Part 1:
“Good afternoon.

I need this pressed right now.”

“We stopped taking rush orders at .”
“Hey, I—I have a meeting in an hour.

I’ll pay double.”
“Do it, Grace. 10 minutes.

Not a single crease.”

“It’s silk.”
“There you go.

Not a crease on it.”
“Leaving early again?”

“I’ll make it up Saturday.

Ella’s concert is at 3.

I can’t be late.”
“Go on, run.”
[cough and clears throat]

“Every year before Thanksgiving, our first graders tell you what they’re thankful for.”
“I’m thankful for grandma’s pie and for grandma.”
“I’m thankful [clears throat] for my mom.

She can fix anything with a needle.”
“Look at your dad.

Just say it to him.”
“He burns the pancakes, but he tries.”
“You were late again.

I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I’m sorry, baby.

I ran the whole way.

And the needle thing… Did [music] you mean it?”
“You can fix anything.”
“Ella, this is for you.

You helped me.”
[snorts]
“Tilly.

Is she your daughter?”
“She was the only one who helped him today.”
“Yes, that’s my girl.”
“Nathan.”
“Grace.”
“Bye, Ella.”
“Bye.”
“You did great up [music] there, buddy.”
“I wish mom was still here.

She’d come watch me, too.”
“Ella’s mom is nice.

She’s a good mom, too.”
“How much for two pretzels?”
“10 bucks.”
“Just one, please.”
“Eat up.

You’re starving after school.”
“What about you, Mom?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You’re always not hungry.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Look, a ball.

Duchesses.”
“Mom, can I be a duchess?”
“We’ll see, sweetheart.

Go on.

That’s the bell.

Have a good day, sweetheart.”
“Each child with one parent.

Dukes and Duchesses.

Are you planning to come?”
“My daughter wants to go, so yes.”
The story continues.

Type “LOVE,” and I’ll post the rest.

Part 2:
“Lexton Cleaners, that’s where I send my dresses.

Do you press them yourself?”
“Sometimes.

Is there a problem?”
“No problem.

I just like to know whose hands are on my things.

I saw you with Mr.

Hayes yesterday.

He’s on the school board, one of the richest men in New York, and a widowerower.

Women like you shouldn’t get ideas.

Do I make myself clear?”
“Women like me?”
“The costume rental is $800, but don’t worry, you can always come in your smok.

It’ll be cute.”
[laughter]
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know where you work.”
“Grace Bennett, my old classmate from fashion school, here in the middle of the day.

Okay.

What happened?”
“A mom from Ella’s school.

She told me to come to the ball in my smock in front of everyone.”
“In your smok?

Who does she think she is?”
“And Ella heard every word.”
“Let me guess.

Big fur coat, rich husband, never sewed a button in her life.

And she laughs at you.”
“Exactly.

You described her perfectly.”
“Grace, you were the best designer in our class.

Everyone knew it.

The teachers knew it.

If your mom hadn’t died, the whole world would know your name by now.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“Then it’s time to remind them.

Show those rich ladies who Grace Bennett is.

Take whatever you need.

Fabric, thread, my machines, it’s all yours.

Two dresses, three weeks.”
“There she is.

I hate her.”
“That lady in the fur coat?”
“She laughed at you in front of everybody.

I wanted to kick her.”
“Kicking won’t win this one, baby.”
“Then how?”
“$800 for a costume.

That’s our rent.”
“I don’t want her stupid rental dress.

I want a real one.

I want to walk in and see her face.

Logan asked if I’m going.

I said yes.”
“You know your mom always has a plan.”
“Is that grandma’s machine?”
“Your grandma made wedding dresses on this machine.

She taught me everything.

We’re going to the ball, and she’s going to see us.

Just don’t tell anyone.”
“Not even Logan?”
[laughter]
“Especially not Logan.”
“Dad, there’s a Christmas ball at school.

Everyone has to dress like dukes and duchesses.”
“I know, buddy.

I already paid the committee for the ballroom.”
“So, who are you going to dance with?”
“Maybe with Ella.

She promised she’d come.”
“Then you have to look like a real juke at the ball.

Tomorrow, we’ll go and buy you a costume.”
“Sleeves are a little long.

I’ll take them in by Friday.”
“Mom would have laughed.

She always said I’d grow into everything.”
“She’d say you look like a real Duke.”
“Nathan, what a lovely surprise.

The committee had an idea.

You and I open the ball with the first dance.

It’s tradition.”
“I’m not much of a dancer, Vanessa.”
“Dad’s dancing with Ella’s mom.”
“You heard the Duke.”
“My mom always gets what she wants.”
“Mom, why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Go back to sleep, Bunny.

I’m just looking for something.

Mom, you kept it. ‘For Grace’s [music] prom.

For my granddaughter.’”

“Is that grandma’s?

What does it say?”
“She drew two dresses.

One for me and one for you.”
“But she never even met me.”
“She knew you were coming.

We’re both going to that ball.”
“Ella, Ella, wait.

Dukes don’t skate.”
“Then learn.”
“Hot chocolate.

A peace offering.”
“For what?”
“My son told half of Madison Avenue I’m dancing with you.”
“And are you?”
“Only if you say yes.

Fair warning, I’m a terrible dancer.”
“I haven’t said yes, Mr.

Hayes.”
“Nathan.”
“Nathan.”
“Dad, it hurts.”
“Look at me.

Breathe.”
“Is it broken?”
“I don’t think so, but he needs a doctor.”
“Hey, come with us, please.”
“Kick it.

Bottom left.”
“Thank you.

Back there.

I just froze.”
“You were scared for your son.

That’s allowed.”
“Since my wife died, I still set three plates every night.

Logan never says a word.”
“Ella’s dad left when she was one.

Packed a bag on a Tuesday and never called.”
“His loss.”
“That’s what I tell her.

She doesn’t believe me yet.”
“I’ll return.

She will.”
“Just a sprain.

A week of rest and he’ll be fine.”
“Dad, I can still go to the ball.”
“Can I keep your scarf till the ball?”
“Deal.”
“Hello.”
“Hi, it’s Grace.

How’s Logan’s ankle?”
“Swollen, but he’s bossing everyone around, so he’s fine.”
“Is that Ella’s mom?

Tell her about Sunday.”
“On Sundays, we make pancakes.

It’s sort of our tradition.

Would you and Ella come?”
“We’d love to.”
“Grace, isn’t it?

I’ll be quick. $5,000.

You and your girl stay home the night of the ball.”
“Excuse me?”
“Harper dances with Logan.

I dance with Nathan.

That’s how it’s always been.”
“Keep your money.

Ella and I will see you at the ball.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Real pearls.

Old ones.

I can do 200.”
“That’s enough for her dress.”
“I’ll hold them 90 days.

Come back for them.”

“I will.”
“Dad, they’re burning again.”
“They’re crispy on purpose.”
[laughter]
“My mom makes pancakes every Sunday.

Can she do it?”
“Move over, Mr.

Hayes.”
“Nathan.”
“Move over, Nathan.”
[cheering] [laughter]
“You’ve got flour right here.”
“Thanks.”
“We’re starving.”
[laughter]
“Logan.”
“Mom, look.

I’m a real princess.”
“Grace Bennett.

You’ve still got it.”
“Mom drew them.

I just seeds.”
“Shoes for the princess.

And these.

The guy at the pawn stop says hi.”
“Naomi.

How?”
“90 days is too long.

Put them on.”
“We look just like grandma’s drawings.”
[snorts] [music]
“Who is that?”
“Mom, everyone’s looking at us.”
“Then chin up, princess.”
“Dad, she’s a real princess.”
“So is her mom.”
“Isn’t that the girl from my dry cleaners in that dress?”
“Can’t be.”
“Your highness.

Your grace.”
“You came.”
“We said we would.”
“Dad, the dance is in 10 minutes.”
“My mom can fix anything.”
“I always carry a needle.

Come with me.”
[music]
“Where did you learn to do that?”
[snorts]
“My mom.

She made wedding dresses.

I grew up under her sewing table.

I got into fashion school.

Best in my class.

I was going to be just like her.”
“Was going to?”
“Second year, she died.

Someone had to pay the rent.

I never went back.”
“It’s better than before.

Your scarf.

Logan made me promise.

And it’s not too late, you know, to go back.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Only a little.

Don’t tell my dad.”
[music]
“May I?”

“I haven’t danced in 10 years.”
“Neither have I.”
[music] [music]
“You made these yourself?

They’re stunning.”
“Ella picked the colors.”
“Could you make one for my daughter?”
“Dad, I’m fine.”
“Really?”
“She works at my dry cleaners.

Last week, she pressed my dress.

I wonder whose curtains those used to be.

And you, sweetie, are here on our money.

Don’t forget it.”
“Mom.”
“Let’s go home, princess.”
“Enough.

You dare humiliate this woman just because she doesn’t have your millions?

Not one of you is worth a single one of her tears.
“If anyone here insults her or her daughter again, you’ll answer to me personally.

Because this is the woman I’ve fallen in love with, and I won’t let anyone hurt her ever again.
“Vanessa, the committee won’t be needing you anymore.”
“Mom, that wasn’t okay.”
“It’s Melissa.

She sent a video.”
“Because this is the woman I’ve fallen in love with.”
“Mom, he’s talking about you.”
“And I won’t let anyone hurt her ever again.”
“Mom, are you smiling?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Harper’s mom looked like she swallowed a lemon.”
“You came like that?”
“I didn’t stop to change.

I’m sorry I didn’t step in right away.

I should have been standing next to you.

I’ve dealt with them.

Nobody at that school will ever hurt you again.”
“Melissa sent me the video.

I watched it six times.”
“I should have said it to you first.”
“So, tell me now.”
“I love you, Grace.”
“Thank [music] you.”
“Come to us for Christmas.

You and Ella.

Logan’s already setting the table.”
“We’re coming.”
“Four plates, Dad.

For all of us.”
“Next year, I’m the Duke.”
“Girls can’t be dukes.”
“Watch me.”
[laughter] [sighs]
“A Manhattan fashion house called this morning.

They saw my dress on Instagram and want me to work for them.”
“To Duchess Bennett.”
“To Duchess.”
“Wait, so are you two together?”
“Then I want a baby brother.”
“And I want a baby sister.”
“Brother.”
“Sister.”

[laughter]