Page 61 of Tiffanie

“Hi! I’m happy to run into you again. I meant to introduce myself and thank you for your efforts to bring this show together. I’m Dottie.”

Tiffanie tore her eyes from the artfully displayed pieces to greet the woman behind the table. The woman who’d helped pick up Ivan’s collection smiled at her. “Dottie. I’m glad to see you too. Is this your work? I’m stunned.”

“You’re so sweet. I’ve always wanted to create a special crowning touch for myself and others. You’re Phineas’s girl, right? Did he tell you to choose whatever you like most?”

“He didn’t tell me what was on the table. Only to come and select something. Men.” Tiffanie definitely wasn’t speaking negatively of her Daddy. This was so incredibly unique—leave it to Phineas to think of this. “He calls me Princess,” she confessed.

“Then you have to have a tiara. Let’s try a few on and see what you like best,” Dottie suggested.

Tiffanie scanned the tiaras. Her gaze kept returning to a lovely one with blue stones. “Can I see that tiara?”

“This is so a princess tiara. Come around the display to my fitting area and let me help you.”

Once she put it on, Tiffanie stared at herself in the mirror. Who was that beautiful woman? The blue hue of the jewels caught the azure color of her eyes, making them appear enormous and stunning. She’d never felt so beautiful in her life. “I love it.”

“Me, too. You can put on others if you wish to compare,” Dottie suggested.

“No way. This is the one.”

“I’m so glad you love it. That tiara looks like I made that design for you,” Dottie told her, appearing so excited—like someone finding the perfect home for a cherished baby. “Do you want to wear your new jeweled headdress like the princess you are, or should I wrap it up for you?”

“I’m never taking this off,” Tiffanie answered.

“That’s the answer I love to hear. When you have to wash your hair, you can store your treasure in this velvet-lined case. I’ll put this in a bag for you.”

“Oh, that’s lovely!” Essie appeared by her side. “I want a tiara too.”

Moments later, her friend stood behind the table wearing a gorgeous tiara with deep purple stones. Essie’s expression revealed her absolute joy. Tiffanie clasped her hands together at her heart.

“We’ll purchase that gorgeous crowning touch,” Zander announced, and he handed over his credit card.

“Really?” Essie asked, bouncing with excitement.

“A ballroom this magnificent requires the correct embellishments. Two cold gusts of air and a meowing cat wouldn’t let me ignore them,” Zander said with a smile. In a few moments, Zander held a bag that matched Tiffanie’s.

“That is stunning,” Tiffanie said. “The purple suits you so well.”

Essie linked her elbow with Tiffanie and said, “We are so going to have a private tea party wearing these.”

“How fun to have a friend who enjoys the same things you do,” Dottie said with a wistful tone.

Remembering her hunch about a stuffie named Droopy, Tiffanie glanced at Essie before addressing Dottie. “You should come join us. Do you have a card with your contact information? We’ll invite you.”

“Really? Oh, I’d love that.” She scrambled to find her purse and pulled out a card. “Here. This has my email and cell phone number.”

Tiffanie took the card and grinned at the cartoon basset hound wearing a tiara that decorated the front. “I’ll call. Promise.”

Essie reached into her pocket and grabbed one of her cards to exchange with Dottie. “Here’s mine. You should put your contact information out on your table. People are going to want to grab a card when you run out.”

“Run out?” Dottie asked.

“Oh, don’t sell them all yet!” an urgent voice behind her called over Essie and Tiffanie’s heads. When they turned, a line had formed behind Essie and Tiffanie.

“We’ll get out of the way and let you help everyone,” Tiffanie said quickly and tugged Essie to the side. The two women watched as the crowd around Dottie’s table increased by the moment.

“You suspect she’s Little,” Essie whispered into Tiffanie’s ear.

“I do. I could be wrong.”