“You have a dress,” Willow smiled.“You remember that day Mom took us to Bozeman to get a dress for Laura?”
“I do!”Ellie sighed.“I tried on a beautiful pale blue one.Do you think they still have it?”
Her eyes dancing with mirth, Willow shook her head.“Nope.It’s been sold.”
Ellie sighed.“Of course.I’ll have to—
“Mom bought it,” Laura said.
“What do you mean?Ellie asked, as Arlene picked up the big white bag she’d brought with her.
“I bought the dress for you on that day,” Arlene said.“Of course, at the time I had no idea who your bridegroom would be, but I knew you’d get married eventually.I had hopes for Becket, though.I saw the way he looked at you at Hayden and Laura’s wedding.”She put the dress in Ellie’s arms.
Sniffing, Ellie took the dress.“I can’t accept this, Arlene…”
“Of course you can.You’re my daughter now, too, and mothers can buy their daughters anything.Go on, try it on.I also got the perfect shoes to go with it.”
For another minute, Ellie stared at Arlene.She’d never known love could be so easy, so comfortable, so giving, so generous.She’d never known a mother who loved like that.But here in Marietta, she’d not only found her man but also a mom, as well as his whole family.
“Thank you,” she got out before she hugged Arlene.
“Well, come on,” Willow said, dragging her by the hand.“Try on your dress.If it needs any alterations, we’ll drive to Bozeman afterward.”
“I’m here to look after your shop, Ellie,” Rose said.
“Great!”She quickly gave Rose a hug.“I so appreciate this.We’ll talk later.”
“Come on, sis!”Willow called from behind the cupboard.
Sis.She’d never been anyone’s sister before, and now she was getting two sisters.Smiling, she hurried to the back of the shop.
*
Becket parked infront of Hayden and Laura’s house.Hayden had phoned earlier to ask him to stop by.
Luke and Jessie were playing outside.As Becket got out of his truck, the little boy ran up to him, Jessie yapping at his heels.
“You’re getting married to Ellie, Mom says.”Luke smiled.
“I am indeed.”
“She’s nice.She likes dogs.”
Crouching down, Becket smiled.“She does indeed.”
“And you like her?”
“I do.Very much.I was wondering if I could ask you a big favor.”
“What favor?”
“Your dad and Coop will be my groomsmen, but I need one other man.Would you mind?”
Luke’s eyes widened.“You mean will I also be a groomsman?”
“Yes, please.”
A big smile nearly split his little face in two.“Yes, thank you.”He threw his arms around Becket’s neck, giving him a quick hug before he was running away again.“Dad’s in his office!”
