In front of them Juan says, Ana, you can get anything you want.
Look, Gino, a man after a woman's after heart.
Oh, I just want one dress, I say, though I already want everything I see on the wall to wall racks.
But Juan keeps up the show. Ana, he says, you can have anything you want. He smacks a kiss on my forehead as if sending me off to the races.
Why don't I show you some of my favorite pieces, Giselle says, when she sees me gazing at a bag studded with emerald sequins.
Please do, I say. It doesn't hurt to look.
Juan taps his feet while I move on to carefully finger the piles of button-down sweaters in different colors on the table.
Pajarita, I have to go to work, Juan says with a forced smile.
Look how he spoils you, Giselle says.
Oh, yes, Juan's quite special, I say, and smile back at him.
I look at myself in the long mirror propped across the shoebox pile.
Wow, a real model! Giselle yells out to Juan.
How happy Mama would be to see the woman in the reflection. Made and composed.
Juan nods. Can we leave now?
So without a beat I nod back at Juan and say, Yes, I want all of it.
Juan waits until we are outside away from earshot of Gino and Giselle. He grabs my wrist. I drop the bag of purchases.
I told you, one dress! One dress! Do you think I am made of money?
I don't flinch. I stare into him.
I dare you, I say, knowing he's too proud to do anything to me where everyone can see.
Wait until I get home later. You'll regret that smart mouth.