Maria took the long way home. Her girlfriend and future maid-of-honor, Kathy couldn't wait to tell her that Macys decorated a new bridal window with the latest creations. Since setting the date for her wedding , Maria had been searching the stores for a gown she could afford. Her mom, Laura, offered to pay for the gown, but since the money had to be squeezed out of the household budget, Maria didn't have the heart to choose an expensive dress.

Finally, she and Kathy walked into Macys Bridal Department and looked at the bridal gowns. There were very few priced lower than two hundred dollars, far exceeding what she was willing to ask her mother to spend. Deciding between a simple shift in white linen with a short veil and a floor length eyelet gown in polished cotton was difficult since neither one caught her eye. Kathy complimented how nice she looked, but the look in her eye said that they didn't fit the image she had in her mind for a bridal gown. A small deposit held the less expensive of the two and the girls went home in a quiet mood.

The next day, Maria told her mother all about the wedding dress she found and apologized for having her spend one hundred sixty dollars of her household cash. The following night Maria and her mom went to Macys to see the gown. Laura tactfully hemmed and hawed but finally said that she thought the dress looked too poor and didn't do her justice. Seams buckled on one side and one puff sleeve seemed larger than its mate. Disappointed, but determined to find the right gown, they had their deposit returned and went home.

With a twinkle in her eye, Laura told her not to give up, but that she had an idea to try out. A small Mom and Pop bridal salon in the next town offered marked down gowns from a previous Spring season. Laura had already scouted out the bridal gowns available and found a perfect gown for Maria for a fraction of its true value. She asked the owner not to reveal her visit or her finds so that Maria could choose a gown on her own. The next day, they visited the shop and asked if there were any bridal gowns in their price range. She quickly brought out three gowns for Maria to try on. Laura's secret choice was the first one to catch Maria's eye.

Floor length with a small train, a double layer of silk chiffon covered a skirt of the finest white silk taffeta. Hand-sewn miniature pearls formed a waterfall down toward a tapering waist. Three quarter sleeves in a matching pearl design fit Maria perfectly. Her eyes lit up when she saw herself in the full length mirror. Laura blinked away sympathetic tears when she saw how beautiful her daughter looked. This four hundred dollar gown would cost her only eighty dollars. Maria chose a fashionable wide-brimmed hat in soft curves trailing a triple veil of fine Belgian lace. Independent minded Maria was a happy bride-to-be and Laura held both her secret efforts and her love for her daughter close to her heart.

Our lucky one and only daughter got all our love.