Chapter Eleven #2
* * *
As Valentina navigates through the narrow roads of Lee, I can’t help but be captivated by the quaint charm surrounding me. I spot a few historic buildings, each with its own unique character and story to tell.
“Que lindo,” Abuelita says, pointing out the quaint boutiques and cafés we pass by.
“I still think we should have taken Miss Piggy,” I joke.
“She’s dead.”
“She’s just sleeping at the mechanic’s!” I yell back. “Like a coma for cars. She’ll be up in no time. She has to be, anyways, so I can leave this place on Sunday.”
As we approach the outskirts of the town, I can see the large outlet mall in the distance, a beacon of consumerism in contrast to the charming small town.
The car turns in to the parking lot, and Valentina pulls into a spot. We step out, excited to leave the campground and experience some retail therapy. I wrap my arm around my grandmother’s, and Valentina follows suit on her other side.
“This is so nice,” Abuelita coos.
We make our way through the mall, passing several stores featuring everything from clothing and accessories to home goods and electronics.
I take in the sights and sounds of the mall, enjoying the thrill of the hunt for bargains—or designer stuff, I guess.
I’m not used to this. Usually, I’m shopping for counterfeit accessories.
I don’t think I’ve ever stepped inside an actual designer store.
Finally, we come upon the Coach outlet. It’s housed in a large, inviting space, with its logo prominently displayed above the entrance.
The elegantly appointed interior has warm lighting and sleek fixtures showcasing the luxurious leather goods and accessories.
Basically, anything that I can’t and will not ever be able to afford.
When we step inside, my eyes light up at the sight of the beautiful handbags and wallets on display.
Abuelita also seems impressed, admiring the quality of the leather and the attention to detail in each piece.
I pick up a pair of black loafers—$120. The discounted price.
I nearly faint at the thought of paying so much for a pair of shoes.
“These shoes are $120,” I say to Valentina, trying to hide my surprise.
“Yeah, it’s crazy, isn’t it?”
“That’s one way to put it.” I laugh.
“It’s the outlet store, so everything is so cheap.”
Suddenly, I realize we have different opinions on what constitutes a good deal. These are cheap to her—a bargain if you will. For the first time this week, I realize just how different our worlds are. Maybe too different. How would I fit in?
“So, you know Sofia well. What do you think I should get her?”
Valentina browses around, picking up wallets and bags that make my wallet sweat.
“It’s tough. Sofia can buy herself anything. I always have a hard time coming up with a good gift to get her. You could get her this bag.”
She shows me a chalk-colored satchel with gold accents and the signature logo on the front. It’s chic, classic, and perfect for her.
“She could bring it on her honeymoon. What do you think, Abuelita?”
Valentina shows her the bag. Abuelita manages to find a bench to sit on and watch us shop. She nods happily.
“Muy lindo, mija,” she says.
Can she even see from that far? She’d probably say that about any item here. I think she’s just happy to be included. I grab the bag from Valentina and inspect it closer. It’s cute. It’s stylish. It’s…$150. I can’t tell her that I can’t afford it. It’ll give me away.
“Okay, I’ll get this one,” I say, praying my credit card has enough of a limit available for it to go through.
“You go ahead to the register. I’ll catch up,” Valentina says as she continues to browse through the wallets.
I take my walk of shame to the register, just waiting for those big, bold red words to appear on the screen: DECLINED.
It’s a word I am all too familiar with regarding my credit cards.
I’m so used to it at this point that I don’t even feel embarrassed.
I just move on. But this. This is just not the time for it to happen.
“I’m going to sit outside,” Abuelita announces to us both.
She points to the bench just outside the door. It’s a beautiful day not to enjoy the breeze and sun.
I step up to the cash register with the Coach bag in hand, determined to buy it as a gift for Sofia’s bridal shower. I hand over my credit card, trying to hide my nervousness as the cashier swipes it. A moment passes—then another moment.
“Sorry, sometimes the computer is a little slow.” The cashier giggles.
“Yeah,” I say, laughing nervously.
As I wait to see the dreaded words, my phone buzzes. I pull it out of my pocket to see my mother’s name show up on the caller ID. Fuck.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but your card has been declined,” the cashier replies in a lower voice.
“What?” I put my phone away. “That can’t be right,” I lie. “Let me try another one.”
I pull out my second card I deemed “In Case Of Emergency” and hand it to the cashier, trying to act as if it’s not a big deal. A moment passes. Another moment. Then there is that big, mean word again: DECLINED.
The cashier looks at me, clearly with a sense of pity.
“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.”
“No.” I scoff. “She does not like me.”
“Ah, I see. So you must be blind then.”
“Abuelita! She really doesn’t. She’s in love with someone else,” I say, shrugging.
She stays quiet momentarily, making me wonder what she could be thinking.
“Bueno, this has happened before, and it didn’t stop your mother from making a move,” she finally says.
“What? Abuelita, are you talking about Papi? Did he love someone else?”
Abuelita coos as she looks up at the birds that fly by.
“Abuelita, what is ‘el flan de perdón’?”
She finally looks over at me as if I have said the magic words that’ll open Pandora’s box.
She sighs. “Oh mija, I haven’t had that since that night your father came home drunk, crying.”
“What was he crying about?”
“Mariposa told him the news about her being pregnant.”
“Oh. Interesting. Tears of joy?” I hope.
“Ah, mija. No, he was blabbering like a baby. I was shocked when I found out.”
“Why is that?”
She doesn’t respond.
“Abuelita?”
Nothing.
“Abuelita.” I shake her softly, causing her to jump.
“Oh perdón, mija. I fell asleep.”
“Abuelita! Why were you shocked when you found out my mother was pregnant?”
“Ah, si. Because I swore your father was dating someone else.”
* * *
I feel as if I’m floating through Sofia’s bridal shower, my thoughts tangled in the past instead of the lush greenery and floral arrangements that adorn the white tent. It’s beautiful, but all I can think about is Abuelita’s words. My father…with someone else?
How Sofia managed to turn a basic campground into an outdoor venue suited for a bridal shower to defeat all bridal showers is impressive, to say the least. The white tent, taking over the spot where the first dinner took place, is accented with an elegant chandelier, which sparkles and casts a warm glow over the shower.
Lush greenery and blooming flowers are hanging off each support pole and across the top, creating a frame of foliage.
There’s a white photo booth in the corner to take some photos as souvenirs.
We are welcomed with glasses of pink champagne as soon as we walk inside the tent. I sip and admire the details throughout.
As we make our way to our seats, a beautifully decorated table with white linen and delicate flower arrangement greets us. The centerpieces on each table are tall and grand, featuring a variety of blooms in shades of pink and cream, with candlelight adding a warm and inviting touch.
“Candles? It’s literally two in the afternoon,” Valentina says with an eye roll.
She’s probably used to these kinds of events, but to me, it feels as if I’m in a fairy tale. This is something straight out of my childhood imagination when I’d play with my dolls, picturing them having an extravagant tea party.
Sofia is a vision in a stunning cream-colored gown, her hair styled in loose waves and adorned with a delicate flower crown. I notice Valentina stare at her for a while before getting distracted by Silvana approaching her. Even Silvie looks gorgeous, wearing a stunning pink tulle dress.
“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.
“Did you do that for me?” I ask.
“Maybe.”
I can’t help but feel a flutter in my chest, something that feels both exciting and terrifying. It’s a small gesture, but it’s enough to make me wonder if there’s more to her than I’ve let myself believe.
The air between us feels charged, and for a moment, I can almost forget about everything else—about the lies, the secrets, the tension. Right now, it’s just me, Valentina, and a stolen smile that makes me want more of this side of her.