Page 30 of A Christmas Adventure

Violeta looks at her with a surprised expression and stops.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, between us, you were a bit weird yesterday."

"Me?"

They both stand up, and Olga puts the boxes in the back of the van. She leans forward to push them to the back, and immediately feels the warmth of Violeta's body pressed against her butt. Olga straightens up so quickly that she forgets about the van's roof and hits her head.

"Fuck," she says, touching it with her hand.

Violeta laughs and spins her around in her hands until she's facing her. Then she takes a clandestine glance towards the room where her mother still is, and when she makes sure she's still there, she kisses her on the forehead and then on the lips.

"What are you doing?" Olga hisses, eyes bulging, looking towards the room as if a monster is about to come out of there.

"Relax, that coffee maker is older than a bell tower and takes a long time to heat up," Violeta says leisurely, still holding her waist and giving her another kiss on the chin. "Everything is perfect between us," she whispers, making Olga shiver.

After taking another look at the door, her neighbor stops resisting the urge that pushes her towards Violeta and wraps her in a warm hug in which they both melt and sigh as if an invisible force wants to separate them.

"You seemed worried yesterday," Olga insists.

"Well, the days go by..." Violeta blurts out without thinking.

Olga freezes, processing a phrase she doesn't know how to interpret. Violeta looks away because she didn't expect that outburst of honesty to come out of her lips, but when Olga opens her mouth to answer, Maite comes out with two cups of coffee in her hands.

"You're still like this?" she asks, surprised.

The two women suddenly turn towards the boxes and realize they have forgotten to keep loading the van.

"Yes, it's just that..." her daughter stammers, looking at Olga for help because she doesn't know what to say.

"We got distracted talking," Olga completes.

"Come on, drink the coffee and see if it wakes you up once and for all."

Olga and Violeta lean their butts on the back of the van and drink their coffee while Maite checks the list of what needs to be delivered one last time.

"Who's driving?" Maite asks with the keys in her hand when the two finish their coffee.

"Me," they both answer at the same time.

Maite alternates her gaze between the two, doubtful and at the same time amused by the connection she perceives in them.

"I'm driving," Olga says smugly, snatching the keys from her hand while looking at Violeta with a defiant gesture.

Maite's daughter raises her hands in surrender, although from the way she has looked at her, Olga knows that at some point she will suffer the consequences of that challenge.

Chapter 16

"I need another coffee," Violeta says, unable to control a yawn as they finish making the third delivery.

Olga, who can't help but catch the yawn, also yawns while checking the time and sees that they are doing well. They committed to delivering everything before ten o'clock, it's eight-thirty, and they only have one bakery left.

"I need a proper breakfast in addition to the coffee. Do you like churros? My treat."

Olga points to a food cart set up on one side of the plaza where they are. Violeta's mouth waters just thinking about it, and after nodding and snuggling up to Olga in search of a little warmth, Olga casually drapes her arm over Violeta's shoulders, drawing her close, and they cross the plaza to buy breakfast. They both order a portion of porras for each of them and a cup of hot chocolate. Violeta spots an empty bench where the sun is shining directly, and they both head towards it and sit down, grateful for the warmth of the rays on their faces.

"It's going to be a beautiful day," Violeta comments, looking up at the sky.