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“Oh yes, isn’t the iridescent overlay simply to die for?” Krystin asked as she attempted to pull the giant gown from the rack. She wrestled with it for a solid two minutes before she was swallowed by a mound of “iridescent overlay,” Mandy assumed.

Once it was gone, however, she got the opportunity to seewhat was behind that dress, and it was, well…kind of perfect. It was white but not bright white, and it was simple—understated. She actually kind of liked it. “Could I try this one too?”

“I’ll be right back for it,” Krystin said from under the mountain of fabric, and shuffled off.

Mandy stared at the dress a moment longer. It was pretty. And the price wasn’t even half of the one that had just been taken to her fitting room. If she tilted her head the right way, she could even picture herself in it. Isa’s laughter pulled her out of her thoughts and back to the task at hand.

“You’re going to love this one,” Isa said from somewhere.

Twenty minutes later, the fitting room Mandy stood in wasn’t anything fancy—a square room with a small chair for her to place her clothes on, and just enough room for Mandy, Krystin, and all that tulle. A large mirror was on one wall, and every other available space was full of dresses. Isa had really come through on some “special”-looking choices. Mandy had to give it to Krystin, not once did she giggle or make an uncomplimentary comment. Like when Mandy slipped into a mermaid-style strapless gown with see-through lace around her middle and a train three times as long as she was tall, Krystin’s comment was, “While this does nice things for your derriere, I’m not sure this is the one, but let’s see what your family thinks.”

Isa covered her mouth—likely because she was about to spit out her champagne—when Mandy turned the corner and came into view of the couches where Isa and Mom sat to wait for Mandy. Mom, on the other hand, was not amused.

“Oh no. Just turn around.” Mom shook her head.

“I don’t know. How does it look with the veil?” Isa somehow held a straight face.

Mom scowled at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

Krystin—forever the polite sales associate—said, “Yeah, this wasn’t my favorite either, but don’t worry, there are lots more options,” and ushered Mandy back to the dressing room.

The next dress was somehow worse than the first. The material on top was completely sheer, but strategically placed rhinestones covered Mandy from her shoulders all the way down the front of either side of her torso to her hips, but left the center down to her belly button completely exposed. From there, layers of organza circled her hips and flared out around her legs like wrinkled wrapping paper. And then there was the enormous rhinestone bow right on Mandy’s ass.

“Maybe not this one,” Krystin suggested, but Mandy knew she couldn’tnotshow Isa one of her amazing picks.

“I don’t know. Let’s see what they say.”

Poor Krystin plastered on a smile as she followed Mandy out of the dressing room back to the couches.

Mom, momentarily distracted by her phone, didn’t look up until Mandy was standing on the stage in front of them with three mirrors behind her so whoever was seated on the couches could get a full 360-degree view.

Isa’s chin quivered; she was trying so hard not to laugh that Mandy couldn’t keep a straight face.

“What is going on here?” Mom demanded.

And Isa lost it, so of course Mandy burst out laughing.

Krystin stood there, not sure what was going on. Poor, poor Krystin.

“You two.” Mom tried not to smile now that she seemed tofigure out what was happening. “You’ve had your fun, now go try on that Alfred Angelo one I picked out.”

“I win,” Isa called after Mandy as she retreated to the dressing room.

Without looking back, Mandy flipped her off before turning the corner.

The Alfred Angelo, as Mom called it, had a halter top, a cinched waist with a rhinestone belt, and a full princess skirt. Krystin paired it with a faux fur wrap, since the wedding was in December, and a tea-length veil.

“You look absolutely stunning,” Mom gushed, her eyes filling with tears. Which made Mandy’s eyes burn a little too.

Mom reached for the box of tissues, but it was empty. “Excuse me,” she said, and headed toward the bathroom.

“I’m so sorry about that. I’ll get some more.” Krystin hurried off for more tissues. And so, it was just Isa and Mandy.

Mandy stood there staring at herself in all three mirrors. She did look like a bride, but she didn’t exactly feel like one.

“I thought you wanted a spring wedding.” Isa fidgeted with the faux wrap. It was nice and warm, but it made Mandy’s neck itch.

“Edmund thought a winter wedding would be romantic.”