“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’ll need another form of payment.”
I can feel everyone staring at me. My pulse is racing. My palms are so sweaty I can barely put my cards back in my bag.
“I—I don’t have any cash on me. I thought I had enough in the account.”
I start to fumble through my wallet, trying to come up with a solution before Valentina comes over and finds out the truth. I feel the cashier getting impatient as a small line of customers begins to form behind me.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll need to see another form of payment, or I’ll have to put the item back,” she says.
“I—I understand. Let me just run to the ATM real quick.”
I quickly gather my things from the counter and rush out of the store, hoping to escape the prying eyes of the other shoppers. A wave of embarrassment and disappointment washes over me. I haven’t felt this in a long time. I have been trying so hard to act like I am doing well financially, but now my lack of funds has been exposed for all to see.
“All done, mija?” Abuelita coos, patting the bench to get me to sit beside her.
I sit down since I feel like I may faint if I stay up any longer. I try slowing my breath. My hands won’t stop shaking. What the fuck am I going to do? I can’t even buy Sofia a gift. They’ll all know the truth, that the business isn’t successful and neither am I. My phone buzzes again. I pull it out, bracing myself. This time, it’s a text from my mother.
Mija, call me when you get this message.
“Hey! Everything okay? I saw a line start to form when you were checking out while I was browsing, and then you sprinting out of the store.”
Valentina walks toward us with a shopping bag in one of her hands.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, putting my phone away once again. “I forgot I maxed out my credit card on some Prada shoes last week. Whoops.”
“Oh yeah, that’s a bummer. Well, hey, here.” She hands me the shopping bag and sits on the bench next to Abuelita and me.
I open it and see the white Coach bag inside.
“Did you buy this for me?”
She smiles. “Well, to give to Sofia, yeah.”
“What? No, I can’t let you do that. I already feel embarrassed enough as it is.”
“It’s not a big deal, Valdes. It happens to all of us. There was a time when Sofia and Rosita couldn’t even afford Coach. I want you to give her a nice gift. You haven’t seen her in a decade. It’ll make a good impression. Don’t worry about it.”
I stare at the bag, tears forming in my eyes.
“I’ll pay you back,” I finally say, my voice quivering.
“Eh, don’t worry about it. Think of it as a thank-you for keeping me entertained during this torturous week. I don’t know if I’d still be standing by now if it wasn’t for you and your mystery.”
“I don’t know what to say…”
“Just say you’ll let me treat you to lunch. Well, Abuelita too, of course.” She smiles.
“I’d like that.”
“Great. I just need to go back in quickly and get something I was eyeing earlier. Be right back!”
I watch as she rushes back into the store. The butterflies in my stomach make their presence known.
“You like her,” Abuelita whispers.
“What?” I look over at her, but she keeps looking straight ahead, her eyes appearing closed.
“I may be old, mija, but I’m not blind.” She smiles. “You like each other.”
