She turned every which way to catch her reflection from all angles. “I don’t want my bridesmaids or anyone to see me in this until Saturday. I want to wear it forever, but please let me enjoy it for just five more minutes, and then I’ll take it off.”

“Want me to take a picture with your phone?” Jody asked.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “I’d be tempted to show it off. This way it’ll just hang in my apartment until Saturday when I take it to the church. Hey, I heard that Ellie Mae is having y’all make her dress, too. I can’t wait to see what it looks like. Is she going with lace or satin?”

“That, darlin’, is confidential, just like your dress is,” Paula reminded her.

“Thank God for that,” the woman said. “Okay, my five minutes of beautiful are over. Help me out of it. I’m glad I’ve got five bridesmaids to help me get dressed on my special day. I could never do this alone.”

Jody and Paula took care of that, and then Mitzi gently put the gown in the zippered white bag with The Perfect Dress logo done up in gold lettering. She tucked the veil in one outside pocket and the shoes in another.

“There you go. All ready for your big day.”

“Thank you all.” She blew kisses as she headed behind the trifold screen to put on her jeans and shirt. “This is just the best dressing room ever. Us chubby ladies need room and lots of cool air when we try on clothes.”

Mitzi whispered for Jody’s ears only, “So when are you going to let us design a hippie wedding dress for you?”

“Lyle and I don’t believe in having to buy a marriage license. We may have a ceremony someday, but we won’t ever . . .” Jody started.

“You could always jump the broom,” Paula suggested. “In some cultures that’s as binding as a paper from the courthouse.”

“We might do that,” Jody laughed. “But for now, we’ve got sewing to do, and the Harrison girls will be here in an hour or so, so get down the pink, Mitzi.”

“I’m fairly well caught up,” Paula said. “I’m going to prop up my feet in the kitchen with a big cold soda right out of the bottle.”

“Open one for each of us,” Mitzi told her. “I’ll be there soon as I get the final payment and papers signed on this dress.”

The girls came into the shop right on time that afternoon, their eyes huge as they tried to take in the totally feminine foyer and the wedding dress on the staircase.

Mitzi was waiting.

“I understand you girls need bubblegum-pink dresses. I’m Mitzi, and I own this shop with my two friends, Jody and Paula. I’ll introduce them to you in a few minutes,” she said.