Page 40 of A Christmas Adventure

"And Olga? Has she said anything to you?"

"Time stops when we're together, Mom. That's why you caught us."

Maite opens her mouth and closes it again, not knowing how to respond to that.

"Have you talked to Olga since she left?"

"I've sent her a couple of messages, but she hasn't answered, she hasn't even read them. I'm going to see her now," Violeta says, downcast.

"Would you let me go?" her mother asks, surprising Violeta.

"You? What for?"

"Well, I think that just as I've talked to you, I should talk to her too, don't you think? She's scared because she thinks I'm angry..."

"Yes," Violeta interrupts.

"So let me go explain to that silly woman that I'll only get angry if she hurts you."

Maite stands up with a tired gesture.

"That's precisely one of the reasons we didn't want you to know anything."

"Honey, do you really think that if you get into something serious, I won't find out? Don't be naive, please."

Violeta blinks, feeling stupid, and smiles briefly.

"You're right."

"Of course I am. Come on, take care of placing the orders for the goods we need for tomorrow. I have it written down here to order."

Maite hands her agenda to Violeta and shows her where she has all the suppliers written down. Violeta takes it quickly, surprisingly happy to be able to help her with something other than just serving customers.

"Do you mind if I keep trying my king cake here? The last one turned out very bland."

"First, wash the lunch dishes, and then do whatever you want, but when you're done, I want everything cleaned up."

For a moment, Violeta feels like she's fifteen again, when her mother had to chase her for everything because she was a bit lazy.

"Okay," she laughs, "and don't be hard on Olga."

"Oh, come on. If you keep insisting that I should be angry, I'll end up really getting angry."

Maite walks out the door and Violeta takes a deep breath. She'd like to be present for that conversation, but she knows that this is a moment between them, between the two friends, and she has no place in it.

Chapter 22

Olga stares at her bedroom walls with surprise. Since arriving, she's started tearing off wallpaper to avoid thinking about what happened in the oven kitchen, and she hasn't stopped until finishing. Now she looks at the clean walls and feels strange. She's been wanting to finish for days and should be euphoric, but that agonizing feeling in her chest won't let her enjoy it.

She heads to the kitchen to get trash bags and throw away all the paper on her bedroom floor when someone knocks on the door. Her eyes automatically go to the cuckoo clock on the wall, and she checks with astonishment that it's past three in the afternoon and she hasn't even eaten. She assumes it's Violeta coming to help her with the paper, but when she opens the door, eager to hug her, she freezes when she meets Maite's blinking eyes.

"Can I come in?"

Olga's heart races as she steps aside to let her in. Maite feels comfortable enough in her home to make herself athome, so she takes off her coat leisurely, hangs it on a chair, and rolls up her sweater sleeves a bit because it's too hot.

"Are you going to invite me for coffee or stand by the door all afternoon?" Maite says, looking at Olga, who reacts and closes the door.

"Yes, of course," she says, trying to focus. "And Violeta?"