The Perfect Dress(50)

“Why do you need a second one?” Dixie asked. “The one at the shop is fine.”

“We’ll use that one for the wedding dress until a few minutes before you model it. We’ll use the new one to display a bridesmaid dress. Paula still has the one that she wore to her sister’s wedding,” Mitzi explained. “We might be the only exclusively plus-sized custom wedding-dress shop there, and we really want to show off what we can do.”

“Like if the bride is skinny but her bridesmaids are all big girls?” Tabby asked.

“That’s right,” Paula said.

“So it’s decided on that one?” Jody pointed to the mannequin in the middle of the lineup.

All the others nodded.

“Now we need to give her some hair.” Paula led the group to the back of the store, where the wigs were on display.

“I think she needs to have red hair like Mitzi’s.” Tabby walked down the length of the shelf lined with all shades of auburn hair. “Like this one.”

Dixie cocked her head to one side. “That one has too much red.”

“Third one from the end,” Graham said.

At the sound of his voice, they all whipped around.

“Daddy! Where’d you come from?” Dixie asked.

“You snuck up on us.” Tabby grinned.

“Y’all were pretty intent on wigs. What are they for?” Graham asked, his eyes never leaving Mitzi.

“Our new mannequin,” Tabby answered. “And it’s going to wear the bridesmaid dress that Paula wore in her sister’s wedding. The dress is emerald green, so we thought it should have red hair.” She finally stopped for a breath. “Oh, my gosh, you’re right. This one is perfect.”

“We have both blonde and brunette wigs, so it makes sense to buy an auburn one,” Jody said.

“Sure does,” Paula agreed and then whispered to Mitzi, “Better get one last long look at him before we go to the next store. After he loads our mannequin, he might go on home and you won’t see him again today.”

Mitzi ignored her. “Thank you so much for helping us today, Graham. We’d have had trouble getting our new mannequin in the van with all the seats up. I believe we’ve gotten everything we need in this store.” She picked up the Styrofoam head with the wig pinned to it and started for the front of the store.

“Okay, then lead the way to whatever I need to help get in the truck. I’ll get it loaded and meet y’all at the next one. Just tell me where it is.” Graham fell in right beside her. “Want me to carry that?”

“Thanks, but I’ve got it,” she said.

“This bridal fair is a really big thing for you, isn’t it? The girls are more excited over this than Christmas, but why are y’all working so hard at it?” Graham asked.

“We might be the only place in Texas that deals in custom-made plus-sized wedding dresses. This fair is a really huge deal. Folks come to it from all over the United States. Getting to go will increase our visibility even more than full-page ads in a bridal magazine,” she explained.

“Well, then, what can I do to make it the biggest and best display in the whole shindig?” Graham asked. “You want to borrow the ’59 Caddy that’s on display at the dealership? You could put a bride and groom in the back seat, but you’ll have to have a male mannequin and a tux. Why don’t you start carrying a line of rental tuxes for the guys, too?”

“If this brings in the business that I think it will, we won’t have time to make tuxes.” Mitzi set the wig on the counter and told the lady which mannequin they wanted.

The cashier rang up the total. “Take the sales slip and pull around back to the service doors. The guys will load it for you there.”

When they finished the transaction, Mitzi handed Graham the papers. “See you at the party store on Main.”

“I know where that is. You girls want to ride with me?” he asked.

Dixie only hesitated for a minute. “Sure we do. You might get lost and need us to show you the way.”

When they left the store, Graham and the girls went right. Paula, Mitzi, and Jody went left toward the front parking lot. Paula could hardly contain the giggles until they got in the van.

“Y’all were flirting,” she sing-songed.

“Mitzi and Graham sittin’ in a tree,” Jody started the grade-school chant.

“Go ahead.” Mitzi backed out and headed toward the party store. “Get it all out of your systems. And yes, I was imagining him in a custom-made tuxedo. Matter of fact, I was picturing him all sweaty with a hammer in his hand, too. I like a man who’s not afraid to work and show his muscles.”

“Good for you,” Paula said.

Mitzi caught every red light from the place they’d bought the mannequin to the party store. When they arrived, Graham was waiting, but the girls were nowhere in sight. He opened the door and stood to one side.

“Well, thank you, sir.” Paula smiled.

“My pleasure,” Graham said, but again his eyes were on Mitzi as she brought up the rear.

Dixie and Tabby rounded the end of a display. Their eyes were lit up like they’d just found the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Then suddenly Dixie’s expression changed dramatically.

“What’s the matter?” Mitzi asked.