The bill came in two separate installments, and my husband realized the problem too late.

My sister-in-law looked at the bill again and then at me, as if she was still waiting for me to explain that it was all a joke.

I didn’t do it.

The same thing happened for many months.

First there was a simple family dinner.

And then one more.

And then the birthday.

Later, someone suggested I have a party at a much more expensive restaurant than I would have chosen on my own.

I arrived thinking that every adult would pay for their own trip.

And I almost always ended up paying.

At first I didn’t say anything.

I thought maybe it was a coincidence.

I thought one of them was going through a hard time.