The four ladies took one of the castle’s awaiting limos to the tiny island’s main street shopping district. There were only a few storefronts, but each had local, unique items to peruse.

Ellie and Millie didn’t hide how enamored they were with the quaint, pristine village. Their enthusiasm was endearing and contagious. Tess reaffirmed her initial impression that both women were friendly, lovable, and down-to-earth. She had never before imagined either of her womanizing brothers finding everlasting love and settling down, but now she couldn’t imagine either of them without his perfect counterpart.

It truly thrilled her that her siblings had found such wonderful happiness with their true soulmates. Now, she just wished the same fate for Mo and herself.

At the island’s one clothing boutique, Ellie found a seashell pink, shimmery, slinky gown that suited her perfectly. When she tried it on, all three of the other women gasped at how the dress hugged her curves like it had been custom made for her.

“Trey won’t be able to keep his hands off you,” Millie told her, which made Tess shiver with disgust.

Ellie went to the makeshift counter to pay the gray-haired, local woman who owned the store, and was told the dress would be fifteen dollars.

“What?!?” Ellie balked.

When the storeowner stammered and finally said that she couldn’t accept less than ten for it, Tess felt dismayed. Perhaps Ellie wasn’t as gracious as Tess had previously believed.

Walking boldly around the counter, like she owned the place, Ellie pulled the stunned woman into a hug. “Did you make this dress?” she asked when she pulled back.

At the woman’s confirming nod, Ellie said, “It is the most exquisite piece of finery I have ever seen. You are an extremely talented seamstress, and I refuse to pay less than two hundred dollars for this masterpiece.”

Tess watched the storeowner’s eyes transform from disbelief, to giddiness, and finally to overwhelming gratitude when Ellie handed her two crisp hundred dollar bills from her wallet. Tears pooled in the older woman’s eyelids and her arthritic hands shook as she stared at the money Ellie had given her.

“Thank you!” she gushed, making Tess wonder if this was the most money the woman had ever seen in one place.

“No, thank you,” Ellie said warmly. “I just got the bargain of the century.” The kind smile she gave the lady was genuine.

When Mo mentioned that she should probably find something suitable to wear to the ball, Tess admitted that she had secretly packed the other woman’s discarded gown and brought it with them. Mo gave Tess a warm hug and murmured a thank you for always seeming to know what she needed, even before she figured it out herself.

As the four women continued their exploration of the town, Millie found a sleek, short black dress at the beach hut, of all places. When she emerged from the tiny dressing room that utilized an oversized beach towel as a curtain, Tess marveled at how both of her brothers’ girlfriends had a unique and classy sense of style.

After changing back into her shopping clothes, Millie found a beaded pair of sandals to go with the dress. She also purchased a giant, floppy sunhat, and a pair of oversized, crystal-encrusted sunglasses that made her look like a movie star.

Mo and Tess tried on a variety of hats, but cackled at each other and decided they all somehow made them look like mushrooms. “Some people just aren’t meant for classy hats, I guess,” Mo decided as she put the last one back on the turning rack.

Millie proved herself to be incredibly generous as well, when she told the surprised and thrilled clerk to keep the change for her purchases. Not wanting any acknowledgment for her kindness, she quickly turned to the other women and announced, “I’m famished!”

Ellie nodded her agreement. “Yes, shopping is hard work.” They all laughed over the ridiculous statement as they headed back out to the island’s main street.

After settling on a tiny, waterfront restaurant at the end of a long pier, the women relaxed outside with iced teas as they waited for their lunch of fresh seafood. Looking out over the glassy, turquoise water, Ellie said, “This picturesque island is truly a hidden gem.”

Millie agreed. “I know… I want to tell everyone about it, yet I also want to keep it to myself, so it will remain untouched by tourism.”

Their ponderings made Tess’s mind begin toying with a partially-formed idea, but she was distracted from her musing when their food arrived.

“Oh my gawd!” Mo exclaimed around a mouthful of coconut shrimp. “This is the best thing I have ever tasted.”

The other three women shared smiles, relieved to see Mo enjoying something. Although her moping had been warranted, they all wanted her to be happy.

Proving that her reprieve from sadness was fleeting, Mo said, “I wish Pierce was here to taste it.” She turned to look at Tess when she went on. “Nothing seems real anymore, until I’ve shared it with him.”

Tess had never seen her friend like this. She reached over and placed a reassuring hand over Mo’s. “I know,” she told her. “I have the feeling that things are going to somehow work out for you two.” The hope-filled look Mo gave her made Tess silently pray that her gut instinct was right about this. She couldn’t stand to watch her friend deal with this heartbreak and devastation.

Obviously wanting to lift the mood, Ellie pointed out to a secluded jetty that jutted far out into the water. “What a perfect and romantic spot,” she said dreamily, before adding, “I bet Trey would love my body all through the night out there.”

Millie nodded with an ornery smile. “Only if you arrived to claim the location before me and Trevor got there to initiate it a time or two.” Her eyes sparkling with mischief, she added an outlandish exaggeration, “Or ten.”

Tess covered her ears dramatically and loudly sang, “La-la-la,” as she rocked back and forth in her seat. The last thing she wanted to discuss was either of her brother’s sexual prowess or stamina.

Their boisterous laughter at the ridiculous moment made everyone else at the restaurant smile. Even Mo chuckled, which Tess took to be a very good sign for the future.