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Bree looked around. It was much quieter now, much less frantic. Three different sewing machines were still set up in the middle of the diner, but most of the women were now sitting around, drinking coffee and chatting.
Bree looked over at Cheryl. “I’m so sorry I fell asleep. I should have stayed awake and helped.”
“Do you know how to sew?” Cheryl asked.
“No, but—”
“Then there wasn’t any point in you being awake.”
“Plus, we all know my brother is not going to let you get any sleep tonight!” Cassandra yelled from across the room. Even Mrs. Little chuckled.
“Come try on your dress,” Cheryl said softly. “It’s hanging in my office.”
Cheryl kept her office purposely dim as she and Cassandra helped Bree put on the gown, the tiny buttons traveling all the way up her spine taking the longest time to fasten. With every second Bree got more and more nervous.
Finally, they were finished, and Cheryl ran a smoothing hand over Bree’s shoulders.
“Okay, let’s go see if this was more like what you’d envisioned when you’d never envisioned what your wedding dress would look like.”
Bree took a deep breath and followed Cheryl and Cassandra out of the room. It didn’t matter. No matter what the dress looked like, Bree was going to smile and act like it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
The women had the full-length mirror set up in the middle of the dining area. Sniffles and murmurs broke out as soon as Bree stepped foot inside. She looked at Marilyn, knowing how much the woman had loved the other gown, trying to see if there was any hint of disappointment at seeing this one.
Marilyn was crying. That probably wasn’t a good sign.
I love it. It’s absolutely perfect.
She rehearsed the words in her head. No matter what, she would smile and tell them she loved it.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror and promptly burst into tears.
She was immediately surrounded by a gaggle of women.
“No crying on your wedding day.”
“We know it’s not as gorgeous as that other gown, but Tanner will be thrilled to see you in this.”
“I think you look lovely.”
Everyone was talking so fast and all over one another that Bree couldn’t even pick out who was saying what.
“Ladies, give Bree a little space,” Cheryl finally said. It was her diner, after all.
They quieted and stepped back so Bree could once again see herself in the mirror. She trailed her fingers from her shoulders down over her chest to her waist and hips.
Her dress was a rainbow of white. No one piece matched exactly with the next.
Her eyes met Cheryl’s in the mirror, then Cassandra’s, then Mrs. Little’s.
“It’s absolutely perfect. It’s what I never even knew I wanted.”
“Now there’s a beautiful bride, right there.” Mrs. Little stood beside Bree, looking at her in the mirror, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“There’s a lot of love sewn into the dress you’re wearing,” the older woman continued. “Love the brides had for their grooms when they were first worn, and love for you, and what an important part of our community you’ve become. Now let’s finish getting you ready, because I’m pretty sure there’s a deputy captain who will arrest us all if you’re not on time coming down that aisle.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
By the time Tanner got to the church he was feeling a little like a zombie. Murder was a messy business in every possible way. Not just the physical part of it, although that was bad enough in this case. Making sure all the evidence was gathered properly, then working with the coroner’s office to have the body removed.
