Page 34 of A Christmas Adventure

"The bakery?" Maite repeats, thrown off.

"Yeah, she mentioned yesterday that she wanted to go in early to try making a recipe for anise cookies that a friend gave her."

"Violeta making cookies? But she's never shown interest in learning my recipes. When she lived here, I tried teaching her but it was hopeless. I even gave her a notebook where I wrote down recipes I came up with for us to make together, but I finally gave up."

"Well, I don't know, that's what she told me," Olga responds, trying not to show her nervousness.

Violeta is dressed, stiff as a board by the bedroom door, listening in horror to the alibi Olga just gave her.

"I don't know, I'm really worried," Maite says. "Would it have killed her to let me know?"

"She probably didn't want to wake you. If you wait five minutes, I'll get dressed and we can go to the bakery together. You'll see, she'll be there."

"Alright. That daughter of mine is going to get an earful when I see her," Maite grumbles, very agitated.

Olga leaves her in the living room and hurries to the bedroom, shutting the door as soon as she enters.

"Why did you tell her that?" Violeta hisses. "I have no idea how to make anise cookies."

"Well, you'll learn. And you better run," Olga points to the window.

"You want me to go out that way?"

"You sure snuck out your window yesterday for a quick lay, didn't you?" Olga whispers.

Violeta smiles and they share a kiss on the lips that turns into a series of repeated pecks.

"Go on, I can't stall your mom for long. By the time we get there, she needs to see you doing something. Besides, the poor thing is worried sick," Olga says, feeling guilty.

"Where am I supposed to get a recipe from?"

"You'll figure something out." Olga gives her a pat on the butt and opens the window.

She helps Violeta out safely and they share another kiss.

"Be careful not to slip on the snow," Olga warns.

Violeta nods and ducks down to sneak along the side of the house so Maite doesn't spot her from the living room window. Olga gets dressed in a rush, knowing she needs to give Violeta time, but she feels so bad for her friend that she doesn't want to prolong her distress either. She washes her face and hands, brushes her hair before pulling it back quickly, and heads out to the living room.

"Here, I made you some coffee," Maite says from the kitchen doorway.

Olga is grateful; it's part of her routine and if she leaves without drinking it, she won't feel right until she does. As she sips it, Maite's phone pings with a message. Reading it, she lets out a huff.

"Well, look who it is," she says, showing the screen to Olga. "You were right, now she's seen the missed calls and texted me back, the little rascal. Says she's at the bakery."

Olga bites her lip and sighs with relief. She hadn't thought of that and is glad Violeta put her mom's worries to rest.

"Do you mind if I make some toast before we go then?"

When Olga and Maite arrive at the bakery twenty minutes later, Violeta is in the kitchen. She's whisked some eggs in a bowl and is mixing them with flour, oil and yeast. She also grated some lemon zest and added a splash of anise, all after making a desperate call to her friendTeresa begging for the recipe for the anise cookies she remembered Teresa bringing for her birthday.

"What were you thinking, leaving without telling me? Do you know how worried I was?" Maite bursts out as soon as they walk in.

"I'm sorry, Mom, I woke up really early and couldn't fall back asleep, so..."

Violeta keeps stirring the dough, which is gradually thickening. Olga watches in amusement from the doorway, arms crossed with a smile that Violeta catches when she glances at her sideways.

"Anise cookies?" her mother sniffs.