Finding a parking spot close to the main entrance, I pulled the car into it and stepped out. I rounded the car and opened the door for Mom. Helping her out, she looked around at the people in the lot. "I don't feel like walking now. Did you pack the chair in for me?"

"Yes, I did, Momma." I helped her sit on the chair before opening the trunk and pulling out the wheelchair. I set it up and then pushed it over to her. Transferring her from the car to the chair doesn't take long. Locking the car, I start to push her through the mall.

A smile spreads across her face as she looks at the tall building. "Where are we going to go first, Eliza?"

"I was thinking about going to a formal shop to buy our dresses."

"Are you going to your ten-year reunion?"

"I was thinking about it," I tell her, honestly. "I want to know what everyone's been up to since we left. I wasn't sure a couple of hours ago, but then I saw someone accept it, and it's because of them that I want to go."

She places her hand on mine. "This better not have anything to do with that boy you lost your virginity to. He's bad news, and I don't want to see him hurt you like he did ten years ago."

"I know, Momma. I'm stronger now and won't let him ruin me again."

"I hope so." She mutters under her breath.

I know I wasn't supposed to hear her say that. So, I let it slide.

Pressing the button for the escalator, we wait for it to hit our floor. When it does, I push Mom inside. I look at the floor numbers, trying to remember the floor the formal shop was on. There are names of stores above the number, and I press five.

The escalator moves, taking us up to our floor without stopping. The door opens, and I wheel Mom towards the store. As soon as we reach the window, she says. "Stop," stopping at the window, we see a red dress that has a slit up the leg and a dip at the front. "That's the perfect dress for you, Eliza. You're going to be a knock-out at the Reunion."

Moving in front of her, I lean down and say. "You have to say that because you're a mother. You're being biased."

She shakes her head. "It's true, though, Liz. I'm buying you that dress. So, you'll put it on when we get to the store."

The price tag says '$500.' I stand up and push her into the store. "You're not going to buy that dress for me. It's too much."

"Elizabeth Lynette Donoghue. I'm buying you that dress, and you'll let me. Don't you undermine me, Liz?"

"Okay, Momma," I mutter. Once we enter the store, the retailer looks at Mom and me. "Welcome to Connie's Formal Wear. Can I help y'all find something?"

"Yes," A smile spreads across Mom's face. "I want the red dress that's sitting in the window."

"Uh," she looks around the store, ensuring no one can hear what she says before saying. "We don't have that in your size, Madame."

That's not a nice thing to say to a customer.

"That's rude of you to say that." My voice begins to go up. "Saying that we can't look at a dress because you don't sell a certain size?" Mom's hand rests on my arm. "That dress wasn't for her, but me. It probably wouldn't fit me anyway. Let's get out of here before she shames anyone else." Pushing Mom out of the store, we head to another with formal wear.

Mom looks at the ground and keeps her eyes there as we stop at the shop's front window. "I can't go in there."

"Yes, you can. We can afford the best things from this place. The Twins that own this company have made dresses to fit all sizes and won't discriminate against you."

"Go and have a look for yourself, Liz. Bring me in once you have the dress for the formal." Ignoring Mom, I push her into the store. She keeps saying. "No,"

When we get inside, I take her to a sales rack and look for something to wear on the date with Dad.

A girl walks out from behind the counter after serving a customer. She walks over to us with a smile on her face. "Hey, y'all. Welcome to Butler. Can I help you find something?"

"Sure, Mom needs something to wear on her date with Dad. What do you suggest for her to wear?"

"Follow me." She leads us to a different rack with dresses on it. They are simple, and they're something Mom would wear. Searching through the rack, she pulls out a white dress. "This would be perfect for tonight."

Mom looks closely at the dress. "It's beautiful, " she says. "It's going to look great on me for the date. Can I try it on?"

"Sure," she says, leading me to the change room. I push Mom to the wheelchair. When I get inside, I lock the wheel. "Do you need help getting out?" I ask.

"No, I'll be fine." She gives me a genuine smile. "Thanks for making me come into this store. The girl seems like a better person than the one from Connie's Formal Wear."

"We know where to come next time we need to look for formal clothes. I'm going to look for mine. Call me when you want me to see the dress on you."

"I will." After I leave the dressing room, she stands up and closes the door.

The girl's name tag reads 'Tallulah.' She looks around the room, checking to make sure no one else is in the shop. "Can I help you with anything else?"

"Sure, I need a dress for a ten-year reunion. I have no idea what to wear."

A smile spreads across her face. "You're the type of girl that my cousins would love to make an original dress for. Can I get your measurements, and I'll send them? They will have the dress done before the reunion."

"Sure," I look closely at her and see her resemblance to the Butler Twins, who own this company. "What do you mean by a girl like me?"

"Someone that's beautiful and kind and helps others when needed. I've been with you for a couple of minutes, and I can tell that you've put your life on hold to care for someone who needs it. That's the type of person my cousins want to help, and they've asked me to help them find people that deserve a perfect dress." After that, she took my measurements and put them on paper. "Do you know what sort of dress you want?"

"Sure," I describe the dress I saw in the other shopfront window.

"Okay, I'll send this off with the date the dress needs to be shipped here."

"Eliza," Mom yells.

"Coming," I walk over to the change room with Tallulah.

Mom steps out of the room, dragging her right foot and holding onto the hall. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful, Mom. Dad's not going to know what's hit him."

Tallulah has a smile on her face. "That dress was made for you."

Mom smiles at her. "Thanks, you're much nicer than the woman at Connie's Formal Wear."

"I've heard a lot of bad things about that place. What's their loss is my gain, and I'm glad you came here."

"Me, too. My daughter had to drag me in here because, based on what the woman said, I felt awful." Mom walks back into the change room and gets changed into her clothes.

Once Mom is done, I wheel her to the cash register, and we pay for the dress. Mom looks at me and says. "Did you find a dress?"

"It's going to be made from scratch. Tallulah's cousins own this place and will make me an original dress."

"I hope it's better than the one in Connie's Formal Wear window."

"It will be." I take the bag from the counter and thank Tallulah before leaving the store.