There were so many lovely options, and the girls tried on a number of styles, and any of them would work, she just wanted her friends and sisters comfortable, but the fact that Mandy didn’t love any of them didn’t sit well with Charity and so she whispered something to Lisa, and Lisa disappeared into the back and then returned with a stunning, strapless ballerina-style gown, featuring an icy-blue silk satin bodice with a full white tulle skirt over a blue silk satin underskirt, and gorgeous hand-stitched pink flowers across the ice-blue bodice’s neckline.
Amanda’s eyes widened. It was the most perfect thing she’d ever seen. “This is so beautiful. It’s just stunning.” She looked at Charity. “Would you mind trying it on?”
Charity returned a few minutes later in the dress and it was the dress—exactly what Mandy wanted for her bridesmaids—and yet the dress couldn’t be inexpensive, not when it looked like couture. “How much is this one?” she asked.
“Not as much as you’d think. They’re from a winter formal collection, and then your sister and Sadie made a few modifications, adding the flowers, and the layers of tulle.”
Amanda looked to Charity and Sadie and they were both grinning. “We knew you’d love this one,” Sadie confessed. “But we didn’t want you to see it until you’d looked at a lot of other dresses first because we really did want you to feel like you had options.”
“So you’d still need to modify three more dresses?” Amanda asked, worried about the work involved.
“It’s not a big deal, and I’m going to do the bridesmaid dresses,” Sadie answered, “because Charity is doing your bridal gown.”
Amanda couldn’t stop smiling. “I love it. Let’s do it.”
Amanda woke early on the morning of their wedding day, and she went for a run to help burn off some of her nervous energy. For the past nine years, she’d helped dozens and dozens of brides get ready for their big day, and she’d never understood why they were so anxious, but this morning she felt emotional and almost jittery.
Back home, she took a long bath before heading downstairs just in time to greet Bette, and her mother, and her bridesmaids, who’d all arrived for their hair appointments.
Tricia opened a bottle of champagne, and the girls all sipped champagne while her mother’s hair was drawn into a pretty, relaxed chignon with wisps of hair drawn loose to frame the face. And then it was Mandy’s turn, but because she still didn’t know what her dress looked like, Charity directed the stylist to give Amanda a “Grace Kelly updo”—clean, classic, and elegant.
And then it was time to dress, and because the salon was closed today to outside business since all of the stylists had been invited to the late afternoon wedding, the girls were able to take over the upstairs and downstairs of the house. Upstairs, Charity finally revealed Amanda’s bridal gown. It was without a doubt an ode to the 1950s with its long fitted sheer lace sleeves, and lace bodice over a strapless heart-shaped corset. The full tulle ball gown skirt featured a wildly romantic lace apron, with layer upon layer of lace, as if a waterfall. The waist was narrow, the lace neckline almost severe across her shoulders, and yet the generous lace apron, was whimsical and fun.
“Just like you,” Charity whispered in Amanda’s ear, giving her a fierce hug.
Amanda’s stiff tulle veil stopped just short of her elbows, and was topped with a crown of white flowers that Sadie had created.
Amanda had planned to wear simple diamond stud earrings but Jenny pulled out a velvet jewelry box. “For your something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. We’ve covered it all. Old, new, borrowed, blue.”
Opening the box Amanda discovered a pair of pearl earrings surrounded by a cluster of diamonds and a single sapphire.
“We matched the pearl Tyler’s dad gave Mom,” Jenny said, “and then we all chipped in and had them reset with a few sparkly stones.”
“The sapphire in each was a gift from Bette,” Charity added.
“We thought it was a way to incorporate the past, and the future,” Amanda’s mom said quietly. “What do you think?”
“I love them,” Amanda answered huskily, hugging each of her friends and family. “It’s wonderful. You’re all so wonderful, and I’m so very grateful for each of you. Thank you for being here today and thank you for making me feel so special.”
There were tearful hugs all the way around and then it was time to pack up and head to the Emerson Barn for the late afternoon ceremony and as Amanda climbed into the limousine waiting out front, she said a little prayer of gratitude for all the blessings in her life. What a truly lovely, magical day.
As the limousine approached Emerson Barn, Amanda thought she knew all the surprises, but as she entered the barn, she discovered that the cavernous space had been transformed by dozens and dozens of trees wrapped in tiny pink fairy lights. The entire barn glowed pink, and there at the front, before the big arched window, stood Tyler and his groomsmen.
Once she spotted Tyler, she couldn’t look away. He was so handsome and dashing in his tuxedo. She felt almost dizzy with joy.
She heard the strains of music, and it was time for the bridesmaids to go, and then soon it would be her turn. She took her dad’s arm, and gave him a kiss, and then an encouraging squeeze.
He patted her hand. “Enjoy today, Mandy.”
She nodded, and blinked back tears, happy tears. “Oh, I will. I absolutely will.”
Epilogue
Tyler and Amanda’s first daughter was born in the middle of a brutal Montana snowstorm. Thankfully, the hospital was a relatively short drive from their home on Bramble, and Tyler had become adept at driving in harsh Montana weather so the blinding snow was an inconvenience more than anything.
Labor progressed quickly, so quickly that Elizabeth Marie Justice was born shortly after midnight, after just four hours of labor. Baby Elizabeth was named after her beloved great-grandmother, Elizabeth ‘Bette’ Marie Justice, and there was no better great-grandmother in the world than Gram.
Amanda’s business flourished, and Tyler came to love Marietta as much as his wife. And Amanda never stopped counting her blessings, because her brilliant, perceptive, loving husband had taught her that dreams really do come true.
The End