Page 67 of All Dressed Up

“It’s okay.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “It really is a wonderful surprise. Miracle really. I’m glad it’s back in the family.”

“If you’d like, I could see about reordering your original choice. See if we can get a new one sent this week.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I want to wear my mom’s dress.” She jutted her chin up, her eyes meeting his. “I was meant to wear this one.”

Her declaration echoed in his ears. “Then you will.” He took it from her arms. “Why don’t I have this dry-cleaned, and then I can make arrangements to get our alterations specialist in here for your first fitting. She’ll be down on Friday.”

He brought the gown in the other room and hung it on the dress rack. An elated Christy gave him a huge hug, and they set up a time for her to come back at the end of the week.

Standing in front of the dress, he ran a hand down the decades-old fabric. It really was a beauty. With Christy’s hair up, maybe with a couple of Rachel’s flowers weaved in, it might just work for an outdoor wedding as long as she stood in the shade. “You did good, Mary,” he said out loud. “It’s like you know the perfect dress to be pulled out.”

He let that thought set in, thinking back to Pauline who’d also found in the trunk the dress of her dreams.

He strolled back into the next room, eyeing the trunk. Was that what was happening? Was Mary doing for his brides where he was falling short. Was she delivering the one and only dress meant to be worn by the bride who opened it?

Would she do the same for the rest of the brides on his list? He should set up more appointments before his luck with the trunk—or Mary—ran out.

But first, he needed to find Rachel. He wanted to tell her everything that happened this morning because she was going to be blown away when she heard about how Mary came through big time for Christy. He’d tell Jesse to take a hike and take her to an early lunch. He grabbed his wallet and rushed out, taking the stairs two at a time.

That wasn’t the only reason he wanted to find Rachel. He needed to apologize for blowing up earlier and admit what their Friday night together had meant to him. He’d lay it all on the line because it was time. That’s what you did when you were in love.

And damn, hewasin love.

Adrenaline pulsed through him as he hit the landing. He flew through the flower shop, unlocked the door, and pushed out, nearly taking out the woman on the other side.

A familiar one, who he hadn’t called like he said he would. He moved aside so she could come in.

“Hi, Amber.”

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