“Good mornin’ to you, too,” she said. “I wish you were going with us, but I promise to shoot pictures all day and send them to you.”

“Will you do a video of Tabby on the runway?” he asked. “I’d love to be there, but it’s impossible today.”

“I sure will. Be prepared to be bombarded with pictures.” The way he looked at her sent tingles down her spine.

They intensified when he traced her jawbone with his fingertip. “You are so beautiful, Mitzi.”

The simple touch and words meant more to her than a million red roses or a long poem written for her.

“Hey, Mitzi, we’re ready,” Tabby yelled from the top of the stairs. “My hair is still in curlers but I’ll take them all out before we get there.”

“She means I’ll take them out.” Dixie pushed around her dad and tiptoed slightly to kiss him on the cheek.

“Have a good time.” Graham hugged both girls before they went out the door.

Dixie bounced off the porch with Tabby right behind her, each of them carrying a tote bag in addition to their purses. “We’ll send lots of pictures.”

“See you about dark,” Mitzi said.

“And then tomorrow we’re going to the lake.” Graham kissed his fingertips and then touched her lips. “That’ll have to do until we get a little more privacy.”

Sucking on a lemon couldn’t keep the smile off her face all the way to Dallas that morning. When they arrived, the girls hurried out to the trailer hooked to the back of the van to help carry things inside.

Paula started to lift a folding table, but Tabby grabbed it first. “You don’t need to pick up heavy stuff.”

“We’ll get the tables and chairs,” Dixie said.

“I’m pregnant, not helpless,” Paula argued.

“Yep, so that means you carry that little box with our business cards, and the one with the chocolate to give out to the customers. Maybe we’ll even let you take care of the crystal stand to display the candy and cards,” Jody said.

“I’m not taking anything breakable,” Dixie declared. “Clumsy as I am, I’d stumble over my own feet and break it.”

“We must be related, because Grace is not my middle name, either,” Mitzi chuckled.

“I wish we were kinfolk,” Dixie said with a wistful tone.

“Not me. If we were kin, then Daddy couldn’t date her,” Tabby said.

“Well, I wish he’d married you when y’all were in high school.”

Mitzi couldn’t keep the blush from turning her cheeks scarlet. “That’s sweet, honey, but it took both your mama and daddy to make you, and I wouldn’t change having you in my life for anything.”

“And there you have it,” Jody whispered. “If you were worried about what they’ll think of y’all dating, you’ve got your answer.”

“I wish worries could be erased that easy,” Mitzi said.

Seeing a bridal fair through the eyes of the girls was so much fun. Everything was new and exciting, just like it had been for Paula, Mitzi, and Jody the year before when they’d attended several in preparation for putting in the shop.

Covered in a lace tablecloth, their table was set up and ready. The archway stood off to the left with the bride mannequin in the center. Today she held a lovely pink bouquet to match the pale pink roses and greenery decorating the arch, and to the right of the bride stood her bridesmaid, dressed in mauve. A catalog with swatches of fabric rested on the table, along with a binder containing pictures of the dresses they’d already designed and made. From floral arrangements that excited the girls, to the cakes, to the fancy shops that specialized in beautiful premade dresses, and finally to The Perfect Dress display, there was something at the show to take the eye of a bride at every turn.

“This is unreal,” Dixie said. “I didn’t even know that places like this existed.”

“I did but I had no idea they were this extreme. Look! They’re opening the doors.” Tabby pointed.

Mitzi had seen the cake display next to their table when they arrived, and she did her best to keep her eyes off it but just couldn’t. One thing was for sure—the brides were sure to see it.

Future brides rushed into the room as if they were hitting a clearance sale at a department store. Once inside, they began to mill around, but no one even looked toward the end of the room where The Perfect Dress table was located.

“Sit tight, and don’t worry,” the lady at the cake table said. “We’ve got the best seats in the house.”

Mitzi turned to see who was talking to her and wondered if anyone really bought or needed a cake that big. Each of the six tiers was decorated with life-size sugar roses. Who would want to cut into something so pretty? Or need a cake to feed a thousand people?

“I’m Glenda Smith.” The lady handed her a card. “First time I’ve seen you at one of these. I try to make two a year, summer and the Christmas one. It’s getting more and more popular to have a holiday wedding. Love the wedding dress and the fact that you brought the bridesmaid display, too. That’s genius.”

“Thank you.” She stuck out her hand. “Mitzi Taylor.”

Glenda shook hands with her. “I see you’ve got a lot of help.”