While Dottie changed behind the rich brown velvet curtain, the other three customers left, each carrying a small hatbox.

Dottie came out in the first gown and studied herself in front of the large gilt-edged mirror. The Empire bodice studded with prong-set diamantes suited Dottie, and the candlelight ivory duchesse satin skirt of the Starr gown swished perfectly at the bottom.

“What do you think?” Dottie asked.

There wasn’t the look in her eyes Athena wanted to see. “Pretty. But we can do better.”

Dottie stepped back behind the curtain and Athena’s sisters came to stand at her shoulders.

“Bride. First for her. Second for him. Wedding in two weeks,” Athena whispered.

Dottie stepped out in the halter-style Diamond dress. The thick cotton lace over the nude underlining of the bodice looked lovely and a little provocative and the ivory silk matte jersey bottom hung beautifully on Dottie, but Athena didn’t like it as well as the Starr dress. Neither did Dottie. They all four shook their heads.

“What about the Valentino?” Diana asked. “It would be perfect.”

“Absolutely, you must try it,” Venus insisted, removing it from the mannequin.

Dottie hesitated.

“Please, just try it,” Athena encouraged and felt pleased when Dottie took it from Venus and disappeared behind the velvet curtain.

“I love doing brides,” Venus murmured, turning to the jewelry table.

“Me, too,” Diana ran into the other room.

Dottie stepped out in the Valentino dress and coat, with the beautiful rhinestone buckle on the belt accenting her narrow waist. Athena gasped. Dottie looked regal, and the expression on her face was the one Athena had been waiting to see.

“I feel beautiful,” Dottie breathed, gazing at herself in the mirror.

“You are beautiful.” Venus handed her a pair of Vendome earrings, rhinestone-encrusted buttons each with a two-inch drop of pure crystals.

Dottie pulled her hair out of the low ponytail and up into a high knot on her head to show off the earrings.

“You’re a size-eight shoe, right?” Diana asked.

When Dottie nodded, Diana helped her slip on satin d’Orsay pumps. “Here, this Charlet rhinestone bag, hand-made in France, finishes the outfit off.”

“It’s perfect,” Dottie sighed, still staring at herself in disbelief. “I never thought I could look like this.”

Athena got a lump in her throat. “You’ll dazzle Fred in this.”

“I’ve felt dazed since I met Fred two weeks ago.”

“And you’re marrying him already?” Venus gasped, looking as shocked as Athena felt.

“I should have said met again.” Laughing, Dottie flushed. “Twenty-five years ago we dated in college and reconnected at our college reunion. Fred’s been divorced for years, and I never married. He says we were always meant to be together but we were too young then to deal with it.”

“I love when couples get back together,” Diana sighed.

Athena sat down hard on the settee.

Lost in thoughts of Drew and their past, she watched her sisters fussing over Dottie without really hearing what was being said.

She tuned back in as her sisters presented Dottie with a gift.

Dottie shook her head. “I can’t accept these earrings as a wedding gift.”

Her sisters chorused, “Of course you can.”

“Please. We want you to have them,” Athena added.

All of this happened on the outside. Inside, her life played over and over in her head. If she’d needed any further evidence the Fates planned to drag her kicking and screaming toward some monumental conclusion, they’d just given her a preview.

Half an hour later, laden with the hanging bag holding the Valentino dress, and several boxes, Dottie paused in the door Athena held open.

Turning, she smiled at all of them. “Thank you all. I feel like you’re my fairy god-sisters.” With a wave, the blissful, blushing bride left to live happily ever after.

“Or we’re three busybodies, like Mom sometimes called us.” Diana laughed.

“Or the three Fates butting into everyone’s business,” Athena sighed.

“No, we simply love to make people happy.” Venus flung herself down on the settee. “Fabulous day.”

“Now please tell me why you’re worried about Dad,” Athena blurted out, unable to wait another moment, now that she realized time was running out.

“We think he’s keeping a secret from us.” Sadness flickered through Diana’s eyes.

Dread gnawed at Athena’s stomach where guilt had left off.

“She thinks it’s a terrible secret. I don’t,” Venus shook her head, and thick tendrils of hair slipped out of her topknot to fall charmingly around her shoulders. “I think it’s some kind of good secret. Honestly, Dad hasn’t sounded so content in years. Who wouldn’t after being freed from those overbearing Clayworths? Of course he didn’t sound as great after we told him about the robbery and you.”

“Let’s go to Florida to see him,” Diana declared, hands on hips.

“He’s coming home soon.”

“What!” Venus sat up. “Did he e-mail you?”

“He called my cell this afternoon to tell me.”

“I knew he was worried about you.” Diana nodded. “It’s time for him to come home. It’s time for all of us to put this business behind us.”

“For once you’re right, Diana.” Venus sighed. “I suppose I’ll have to put up with the Clayworths, but I’ll never forget about this or forgive them for it. I’m like an elephant.”

“Life goes on. We need to seize happiness whenever and wherever we can,” Athena said with new determination.

Venus sat bolt upright on the settee. “You’ve met a new man!”

Athena shook her head.

“Yes, you have. I see it in your eyes. They’re getting darker. Mysterious.” Venus chuckled. “Tell us everything.”

“I promise you I haven’t met anyone new,” Athena declared with real feeling.

“Someone old. Someone you knew before. Like Dottie and Fred,” Diana said softly.

Stunned by how close she’d come to the truth, Athena stared at her youngest sister.

A mischievous glint in her eyes, Venus twisted around, flashed Diana a grin, and turned back to Athena. “Mom always thought Diana was a little clairvoyant. Is she right? Who is he?”

“Diana is smart. If it isn’t someone new, then it’s someone old.” Athena lifted her chin to the ceiling. “In my case it’s too soon to be talking about romance. We’re talking about Dad. If he’s coming home soon, we need to make sure the house and yard are in good shape. You know how fussy he can be.”

“Let’s meet at the house and see what needs to be done.” Venus shrugged. “Sometimes I wish he’d sell the money pit, but it has so many memories.”

Both her sisters gazed off into the distance, no doubt thinking of the rambling old house where they’d grown up, with its old wood floors and huge fireplaces, and the great paneled library where their father pored over books on mythology.

“I think we should go have a picnic on Oak Street beach, the way we always did on Sunday evenings in the summer.” Diana smiled up at her. “What do you think, Athena?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t tomorrow.” She thought very carefully how to word this so as not to tell any more lies to her sisters. “I have a meeting about the exhibit.”

“How about afterward?” Diana asked.

Rapidly calculating what time the sun set, because certainly she didn’t want to be out in Drew’s tiny boat after dark, she nodded. “Come to Belmont Yacht Club around seven-thirty and meet me. Too late for a picnic, but we can go to the house.”

“Is the meeting with Drew?” Diana asked softly.

Venus swiveled around to look at Diana and back to Athena. “It is, isn’t it?” A steely glaze in her eye, she nodded with so much gusto, more hair fell around her shoulders. “I know he’s helping you find the dresses and all of that, but doesn’t it bother you not knowing what happened between him and Dad? You know how I feel. All Clayworths should go suck a lemon. We’ll come save you from Drew at seven-thirty sharp.”