Читать книгу Love Takes All - J.M. Jeffries - Страница 11

Chapter 2

Hunter appropriated an empty office and tried not to look at the velvet paintings hanging on the wall. One was of dogs playing poker. Another was of Elvis. And the third was of a deer with a target drawn around it. Hunter couldn’t identify the significance of any of the paintings—except for the one of the dogs. He sort of liked the one of a young Elvis, microphone in hand, hips gyrating. He left it hanging, and took the others down, stacking them in a corner facing the wall.

The desk was a little rickety, but a matchbook under one leg steadied it. Across the scarred wooden top, he’d spread out the original blueprints for the hotel. Casa de Mariposa had been built in the late seventies just as Reno really started to grow. The best materials had been used. At least he had something to work with and the builder hadn’t used cheap materials.

A knock sounded on the door and he called the person in. Lydia opened the door and smiled at him. “Do you have a moment?”

He felt a tiny thrill at the sight of her. Since he’d met her yesterday, the image of her delicate face had hovered around the edges of his thoughts. He’d been so fixated on his career for the past ten years, he’d put love and marriage on the back burner. He dated, but avoided serious relationships. “What can I do for you?”

She stepped into the room and looked around. “Now that I’ve had a day to look this place over,” she said, “it’s...it’s so...overwhelming.”

Hunter grinned. “I know.”

“Did you know there is a mechanical bull in the Ranchero lounge and...” Words seemed to fail her. “Apparently, Jasper liked to ride it.”

“I rode one once,” Hunter admitted.

Her eyes went wide. “You?”

“Not one of my prouder moments. A friend was getting married and he and his girl had their rehearsal dinner at a country western place and somehow I got shamed into trying one.” He’d stayed on the mechanical bull a total of three seconds.

“Was alcohol involved?”

“Do I look like the type of man who would get on a mechanical bull clear-headed?”

She tilted her head, squinting her eyes. “You look like the type of man who should be able to hold his liquor and act sensibly.”

His grin widened. “That was a nice way to say I was an idiot.”

“I pride myself on my tact.”

He laughed and after a second’s hesitation she laughed, too. She was so pretty, but had a serious look in her dark brown eyes. She needed to laugh more. She seemed so reined in, as though she always had to behave in a manner appropriate to someone else’s dictates. He wondered what her husband had been like. Miss E. had given him a little background about her over dinner last night. He thought arranged marriages were a thing of the past. He wondered if she’d been happy. Whatever her husband had been like, he appeared to have taken good care or her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked looking nervous.

“You must have an interesting story.”

“Hardly.” Her tone was dry and slightly sarcastic, letting him know her background was off limits.

“You underestimate yourself.” Today she wore a flowered yellow and blue silk blouse and dark blue silk pants and matching blue shoes with little heels. She’d knotted a yellow scarf about her neck. A gold pendant showed in the hollow of her throat.

Hunter felt underdressed in jeans and a knit pullover. One knee had a frayed hole just starting and the pullover had a small smear of dirt on it from his rummaging around a storage room looking for the blueprints. He could have gotten them at the building department, but that would have taken time.

“I thought we could take a look at the area around the hot springs and think about the spa,” she said.

“Did you see this place before Miss E. won it?”

“Yes, the poker game was held here,” she replied. “I loved it from the moment I walked in. As overpowering as the hotel is in some ways, there is a real beauty here, but a lot of the heavy Spanish decor hides it. My fingers itch to start making changes.”

“Why a spa?”

She looked down, her face showing uncertainty. “There are a lot of wealthy women in Tahoe, Sacramento and San Francisco who want first-rate mani-pedis and massages. They choose the places they want to visit based on the spa facilities. If we have a first-rate spa, we’ll be able to attract those women.”

“Then let’s take a look.”

* * *

The hot springs was a series of small pools that covered about an acre. Small paths meandered around and between the pools. Rocks were strewn around the ground bordering the springs. The ground sloped gently down to the water’s edge. Someone had positioned benches on the paths. The area felt remote even though the hotel was a few hundred feet away.

Hunter could understand why Lydia wanted to put a spa here. The area was peaceful and serene. Civilization seemed to be so far away. Hunter shaded his eyes, expertly assessing the surrounding area and mentally starting to build the spa from the ground up. He wanted something unobtrusive that would work with the natural beauty of the land.

“I was in England a few years ago,” Lydia said when they stood on the edge of the hot springs. “One of the places I went to was Bath. The Roman baths were so beautiful. I wonder if there’s any way we can duplicate that kind of atmosphere here.

“I’ve been to Bath, too. I studied architecture in London.” He looked around, gauging the possibilities. In his mind’s eye, he calculated how to best work out the layout of the spa. Nothing too elaborate. He was all about keeping things simple and clean.

“You did. What a great adventure you must have had.” She gave him a shy look.

“I learned a lot about historical preservation. It was incredible. To think that something people built lasted a thousand years and more without falling down was quite a departure for me. Our own culture is into tearing down and rebuilding.” Usually into something ugly and irritatingly modern. That had been the real reason why he’d gone into historical preservation. The past was important and obliterating it by pulling buildings down severed an important link to who people used to be.

The challenge of creating the spa gave him a tiny thrill of excitement. Unlike Las Vegas, Reno was still doing ticky-tacky. The Mariposa was a diamond amidst the glaring lights of the tacky. This city needed more style, class and elegance. Maybe then people would stop thinking of Reno as Las Vegas’s ugly baby sister.

The water sparkled in the morning sun. A large hawk spiraled lazily overhead. The tall grass rustled in the light wind. Trees dotted the area around the springs and more benches were situated under them to take advantage of the shade.

“Isn’t it beautiful here?” She sat down on a bench and gazed at the water. “This would be a great place for dining.”

“That’s not a bad idea. You could serve lunch and keep people here all day.”

“But don’t you want people to spend their money at the gaming tables?” she asked.

“Of course, but if we do this spa right, it could be a big attraction and money maker. The whole point is to draw people in and make them stay here, along with their money.”

The hot springs spread out over a half acre, with sloped foothills beyond gradually growing to the higher, jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The sound of running water created a serenity that could make this place a refuge for tired gamblers who wanted a bit of pampering.

“When you say do this right, what do you mean?” Lydia shaded her eyes with one hand as she studied the terrain.

“I have an idea working around in the back of my head. When it germinates, I’ll share it with you. It’s going to take a bit of time.” In the dirt he noticed what he thought were deer tracks. Identifying tracks was one thing he recalled from his time as a Boy Scout.

She clapped her hands like a child. “The creative process at work. I’m so envious.”

“What makes you think you don’t have any creativity?”

She shrugged.

“For all you know, you may just be the world’s greatest macaroni artist. You just haven’t discovered your talent yet.”

She laughed lightly. “I have no desire to be a macaroni artist.”

He loved her laugh. She sounded so carefree. She needed to be this way more often. “Give it a try. You may never know.”

“I’ll start working on my portrait of Elvis right away. I can hang it right next to your velvet painting of him.”

“You can borrow the velvet painting for inspiration.”

“No, thank you.” Her tone was always so polite. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.”

“It kinda grows on you after a while.”

Lydia knelt down and dipped her fingers in the heated water. “This feels so good. I can just see women lounging in the water, sipping glasses of cool white wine, or maybe sherry.” She closed her eyes and wriggled her fingers in the water. “I want to jump in right now.”

Anyone for skinny-dipping? Hunter thought. He watched her, the pure joy on her face, the way her lips curved upward so slightly in a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. She did that a lot and he wondered if her mother had told her smiling too much created wrinkles. Even though he hadn’t met the woman he had the feeling her mother would say exactly that.

He wanted to help her make the spa a success because he wanted her to be successful. He would do everything in his power to make the dream a reality. He wanted to be her hero. That and a few other things.

* * *

Lydia left Maya with her tutor and went to find a suitable office for herself. Louisiana schools and Nevada schools had different curriculums, and Maya needed to be brought up to speed before September, when she would attend a local Reno school. Until she’d moved to Reno, Lydia had never thought about things like differing curriculums. Reno seemed to have its own culture and that culture was so different from New Orleans. New Orleans was old money, sedate and dignified or wild and excessive. Reno was new money, brash and still a bit rough around the edges. She liked it. Reno seemed to have an energy New Orleans lacked. She wanted to be a part of that rough-and-tumble, all-American vibe Reno had. New Orleans was all about history and culture. Reno was fresh and about new beginnings. It was redefining itself from a wild west frontier town to an exciting, eclectic city that was all about growth and new business.

The casino, which had been mostly empty during the morning, grew to bustling as the afternoon progressed. Miss E. was meeting with the Gaming Commission and then her lawyer. Jasper had gone with her to help expedite the change in ownership. Getting everything changed into the names of the new owners was turning into a huge task. Owning a casino was not like owning any other businesses. Not only did the three new owners need to be investigated by the state, but by the federal government to make sure they were free of any unsavory connections. The only thing not required was a blood sample. Hunter had sequestered himself in the office he’d requisitioned as he pored over the original blueprints for the resort. Lydia felt the need to find her own office.

When she found a small, out-of-the-way room that seemed to be nothing but storage, Lydia claimed it as hers. Maintenance workers were currently emptying it and she held a tape measure in one hand and a notebook in the other as she made note of all the dimensions of the room and her thoughts on how she wanted to decorate it. Nothing too elaborate but something tasteful and elegant, a place she could be the woman she wanted to be. But the room needed to be comfortable. She would need filing cabinets, a desk and chair. She already had her laptop, but she would need internet and a hundred other things that raced around in her head. What an exciting venture she was starting on.

The maintenance supervisor nodded at her list. He would have everything she needed in a couple of hours. He even had some paint to brighten up the walls. He listed the colors he had and she asked for just plain white. He told her the office would be ready for her in the morning and she smiled her gratitude, thrilled to get started.

Her cell phone rang and she answered it.

“Mrs. Montgomery, this is the front desk,” came a man’s soothing, pleasant voice. “There are two men here to see you.”

“I’ll be right there.” Who could possibly be looking for her?

She walked to the lobby and stopped suddenly. Leon and David had found her. Rubbing the corners of her eyes, she walked up to her stepsons. She’d hoped for a little more time to prepare for whatever nastiness they were planning to throw at her.

“Leon. David,” she said pleasantly. “What are you doing so far away from home?”

Leon was the elder of the two and time had not treated him graciously. Frown lines marred the corners of his mouth and his eyes were hard and cold. Though his suit jacket was cut well, it didn’t quite hide the slight expansion of his waist. His hands were soft and well-manicured. David was the epitome of soft, pampered and almost charming. Like his brother, he’d never really worked. Both held token jobs in their father’s real estate development business, but they held no real power. Power they both craved. Power that had been denied them at the reading of the will.

Leon glared at Lydia. “Thought you could hide from us forever, didn’t you.”

“I didn’t keep my whereabouts a secret,” she said calmly. She hadn’t seen fit to tell them where she was going, she didn’t need to. “Any connection we have is over. You’ve both made it quite clear you no longer wanted to have anything to do with me.”

“That didn’t mean you could just disappear with our sister.” Leon’s voice was low and threatening.

“I believe you once referred to Maya as my ATM machine.” Lydia stiffened even though she trembled inside. Standing up to these two angry men was difficult, which one of the reasons why she’d simply left. They’d never cared for her when their father was alive. Why they should care now was beyond her.

Leon scowled at her. “David and I were hoping we could put this in the past.”

David stepped forward, one hand on his brother’s arm. “We’d like to spend some time with Maya.”

“I beg your pardon?” With one eyebrow lifted, she tilted her head at them.

“We miss her,” David replied.

His singular lack of sincerity alerted her. Something was wrong, but what? David and Leon had never given Maya the time of day, much less wanted to spend time with her.

“I doubt that,” she finally said, her tone dry. She wanted to be pleasant to these two men, but something in their posture made her wary. “But if you want to spend time with Maya, I’ll be happy to speak to my lawyer to see what kind of visitation we can work out.”

Leon pushed forward. “You don’t trust us with our sister!”

Lydia studied him. She wouldn’t trust him with the stuffed animals in Maya’s bedroom.

“Trust has nothing to do with it. But I have to make sure that we all understand exactly where we stand on this issue. Maya’s well-being is at stake here.”

Leon took a deep breath. “You pulled her away from everything she knew to this...this...seedy little backwoods gambling town. I fear for her moral welfare.” He tried to look outraged, but failed.

“Since when have you been worried about Maya’s moral barometer? If I remember correctly, your ex-paramour had to take you to court to get you to pay child support for your two children, who you claimed weren’t yours to get out of taking responsibility for them. And David, you’ve been married to three different Bourbon Street strippers. Such classy wives you chose.”

David shrugged.

Leon looked furious. “We don’t own a casino that preys on people’s weaknesses.”

“If I remember correctly, your father paid your gambling debts a time or three, or maybe four. Or was it five times?” Lydia hated getting nasty with these two, but being nice never seemed to work with them.

Leon scowled. “You’re corrupting Maya and we don’t like that.”

“You don’t have a say in how I raise Maya. And if you don’t mind,” she looked at her watch, “I have to pick up my morally fragile daughter from her tutor and take her to her amoral ballet lesson.”

“Until you talk to your lawyer, David and I will be staying.” A small gleam of triumph glittered in Leon’s eyes.

“I’m sure Reno has enough vices to occupy you both. Enjoy your stay.” Lydia turned on her heel and headed for the elevator, trying not to have a full-blown panic attack.

They were up to something. Thoughts whirled around her brain as she tried to figure out her stepsons’ intentions.

Once she was in her suite, she walked into her bedroom after quickly hugging Maya and giving her instructions to get ready for her ballet lesson. She also graciously thanked the tutor for her time. She leaned against the closed door for a second and then took out her phone and called Mitchell’s lawyer in New Orleans.

Everest Tynan had a warm, welcoming voice. “I was expecting your call.”

“You were. Did you know David and Leon are in Reno? They’re being a bit obnoxious.”

“I suspected you were going to have some trouble from your two stepchildren.”

“They arrived a little while ago. They appear to be concerned about Maya’s moral development.”

Everest snorted. And Lydia found herself almost smiling. Everest was a man of very limited emotional responses and the fact that he’d snorted told her the whole situation was ludicrous.

“They came to see me,” Everest continued. “They want visitation rights with Maya.”

“That is what they said, but I’m suspicious. They never wanted anything to do with Maya when Mitchell was alive.”

“I agree, and since you’re now a resident of Nevada, I did some research and put together a list of Reno lawyers. I’ll text them to your phone. They are all excellent lawyers. I suggest you contact one. David and Leon are there to make trouble and you need legal representation to make sure Maya’s rights are taken care of.”

“Thank you.” Everest Tynan had always been loyal to Mitchell and on Mitchell’s death had transferred that loyalty to Maya. Maya had always been able to twist him around her little finger. Lydia would always be grateful for him and the way he helped her through the torturous months after Mitchell’s death. Even though Lydia had never been in love with Mitchell, she had loved him more like a father because he was so different from her own father. He had indulged her and adored Maya. Lydia would have been content the rest of her life with Mitchell. But cancer was so unpredictable. Sixty-four was too young to die, but it was not unexpected.

Lydia felt tears gather in her eyes. Suddenly, she missed him so much her heart ached with intense pain. They’d been talking about a second child when he’d been struck down. A part of her would never get over him, but in the last year, her grief had eased.

“Take care, Lydia. I’ll be talking with you soon.”

“You take care, too.” She disconnected. If she missed anyone from New Orleans, it was Everest. And maybe her mother a little bit, too.

* * *

The coffee shop was a tiny little alcove off the main lobby. Lydia ordered a decaf latte and turned around to look for a table. She found Hunter tucked in a corner, a cup of coffee at his elbow, a half-eaten piece of apple pie and his laptop open in front of him.

The café was a pleasant place with cheerful colors, black-and-white tile on the floor, red vinyl booths and a long counter with red-covered stools. The café was very clean, right down to the corners, but small signs of wear showed in the chipped Formica on the snack counter and small cracks in the vinyl covering the booths.

“Can I join you?” Lydia asked Hunter. Even though she hated to interrupt, she just liked being around him. Even though they’d only know each other a couple days, he made her feel safe, and even more important, he made her feel special. He looked at her as though she was a person who was capable of making an intelligent decision. He treated her like a real person not a doll to be put up on a shelf and dusted every once in a while. And the way he made her heart race. Well, actually that bothered her a bit, but she liked that he made her feel alive.

Hunter looked up and smiled. He closed his laptop. “I hear we have new guests in the hotel.”

She took a long sip of her coffee, trying to calm her nerves. “Yes, my stepsons. It’s family reunion time.”

He smiled. “I can see you’re overjoyed.”

“Just get it out of your system,” she said, liking the way his eyes crinkled at the corners like a real smile.

“What do you mean?”

“Your opinions about my stepchildren being older than me.”

“Commenting on such a thing would be...crude.”

“The fact that you know my stepsons are older than me, and they’ve only been in the hotel less than an hour, tells me people are gossiping already. So just get it over with.”

“I’m sure it’s awkward, having them underfoot.”

“It’s more awkward not knowing what they want.” She tapped her fingers on the table.

“Maybe they just want to spend time with you.” He looked as though he didn’t believe his words, but they had to be said.

Her eyes narrowed, and held her fingers over her mouth to prevent the building torrent of words from coming forth. That would be unladylike and rude. “I’m sure they have a reason to be here, but I can guarantee you it’s not to be sociable with me.”

He held up a finger. “Give me a second while I find the right response.”

He thought and finally said, “Okay, I don’t have the right response.”

“I don’t either, but I do know I don’t want them here.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “You’re part owner of the place. Call security and have them remove your step-kiddies.”

She thought about that for a second. As much as that idea appealed to her, it would simply make things worse, or worse than they already were.

He leaned forward, his amber-colored eyes intense. “You look like you’re plotting.”

“I am.” Though for a second she was distracted by his closeness. Her gaze lingered on his lips. They were full and seductive. She had so little experience with men and yet she couldn’t stop from thinking what it would feel like to be kissed by him.

“Need any help?” Hunter looked eager.

She laughed, happy to have a partner in crime. One she suspected she could trust implicitly. Lydia liked that. “I’m wondering what I can do to make Leon’s and David’s stay here as unpleasant as possible without jeopardizing the reputation of this hotel.”

“Therein is the rub.”

She shuddered to think what Leon and David wanted. “They’ve already angered the housekeeping staff.” Having those two in her hotel was going to be a huge problem. “And they haven’t even unpacked yet.”

“How is it that Maya is so well-behaved and these two crybabies seem like they’re entitled snobs?”

A sense of pride engulfed her. Hunter was telling her she was a good mother. Did he have any idea how important that was to her? “Because their mother raised them to be entitled snobs, in my opinion. And while Maya is no wilting flower, she is allowed to speak her mind, as long as she is respectful.” She rested her elbow on the table and cupped her chin in her palm. Miss Eleanor would never take such treatment from them. She wasn’t going to either. “I believe I will let the staff know they are under no obligation to go above and beyond their normal duties on my stepsons’ behalf.”

“You do have some claws,” he said, admiration in his tone.

Surprised, she studied him, her head tilted. “I’m tired of people walking all over me. I had to put up with them while married to their father, but I no longer have to do that.” She felt proud of herself. She thought of how many times she’d retreated from confrontation for the sake of family harmony and she wasn’t going to do so anymore. She liked this feeling of empowerment. Now if she could just carry through with it without asking Hunter for help. But then she thought, no. She could do this on her own, although she was glad to have such a strong ally at her side. She had to learn to handle unpleasant situations by herself. She had known her position would not be easy, but Mitchell had deflected so much of his sons’ rancor from her.

She took another sip of her coffee while her thoughts churned. Hunter had finished his slice of apple pie. Her phone rang and she glanced at the display. David. Should she answer it? She decided she might as well.

“Hello, David.”

“Hello, Lydia,” he said jovially. “Dinner at eight in the little restaurant with the matador theme.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Dinner at eight.”

“I don’t think so.”

A long silence stretched out between them. Finally, he said, “Please.”

That caught her off guard. David and Leon never said please for anything. It was always a demanding “Give me this” or “Give me that.”

“No,” she said. She had dinner planned with Maya and Miss Eleanor. “I have a business dinner.” Though business wouldn’t be the primary focus of the meal, she was certain business would be discussed at some point.

She heard David suck in his breath. “This is important, Lydia.” His voice had gone hard. “It concerns Maya.”

She took a breath and held it for a second before letting it out slowly. She would not knuckle under to their demands. “I’ll meet you for drinks at nine o’clock in the lounge.”

A sigh of exasperation came through the phone. “Fine,” he said sharply. David disconnected without another word.

“Do you know where Miss E. is?” she asked Hunter.

“She was in the casino talking to one of the pit bosses.”

Lydia pushed herself to her feet and glanced at her watch. She had twenty minutes before she had to leave to pick up Maya from her ballet lesson. “I need to talk to her.” And she walked away, realizing she’d just been rude to Hunter. She walked back and smiled at him. “Thank you.” And turned once again and left the café.

* * *

Lydia found Miss E. standing in the entryway to the casino. Slot machines dinged cheerfully, waitresses in skimpy flamenco outfits wandered among the patrons pushing drinks. Miss E. had a wide smile on her face.

“Isn’t this wonderful.” Miss E. spread her hands to indicate that most of the machines had people seated in front of them feeding their change into the hungry slots. A slot machine dinged and someone shouted in delight. Another winner.

“This place is overpowering,” Lydia said. “Where are you starting?”

“Like I said, one room at a time, dear. We will make this the most exciting place the Reno. I talked to my granddaughter, Kenzie, and she has a friend who does some sort of public relations voodoo. I wanted to talk to you and Reed about hiring her to help us change our image. We need to sex it up.”

“I beg your pardon? You mean skimpy flamenco outfits aren’t sexy enough?”

Miss E. grinned. “I don’t mean the staff. I’m talking about the casino and the hotel.”

“That sounds like a start, but right now I need some help.” She held out her phone with the text from Everest. “It seems Mitchell’s children have arrived to make my life unbearable.”

“I heard,” Miss E. said with a sigh, “from the wait staff, from room service, from housekeeping, the concierge and the bell hops.”

Lydia massaged her temples. “I don’t know what they want, but I have a feeling I’m going to need a lawyer. Do you know any of these names my lawyer in Louisiana sent me?” She held up her phone and showed the email message to Miss E.

Miss E. took the phone and scrolled down the list, a faint frown putting a crease in her forehead. She stopped scrolling. “Vanessa Peabody. Good poker player. Try her first. Any idea at all on what they want?”

“They told me they want visitation rights with Maya. But I suspect they have something else in mind. David and Leon have always been the type to say one thing and do another.” Lydia pocketed the phone. The feeling she was going to find out over drinks just exactly what Leon and David wanted filled her with dread. “They’re going to cause trouble.” Trouble followed them wherever they went.

“Then you’d best be talking to Vanessa right now.” She pulled her own cell phone out of her pants pocket.

“You have her on speed dial!”

“A good doctor, a good accountant and a good lawyer is how you keep a well-balanced and happy life.” Miss E. spoke into the phone and five minutes later Lydia had an appointment with Vanessa Peabody.

“I’ve been trying to take care of things by myself.”

“You are taking care of things. You came to me for advice.” Miss E. patted her cheek. “Good hunting, dear.”

* * *

The lounge was dark and quiet. At the grand piano sat a man playing soothing music. The muted ding of the slot machines from the casino drifted in. Lydia arrived early and ordered a soda. Vanessa Peabody sat at the table immediately adjoining Lydia’s.

“Now,” Vanessa said quietly, “listen to what they have to say. I’ll be taking notes. Don’t tell them I’m here or they might get antagonistic.”

Lydia nodded, her throat too choked for her to say anything.

“And relax,” Vanessa murmured as she sipped her soda.

Lydia concentrated on her breathing as she waited, trying to maintain an exterior calm when her insides trembled so hard she thought the table would shake.

A shadow fell over her and she glanced up. David slid into the booth across from her and Leon followed. Both men stared at her. David looked slightly petulant while Leon’s cold eyes appraised Lydia.

“Good evening,” she said as politely as she could manage even though her throat was so tight she could barely speak.

“Let’s dispense with the pleasantries,” Leon replied. A waitress approached and both men ordered bourbon. David’s was over ice; Leon preferred his neat.

“Of course,” Lydia said, expecting exactly that.

David shrugged while Leon looked astonished at her being agreeable.

“David and I have decided that it would be in Maya’s best interest if one of us had custody of her.”

Shocked, Lydia could only stare. Take a breath before you speak, she heard Vanessa’s voice in the back of her head. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down before she said anything.

“Why would you think that?” She put her hands in her lap so they wouldn’t see her shaking.

“Look at this place,” Leon said, disgust clearly on his face. “You can’t raise a sensitive child, like Maya, in a casino. This place is tawdry, pedestrian and vulgar. She needs to go home to New Orleans.”