“The only thing I’d want other than this dress would involve me being a size ten. If I had been, I might have gotten one with feathers, but I didn’t want to look like Big Bird. You know what I’m talkin’ about,” Ellie Mae said.

“Yes, I do, and the fact is that I’ve never wanted a big wedding. A trip to the courthouse would be just fine with me.”

“But you own this lovely shop that specializes in dresses for women like us,” Ellie Mae said. “And Harry and Fanny Lou would be disappointed.”

Mitzi steered the conversation away from herself by asking, “So did you and Darrin have a round of makeup sex?”

“Oh, honey, we had several rounds.” Ellie Mae winked. “As much as I hate to take this off, I guess you’d better unpin me so I can get back to work.”

Mitzi removed the pins and helped her out of the dress, wondering the whole time if next year they should make a dress in black for the bridal fair. Women were always looking for something different, and black was certainly that, for sure.

Light shone from the windows like a beacon when Mitzi drove up to the Harrison house before daylight on Saturday morning. She hopped out of the van, leaving Jody in the front seat and Paula in one of the seats in back. One of the girls could sit beside Paula and the other one could have the whole bench seat behind them to herself.

“Good mornin’.” Graham opened the door and motioned for her to come on in.

“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.