“Cute dress, Silvie,” I say.
It doesn’t hurt to try and be friendly to her.
“Nothing you could afford,” she says with a scoff.
Okay, I guess it does hurt.
“Oh, please, Silvie. Everyone knows that’s a last season Tom Ford,” Maria pipes in.
“Yeah,” I echo. “It’s from his—”
Maria stands behind Silvie, mouthing a word to me.
“—spring collection. Not my cup of tea, but it works on you, I guess.”
Silvana strolls toward me until she’s a mere few inches away from my face.
“Good guess, but you’re not fooling me, Isa.”
She walks away to stand next to her mother, probably to insert herself in needless gossip. Or talk shit about me—or both.
Valentina’s staff prepared a gourmet feast. A long table features smoked salmon and caviar, artisanal cheeses, freshly baked croissants, and a variety of fresh fruit and juices to choose from. We each grab a small plate and add a few pieces before sitting down and waiting for the bride-to-be to open her gifts—the moment I’ve been dreading all day.
One by one, Sofia opens the gifts. Guests ooh and ahh as she reveals the items inside. Lingerie from La Perla risqué enough to make even Maria blush. White Louboutin heels to wear to dinner on their European honeymoon. Rosita even gifted her an additional week in France. I’m fucking doomed.
“Ooh, I wonder who this one is from.”
Sofia picks up the white shopping bag with the word COACH on the front. My face starts to feel hot. She ruffles through the tissue paper and pulls out the white bag.
“Oh my gosh, this is so adorable! I haven’t owned anything from Coach in so long. So nostalgic! Who is this from?”
“It’s from me,” I say, raising my hand meekly.
Silvie snorts. “Figures.”
“Thank you so much, Isa! It’s beautiful and such a throwback. I feel like a teenager again shopping for my first designer bag.”
“A teenager buying a $150 bag?” I whisper to Maria. “Oh, my God. I’m screwed. What did you get her?”
“A Tiffany necklace.”
“Cool. I’ll just die over here in my shame.”
Sofia opens a smaller white shopping bag, unwrapping one of the tissue papers.
“Oh my God, Val! Did you get me a Coach wallet? I am having some major flashbacks right now—you guys are amazing. Thank you for this!”
Silvana rolls her eyes, but everyone else seems unbothered. I can’t tell if they’re judging me internally or if they really don’t care.
“Why did you get her something from Coach?”
“They have cute stuff,” Valentina says.
“Did you buy that while we were there today with Abuelita?”
“Maybe.”
I look over at her, but she looks straight ahead. I can see a smile creasing her lips.
