The Perfect Dress(7)

“He’s aged very, very well, and I’m having cookies,” Mitzi said.

“Smart girl,” Fanny Lou said. “Life is short. Eat dessert first. So you had a little crush on Graham?”

“Everyone did,” Mitzi answered.

“Not me. I was always in love with Lyle,” Jody said.

“Well, according to what I heard at the church bake sale today, Graham moved his daughters here to Celeste because they were being fat shamed down in Greenville. One of them knocked a girl on her ass, blacked both eyes, and bloodied her nose with one punch. It was the last day of school and they said they were going to suspend her for the first two weeks of next year for fighting,” Fanny Lou said.

“She should get a medal, not suspended,” Mitzi fumed.

Fanny Lou took a gallon jug of sweet tea from the fridge. “Who all wants a glass?”

Three hands went up.

She filled four glasses with ice and then tea and carried them to the table. “I remember when he went to work for his dad at the Cadillac dealership—right after he and Rita got married. His dad gave him a job on the lowest level, and he had to work his way up. Rita was furious because she thought they’d get a big house and a new Caddy every year. Stupid woman figured since his folks had money that he had an open bank account.”

Paula took the ham and cheese containers from the fridge while Mitzi pulled a loaf of bread from the cabinet. “You eating with us, Granny?”

“I’ll eat with you and Paula, but I don’t want any of that salad stuff Jody is having. I’ll eat what I want and die when I’m supposed to. Slice some of them tomatoes I brought in here earlier. And I’d rather have bologna instead of ham and mustard instead of mayo,” Fanny Lou answered.

“Me, too,” Paula said. “I want one like hers.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” Mitzi set about making three sandwiches.

So Graham was divorced and raising girls on his own. Bless his heart for getting them away from a school that bullied them because of their size. Mitzi could relate to the girls. But then, so could Jody and Paula. She’d always figured that Jody adopted her own modern-day hippie style to combat those feelings of insecurity. Paula had retreated into superstition. Mitzi had just plowed her way through emotions and other kids, spending a lot of time in the principal’s office for fighting.

She pushed all that to the back of her mind, put the sandwiches on plates, and carried them to the table. “Y’all know that this job for Ellie Mae could turn into a big thing. I bet her older sister will be the maid of honor and her mother will want a fancy dress.”

“That’s what you’re in business for, isn’t it?” Fanny Lou said. “Man, this brings back memories. Friday night was bologna sandwich night when I was a kid.”

“Why?” Jody asked.

“Because Mama always cleaned house on Friday, and she didn’t have time to make a big meal,” Fanny Lou answered.

“Funny how an hour of beading takes forever and our noon hour goes so fast.” Jody pointed to the clock.

“Good Lord!” Fanny Lou finished off her sandwich and grabbed a cookie. “I’ve got an appointment with my CPA at one and it’s a fifteen-minute drive to Greenville. See you girls later. You have my permission to flirt with Graham, Mitzi.”

Mitzi’s cheeks began to burn. “I had a teenage crush on him. I’ve grown up since then.”

Fanny Lou winked as she headed for the door. “Paula, since you live with Mitzi, I’m putting you in charge of being sure she takes her birth control pills every morning.”

Mitzi felt even more heat in her cheeks. “Granny!”

“When you get old you get to say whatever the hell you want to.” Fanny Lou closed the door behind her.

They’d just finished eating when the door opened and their one o’clock appointment arrived. It took Jody, Paula, and Mitzi to get her into the dress, a creation of white tulle over bridal satin. It certainly wasn’t what Mitzi would have chosen for the short lady, but with the help of Spanx and high heels, she was stunning. They added a sparkling tiara with a fingertip veil and turned her around on the stage to a huge three-way mirror.

Tears began to flow as both her hands went to her cheeks. “Oh, my! I’m beautiful. For the first time in my life, I feel like a princess.”

Jody grabbed a box of tissues and wiped her tears away. “Of course you are, darlin’. With those big old brown eyes and your gorgeous face, you’ve always been beautiful. Don’t cry, because I never let anyone cry alone.”

“It’s perfect. Look, I even have a waist. I can’t wait to wear this next week.” She pulled out another tissue and dabbed her face. “You’ve got the right name for this place. I’ll be telling all my friends about The Perfect Dress.”

Paula held a small trash can toward her so she could toss the tissue. “Word-of-mouth advertising is the best in the world. Want to take it off now?”

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?”