“And I’m going to show that to Ellie Mae,” Mitzi said. “If she likes it, then she might want you to do the rest of the flowers for the wedding party. But right now I want you to work on that pink bouquet we talked about for the mannequin and then help me get it down from the steps to the foyer. There’s a slim possibility that we’ll get to go to the Dallas Bridal Fair and if we do, I’d like to show off some of your work.”

“For real?” Dixie’s eyes widened out as big as saucers. “Our bouquets might get to be on display?”

“Yes, but it’s still a long shot, and we may need to build an arch and decorate it, too. Be thinking of what color bouquet you think our bride should carry, and we’ll make the arch flowers match. It can’t hurt to be ready.”

Jody blinked several times to keep the tears at bay. As a teenager, she’d dreamed of a wedding where she’d stand under a decorated arch with her groom. She’d wear a white dress and flowers in her hair. When she got a little older, she’d envisioned an outdoor wedding with mountains in the background. She’d loved Lyle enough to throw her dreams away, and now they were shattered.

“We can be ready, but the mannequin looks so good on the stairs,” Tabby said.

“The three of us are moving into the upstairs part of the shop, starting after work today,” Paula explained. “So we’ve got to clear that off.”

“Holy crap on a cracker!” Tabby threw a hand over her mouth. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“Aunt Alice says it all the time,” Dixie giggled. “Can we help? Daddy is real strong and he can lift a lot. Why are y’all moving in here so fast? Are you packed? Why didn’t you live here all the time?”

“Because Paula and I have been living in a small house and now Jody is moving in with us and we need more room. And we haven’t packed a thing,” Mitzi said. “But there’s a lot of room upstairs, so we’re going to utilize it.”

“Well, I know how to pack,” Dixie said.

“Me, too. We’re good at it, and we want to help,” Tabby said.

“And we’re grateful to you,” Paula said. “But maybe you girls better ask your dad before you volunteer him.”

Tabby yanked her phone from her hip pocket. “Daddy, we need help moving Mitzi, Paula, and Jody to the shop. They’re goin’ to live upstairs. You and Aunt Alice can meet us here at five thirty, right?”