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talking long-term,” Charlotte said.
    Isabella met her gaze. “The first time I saw Nick’s face, I knew he was the man I’d been dreaming about.”
    “Really. It was that clear?” Charlotte asked.
    “It was. But then, I’m a little psychic,” she said with a grin.
    “I knew the first time I saw Colin, too,” Kara interjected. “He was eating chocolate pudding in kindergarten, and it was smeared across his face.”
    “It was first sight for me and Shane, too,” Lauren added. “He was racing his motorcycle down the street, and I thought he was the baddest boy in town. I got all hot and bothered but wondered what he’d want with a good girl like me.”
    “I think we all know what he wanted,” Charlotte said with a laugh.
    “He was my first,” Lauren admitted. “And the best, too. Speaking of first loves, are you and Andrew getting back together?”
    “I don’t know,” Charlotte said.
    “Well, it’s not always about first love,” Kara said. “It wasn’t for you, was it, Isabella?”
    “No, Nick wasn’t the first,” she said, her thoughtful gaze coming to rest on Charlotte.
    “We should get out of these dresses,” Charlotte said quickly, wanting to get everyone off the subject of her love life—especially Joe’s sister.
    “Before you take yours off, Kara,” Isabella said, “I think we need to alter the bust. Can I take a look?”
    “Of course. It is a little tight. I love breastfeeding—I actually have a chest! Colin will be so disappointed when these go away,” she added with a laugh.
    While Isabella worked some pins through Kara’sdress, Charlotte changed into her clothes and then went into the bathroom to help Lauren out of her dress. As she worked her way through the buttons, she said, “How’s your father doing? Will he be able to walk you down the aisle?”
    “I hope so, but his Alzheimer’s has been getting worse. I wish I could have had the wedding earlier, but my mother went on a holiday cruise, and she doesn’t get back until this weekend. I want both my parents there, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that somehow it will all work out. I want to have one day where we’ll be a family again.”
    Charlotte met her yearning gaze in the mirror, knowing how much Lauren needed to have everyone together. While Lauren and her father had been able to work through their differences, her parents were still divorced, and her brother lived on the other side of the country.
    “I just wish Abby could be at my wedding,” Lauren continued, a sad note in her voice. “She was going to be my maid of honor. When we were kids, we planned out our weddings. She wanted to have hers on a boat. She imagined saying her vows at sunset, surrounded by the sea, a trail of rose petals in the water.”
    “Sounds pretty. What was your dream?”
    “What I’m having,” Lauren said with a smile. “At sunset on a bluff, the solid ground beneath my feet, the man I love at my side, and all my friends there to support me. Shane probably would have liked Abby’s idea better. He was always more comfortable on thewater than on land, but he wants me to be happy. Since this is Angel’s Bay, I’m hoping my angel of a sister will be watching from afar. I want it all to be perfect. But whatever happens, I’m marrying Shane.”
    “And that will make it perfect,” Charlotte said quietly.
    “Yes, it will,” Lauren agreed.
    “So did you have your wedding night in mind when you asked Isabella to design a dress with a hundred buttons down the back?” Charlotte teased.
    Lauren flung her a mischievous smile. “I’m going to make Shane work for it.”
    “I hope he doesn’t get impatient and rip the dress. Not that that wouldn’t be fun.”
    “Nobody is ripping my dress. I want to keep it in case I have a daughter one day.”
    Charlotte could picture Lauren with a little girl, same dark hair and blue eyes, and she smiled at the thought of Shane having to deal with another female in his life. He’d always