“Go on so I can see you in the crowd. That’ll calm me right down, and besides, you need to take pictures for Daddy.” Tabby nodded toward the side door.

“And now, from The Perfect Dress, a custom plus-sized wedding shop in Celeste, Texas, we have Tabby Harrison modeling one of their creations,” the man with the microphone said.

Mitzi had barely sat down in the chair beside Jody when Tabby stepped out with her bouquet in one hand and the other on her hip. As if she were born to be a model, Tabby slowly made her way to the end of the runway, flipped the train behind her as if she was doing the crowd a favor when she turned, and started back.

The applause was deafening, and a guy right behind them tapped Mitzi on the shoulder. When she turned around, he handed her a business card and asked, “I saw you hurry out just as they announced the model. Are you the owner of that place?”

“Yes, with my partners,” she answered.

“Want to make up a few dresses in various sizes on consignment? I’d love to sell them in my shop in Houston. Finding dresses in anything more than an eighteen is tough, and I’ve had to turn away customers in sizes twenty up through thirty.”

“No, thank you. We like to work directly with our customers.”

“Well, if you change your mind, just give me a call. That’s some gorgeous work and the fit is superb.”

“Thank you. Now I’ve got to get back to help my model out of the dress.” She stood up and offered her hand.

He shook hands with her. “I’m serious. If you get time to design a couple, I’ll be glad to sell them.”

“Well, how about that?” Jody said right behind Mitzi. “Next thing you know we’ll be offered a reality show.”

“Can’t you just see that?” Paula and Dixie fell into place. “One pregnant owner. One jilted one, two teenagers, a grandmother named Fanny Lou who pops in any old time, and Mitzi, who—”

Mitzi whipped around and butted in before Paula could finish the sentence by saying that she was in love with a high school crush. “I will turn down a reality show without even thinking about it for a second.”

“It’s been a day,” Jody said. “I’m ready to get a big cone of soft ice cream and go home. How about y’all?”

“Sounds good—I want rocky road,” Dixie said.

“Me, too.” Tabby had already removed the veil and the shoes. “I told Daddy that he has to ask you out since I didn’t fall on my face.”

Dixie pumped her fist in the air. “When’s he goin’ to do it?”

“I’m standing right here,” Mitzi said.

“Yep, you are.” Tabby grinned.

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty