“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.”