I'm sure I hurt her feelings

I was in the Café waiting for a friend to arrive.  I had invited her to meet me there so I could treat her to lunch for her birthday.  I live in a community of elderly folks who speak three different languages:  English, Chinese, and Russian.  That doesn't count a few who know more than just their own native language.

Before my friend arrived, a Chinese-speaking neighbor came to my table with two muffins and offered them to me, apparently wanting me to choose one.  I wasn't ready to eat dessert first and didn't take one, shaking my head "no" and hoping she'd understand.  She pointed to me and the dessert again and smiled.  My friend still hadn't arrived, so "no" was still the answer.

When the birthday person arrived, we went to the counter to order.  I let her decide where we would sit, which table and which part of the Café.  As we sat down, I noticed in my peripheral vision that the Chinese neighbor was looking our way.  She looked very disappointed, and now I don't know what to do.  I'm sure I hurt her feelings, but how do I tell her and apologize?

I did look up how to say "thank you" in Chinese and found it HERE.  It sounds like "shay-shay" to me.

Word of the Day

/pe·riph·er·al vi·sion / adjective + noun = something that is seen on the side when the eye when looking straight ahead.  Peripheral vision is seeing something the person is not looking directly at.