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Autumn pressed her hands over her breasts and smiled.
“Yeah, this one doesn’t fit well.”
    Isaac gestured at the woman to his side. “Autumn, this is my
wife Ester.”
    Ester smiled and spread her arms open. Autumn accepted the
invitation from the stranger and bent and hugged her.
    “Nice to meet you.” Ester stepped back. She had a kind smile
and a sweet, heart-shaped face. “How many more do you have to try on?”
    “Well, I think we might be done. I only have today to shop.”
Autumn stepped off the pedestal, disappointed that there wasn’t anything to
show for it.
    “I’m sure there’s something that’ll work.” Isaac frowned and
glanced around the shop. “You can’t have tried on that many. We came straight
over. There’s got to be over a thousand dresses here.”
    “I have an idea.” Rose’s brow wrinkled and there was a
certain determined curve of her mouth that made Autumn think she was planning
something.
    “About what?” Autumn asked.
    “Let me go look real quick. I’ll be back.” Rose marched off,
no doubt formulating her battle plans.
    “What’s the problem?” Ester glanced between the two of them.
“I’m sorry, I only learned about fifteen minutes ago what’s going on. I’m still
getting up to speed.”
    “It’s happening pretty fast.” Autumn nodded. “I’ve tried on
about seven dresses. They either fit in one place and not in another or the
dress is completely inappropriate.”
    Autumn did know what was appropriate at times. Not always,
but every now and then she did. She just chose to ignore it more often than
not.
    “Are you looking at any other shop?” Ester asked.
    Autumn shrugged and tried to come up with an answer that
didn’t pain her to speak, but there was nothing to say except the truth. “I
didn’t really figure a wedding dress into my budget, so I’m limited in where I
can go shopping. Plus not everyone will see a bride who needs a same-day
dress.”
    Ester glanced at Isaac. “I don’t know about that. I think we
could make something happen.”
    Isaac shrugged. “Sure.”
    The difference between Sammi’s circle of people and her own
could not be more pronounced. Her friends would pass a hat, donate five dollars
each and hope it was enough. She wasn’t too proud to accept the gift, but Isaac
and Ester weren’t her friends. Not yet at least.
    “That’s very nice of you—”
    “I found it!” Rose breezed back, carrying a black bag that
looked very slim.
    “Is that for me?” Autumn asked.
    Please let it be perfect.
    “It is. Now I will warn you it’s a little unorthodox, but I
thought you’d really like it.” Rose pulled the dressing room door open and held
it for her. The black dress bag mocked her, disclosing nothing about its
contents.
    “Hey, that sounds like me.” Autumn stepped off the pedestal
with a hand from Isaac and wiggled her way over to the dressing room, where she
peeled out of the latest dress disaster and closed her eyes, not wanting to
spoil the surprise.
    Rose dropped the gown over her head and tugged it into
place. Autumn could feel light, flowing fabric brushing her calves. A halter
top held her breasts in place without feeling too exposing. The only downside
was that it felt a little big through the bodice. She felt clamps being applied
to the back of the dress to mold it to her body.
    “Let’s take a look now.” There was no missing the sense of
excitement in Rose’s voice.
    Autumn stepped out of the dressing room and her gaze flicked
to Isaac and Ester. Their brows rose in unison, but she couldn’t tell if it was
bad or good. She stepped onto the pedestal and turned to examine herself.
    “Oh—my—gosh.” Autumn clapped her hands over her mouth.
    It was too perfect for words.
    “It’s actually a bridesmaid dress, but I thought it might
work for you.” Rose stood to her side, a proud smile on her face.
    “The dress is unique.” Ester circled to stand on Autumn’s
other side. A slow smile spread across her