“Bring me a picture, and we’ll see what we can come up with,” Mitzi said.

“I don’t know that I can find a picture, but I can kind of describe it. I want one of those draping bouquets like was popular twenty years ago. In my opinion big girls shouldn’t carry a little tiny nosegay that gets lost in the pictures. No, ma’am. We need something bold that says, ‘Look at me,’ and it should be red roses.”

“I’ve got a couple of girls who are going to play around with making a bouquet for the mannequin. If you like what you see next week, we’ll see what they can do for you.” Mitzi hoped that she wasn’t putting the cart before the horse. Maybe Graham wouldn’t want the girls to spend time at the shop, or maybe their work would look like crap.

Ellie Mae touched the sketch with more reverence than she probably did her Bible. “This is going to be the wedding of the year here in Celeste. Thank you so much. And tell those girls to do up one in red roses with some of the black lace from my dress for accents. See you next Friday.” She hurried out the door.

Mitzi went by the kitchen and picked up three bottles of cold water. She carried them into the sewing room, setting one at each of the stations. “So did Jody tell you about Lyle?”

Paula opened her bottle and took a long drink. “Yes, she did. It’s too early for him to be having a midlife crisis, so I figure he’s just tired or else maybe he’s got a big surprise up his sleeve for her.”

“And he’s been working overtime, too.” Mitzi nodded. “It’s close to noon. Let’s make a sandwich.”

“Not for me,” Jody said. “I’ll just cut up some of those cucumbers and onions that Fanny Lou brought us into a salad. I had green beans and new potatoes in the fridge at home, but I forgot them.”

“No wonder you’re as skinny as a rail,” Paula said.

“I’m not a dyed-in-the-wool vegan. I’m just a vegetarian. That’s not so bad,” Jody said. “There’s all kinds of fake meat at the market.”

“It would be horrible for me. I love steak, fried eggs, and oh, my gosh, fried catfish.” Mitzi led the way to the kitchen.

“Haven’t had any of that in more than a decade,” Jody reminded them.

“Miss it?” Paula asked.

“Sometimes, but Lyle and I agreed to live like this, so . . .” She shrugged.