“Is the electric bill in there?” he asked, adjusting his collar.
“Yes,” I said, holding out the white sheet but keeping the envelope flat on my lap. “It’s about the same as last month.”
He took the paper, squinting at the numbers before folding it and putting it in his shirt pocket.
“We need to watch the spending this month,” he said, his eyes lingering on my lap. “I saw a charge from some boutique on the bank app yesterday.”
I held my breath, waiting to see if he would ask for the name on the receipt.
“It was just some gifts for the kids,” I said, looking down at my hands.
“Right,” he said, turning toward the kitchen. “Just make sure we aren’t buying things we can’t afford to show off.”
The paper receipt felt hot against my skin under the fabric of my skirt. I waited until I heard the kitchen faucet run before I pulled the receipt out and tucked it deep inside my old leather purse.
