Kyle seems to have caught a cold. It’s this Louisiana weather; one day it’s warm, and one day it’s chilly or cold. And even in early February, there is still a small amount of humidity in the air.

Kyle comes into the room looking like crap. “You okay, Kyle?”

“No, but I’m finished with your dress.”

I jump off the sofa and go to him; he’s running a low fever.

“That’s it, let’s go to the urgent care and get you seen by a doctor.”

He nods his head, and we pack up to go.

By the time we make it back, it’s late. The doctor claims he just has a bad sinus infection. With his medicine in tow, I tuck him in bed and order some chicken soup for my sick baby. And for the rest of the night, we chill and relax.