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Someone grabbed Bree and pulled her into the middle of the floor and began measuring her around her pajamas.

Dan, the lone male voice in the whole place, yelled, “I’ll start the breakfast food. Y’all are going to need it.”

“And coffee!” Cheryl yelled.

“Of course coffee!” Dan returned with a grin. He winked at Bree as she held up her arms so someone could measure her bust. “It’s not my first day.”

Bree just watched it all with a smile. What else could she do?

The women came back, carrying their wedding dresses, laughing and joking and telling stories from their own wedding days. A few were telling interesting stories about the day they got divorced too.

None of them uttered a word of complaint as pieces of their dresses—usually parts of the train or underskirt that wouldn’t ever be noticed, but sometimes more—were measured for the pattern they developed and cut.

It was the bodice of Gayle Little’s dress that ended up fitting Bree perfectly. The woman had lost her husband of sixty years just a few months ago. Bree couldn’t even believe somebody Mrs. Little’s age would be here helping in the middle of the night. But she was, and she was more than happy to provide this part of her dress, even though it meant taking the dress apart.

“I never had daughters. And it just wasn’t the right style for the women my boys married,” Mrs. Little said. “My Stanley would’ve been thrilled at the thought of you wearing it to marry Tanner. He always loved that boy.”

Bree held the older woman’s hand as Cheryl and the other seamstresses gently removed the bodice of Mrs. Little’s gown from the skirt portion.

“You’re going to make a beautiful bride, dear,” she said.

The commotion continued around her and all Bree could do was watch and smile. Eventually she started serving food and coffee to the women who were working so hard for her.

It was nearing dawn when she found Cassandra on one side of her and Marilyn on the other.

“You okay?” Cassandra asked.

“I’m getting married in a few hours and it’s going to be perfect.” Bree had no doubt about it.

Cassandra nodded and put an arm around her.

“You were wrong when you said the church would tip over with Tanner’s family,” Cass whispered, looking around at the beautiful chaos surrounding them.

“I know. Because they’re my family too.”

Bree sat down in the booth where she’d first sat that day with the twins.

She’d been exhausted, at her lowest, empty.

And oh, so alone.

They’d helped her that day too, the people of this town. Her family.

She laid her head down on the booth table, just like she’d done that day. Her eyes closed as the sounds of laughter, talking and fellowship surrounded her.

Her family was here.

She woke to a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Bree,” Marilyn whispered. “The dress is done. It’s time to get ready.”

Bree looked out the window. The sun was already shining brightly.

“What time is it? How long did I sleep?”

How unfair was it of her to fall asleep while everyone else was working hard.

“I don’t know. I conked out too.”