Grandon Dress and Formal called Lauren that afternoon and told her her dress had arrived. When Amy heard the news she offered to complete Lauren’s shift that evening so that she could get to the shop before it closed. “I can get it tomorrow,” Lauren said.
Amy put her hand on her hip. “Why would you do that? You know that you’re dying with excitement to see it, so go!”
“But it’s so late for you to stay.”
Amy waved her hand in the air as she walked away. “I’m not listening to you anymore. I’m staying.”
The store closes at six so Lauren leaves Glory’s Place at five thirty. It’s already dark outside; this season feels so long with darkness creeping in so early but she doesn’t mind it today. The streetlamps are wrapped in evergreen and a banner stretches across the street, announcing the annual Christmas parade. She drives around the square and looks for the star above the gazebo—grateful that someone decided to buy a star so Travis could place it there for everyone to see—but it’s not lit up. She’s grown accustomed to seeing the light each time she drives around the square and thinks of how naked the gazebo looks tonight without the dazzle of the star. A parking space is available in front of Betty’s Bakery and she pulls in, walking the block to the dress shop.
The bell jingles, announcing her arrival inside the store, and the same salesperson who had helped her days earlier smiles amid the dresses. “You’re Lauren, right?”
“Someone called me today and said my dress is in.”
“It’s right here,” the woman says, walking behind the counter. It’s not hanging in a bag or packaged neatly inside a box, as Lauren had expected, but is displayed in full view, taking her breath away. “We always like for our brides to see the dress before we cover it up. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Lauren nods. “It’s actually more beautiful than I remembered.” The saleswoman lifts it off the rack and hands it to Lauren. “Wow! I can’t believe this is mine.”
The woman smiles as she takes it back from her and gently places it inside a dress bag with the Grandon Dress and Formal logo on the front. “You’ll be a beautiful bride.” She walks around the counter, handing the dress to Lauren. “If it needs altering in any way, you just call us so we can schedule an appointment with the seamstress. Congratulations!”
Lauren leaves the store, beaming. Her steps are hurried as she walks down the sidewalk, the cold air makes her lungs catch. She can’t wait to show Stacy and Gloria and Miriam. She’s never been a girly girl, and never thought she would be excited about wearing a dress, but the weight of this dress over her arm, and what it means to her, nearly makes her giddy, and she’s far from a giddy person! As she approaches her car, she looks over at the gazebo; the star on top that wasn’t lit when she went inside the dress shop is now spreading fingers of light across the square. Her eye catches the young woman who was standing there the day the star was put into place; the one she’s since seen at the dress shop and then at Wilson’s. Lauren crosses the street and approaches her. Even though her knit cap is pulled tightly over her ears, the woman’s cheeks are flushed from being in the cold. The woman notices Lauren and slips her hands into her pockets, pulling out gloves.
“Did you get it to light up again?” Lauren asks, pointing to the star.
The woman nods. “I shook the cord on the side of the gazebo. May be a little short in it somewhere.” She’s looking up at the star and the glow from it illuminates her face. “I’ll let someone at the parks department know.”
Lauren shifts the dress to the other arm. “I saw you here that day when you were helping to put it up.”
The woman turns to look at her. “Not helping. Just watching. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Lauren smiles. “It is. I love it!”
“It was my dad’s idea. He thought of it in October and was really excited about it but then he was diagnosed with cancer and…” She looks up at the star again. “He died eleven days later. My mom and sister and I just had to put this up for him.” She turns to look at Lauren. “No matter the expense, you know? He loved Christmas! He loved it so much that I wanted to get married at Christmas.” She turns her face to the star, shaking her head.
Lauren peers up at it. “It’s a beautiful tribute.” She pauses, looking at the woman. “I’m so sorry that you lost your dad.”
Tears swim in her eyes. “Me too. I’m twenty-six years old but I don’t feel old enough to lose a parent.” She notices the dress bag over Lauren’s arm and uses that as a means to change the subject. “Special occasion coming up?”
Lauren nods, choking back emotion. “My wedding. My fiancé, Travis, was actually the one who put the star up there,” she says, pointing.
“Really? That was your fiancé? He was so nice. Funny too. He kept saying ‘If I start to fall, run over here and catch me.’ It was kind of an emotional day, for my mom especially, and he was just very kind to us. You’re very lucky to be marrying someone like him.”
“I agree,” Lauren says, feeling tears begin to form.
“My fiancé is also a kind and funny guy. Guess we’re two of the lucky ones. I’m Mandy, by the way.”
“Lauren.”
Mandy lifts her hand to wave. “Nice to meet you, and again, congratulations! I hope you have a great wedding.” She turns to walk to her car.
“You too.” Lauren turns and feels the wind against her face. She heads toward her car but stops, glancing back at Mandy. “Mandy!” she yells. Mandy turns to look at her. Lauren pauses as her heart pounds in her ears. She lifts the dress off her arm. “I…” She steps closer. “You and I look about the same size.” Mandy’s smile fades. “I would really like you to have this dress for your wedding.”
“Wha…? No!”
“Please don’t say no. The gift for your dad on top of this gazebo has made Grandon shine. You’ve honored him in such a beautiful way. I mean, look at that! It’s a bright star in a night sky! How many towns have something that beautiful? I believe that you would also honor your dad if you were to wear a beautiful dress on your wedding.”
Mandy shakes her head. “I can’t. I have a dress.”
“But is it the one your dad would want you to have? He wanted you to have one, right?” Lauren can see Mandy’s eyes glistening.
“This … I can’t. It’s yours and…”
“My friend Gloria tells me to hold things loosely but people close. I never had a tight hold on this dress. My hold is on Travis and Gloria and Dalton and Heddy and Stacy and the kids at Glory’s Place, and Miriam, whom I’m going to have to explain all of this to, but I love her anyway.” She begins to laugh and Mandy laughs out loud with her. She steps to Mandy. “Please take it.” Mandy covers her mouth; she is speechless. Lauren places the dress in her arms and hugs her. “I hope you have a beautiful wedding and a wonderful life together.”
Mandy is overwhelmed as she hugs her back, tears rolling down her face. “Thank you doesn’t sound like enough.”
“I think the same thing when I see that star.”