They asked Kelly to take the picture, the couple maneuvering Faith to go in the middle as they each looped their arms around her as if they were old buddies. They all had huge smiles.
“Can you take at least five or six so we have options?” the woman asked. “Zoom in on some or turn the camera the other way.”
“Sure,” Kelly said, feeling like a hired hand as she did what was asked of her.
When they finally left, Faith whispered, “Sorry about that. I should have worn a hat and my glasses. It happens way too often.”
“No worries, I sometimes forget how famous you are,” replied Kelly.
The tension between them had somewhat dissipated thanks to the couple. If there had been a red power showdown it seemed to have been a draw, but Kelly was still anxious to wrap lunch and be on her way. The meeting had accomplished what it was supposed to. Faith had apologized, and given her the item she made, and that was that. What else needed to happen? The waiter returned with the check.
“I’ll take it,” Faith said, holding out her hand. Kelly smiled and started to gather her coat and purse.
“Thanks for lunch, Faith, and for the jewelry box. It’s really… one-of-a-kind.”
“You’re welcome, I had fun making it. I hope you might use it for that family jewelry.”
Kelly knew she wouldn’t but nodded and said, “Yes, I might, thanks.”
“As for lunch,” said Faith. “It’s eighty-two dollars and forty-eight cents. Even though yours was a little more expensive than mine, I’m willing to go halfsies.” Faith smiled as if she were doing Kelly a huge favor.
Kelly’s eyes narrowed. She had topayfor her portion of lunch? Hadn’t Faith invited her in order to make amends? Didn’t that mean she would pick up the tab at this ridiculous place? Kelly didn’t have forty-one dollars she could easily drop on lunch. That kind of money could have meant street tacos, a beer, and a movie in an actual theater. Her heart sank. What a fool she had been coming here. Faith was still Faith, cheap as hell but always trying to live above her means. But what could Kelly do? She had to pay.
“Oh, um… I guess if that’s how you want to do it,” she said, giving Faith one more opening to take the entire bill.
“Fifty-fifty works for me, I’ll even get the tip,” Faith said, with a “look how wonderful I am” grin.
“Yeah, OK, thanks,” Kelly mumbled. Any good vibes she had felt just a few minutes prior were rapidly receding. There was no doubt in her mind now that she was giving the insane jewelry box away or selling it. She couldn’t wait to get away from Faith.
Opening her wallet, Kelly took out two twenties and a five-dollar bill and pushed them roughly across the table.
“Here you go, you can add the change to the tip,” she said icily. “I have to run and meet Joel for something.”
It wasn’t true, of course, but she wanted an excuse to get going. Killing time with more small talk while waiting for the waiter, Faith sending her credit card back with him, waiting to sign, and then walking to the door and having a big goodbye hug all seemed too much. She pushed her chair back and stood up. Faith stood up too.
“OK then, go and be with your guy. Thanks again for coming out to meet me. Friends?”
“Uh, sure… yeah, friends,” Kelly said, but she hoped never to see Faith again. She had done her duty.
They shared one more awkward half embrace and Kelly took the white box under her arm and breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she hit the sidewalk. She texted Joel that it was over and she had, indeed, survived. He sent her back a video of Tiger Woods pumping his fist on the eighteenth hole in some tournament, wearing a red polo.
At least she wasn’t as hungry as she feared she might have been. The roll and bisque had done the trick, even though the salad was nothing but arugula and bits of candied walnuts.
When she got home and recounted the entire lunch date for Joel, he rolled his eyes at various parts but didn’t come down on her for frivolously spending over forty dollars of their hard-earned money, and she loved him for it. She felt bad enough for being duped.
“Well, you never have to see her again,” he summed up. “Can I check out the jewelry box?”
“Sure.” She pushed the white box toward him. Opening the lid, he laughed.
“It looks like a twelve-year-old girl made this.” Lifting it out, he turned it over in his hands to view all sides.
He stopped when he had it upside down, and peered closely at something.
“There’s a signature on this button, did you see that? It says Emilio Gonzalez.”
“What? Let me see.” Kelly grabbed the box and squinted at the tiny signature. “You’re right. She told me she made this butdid she? Or I guess that could just be on a leftover button she got at the make-your-own place?”
Joel was already reaching for his phone.
