Page 48 of A Christmas Adventure

Violeta looks at the paper in her hands, knowing that this time it's serious, and although it comes late, for a moment she can't help feeling puffed up like a peacock. She's done it; it's been enough to tell him she's leaving to get what she's been craving for a long time and knows she's earned.

"What do you say?" her boss asks impatiently.

"I need to think about it."

Violeta leaves the office in a daze. She entered with a fixed idea and didn't expect Hernán to change her options. She reaches her desk but walks past it and sits with Teresa.

"What did he say?"

Violeta shows her the paper Hernán gave her, and her colleague smiles and gives her a hug, although she's unable to react.

"What are you going to do?" Teresa asks her.

"Damn, I don't know," Violeta laments, feeling very confused. "For now, I'm going home and calling Olga. I have to tell her."

Just as seeing Violeta's name on her phone makes her heart race and fills her chest with a current of ants, what she tells her falls on her like a bucket of cold water.

"I'm happy for you, Violeta. You deserve it," she says sincerely, trying not to let the knot in her throat strangle her completely and prevent her from continuing to talk to her.

Violeta appreciates the congratulations but also feels a certain disappointment when she hears it. Deep down, she hoped Olga would tell her not to accept, although she understands why she doesn't. She wouldn't ask her to give up everything to be with her either. Still, her attitude confuses her and makes her doubt whether Violeta really likes her enough or if it has just been a casual fling, that Christmas adventure they've talked about so much and that's going to end just like the holidays are.

"Yes, it's what I've always wanted," she finally answers in a tone that's too dry.

"You told him you're staying, I guess."

"I said I have to think about it."

"Of course."

The conversation becomes so tense and uncomfortable that Olga lies, saying she has to leave, and they say goodbye in a manner that's too cold and dry.

Chapter 27

That morning, Maite has gone to the store twice, and both times the same thing has happened: she has found Olga spaced out, absorbed, lost in a parallel world while serving customers like a machine. She looks at her with concern and when she finds a gap, she goes out again and grabs her by the arm.

"What are you doing?" Olga asks when Maite pulls her.

"Leave that and take off your apron. You and I are going for breakfast."

"Again?" Olga glances at the clock; it's almost eleven.

"Well, you take whatever you want. I'm a little hungry," Maite argues.

Olga doesn't protest. She's so overwhelmed that she welcomes the chance to get some air before the walls close in on her. They go to one of the nearby cafes where they make churros that drive Maite crazy.

"Okay, what's wrong with you?" she fires as soon as her plate arrives with a cup of hot chocolate.

Olga couldn't resist and has ordered the same.

"Did you talk to your daughter yesterday?" Olga asks.

"No. Why?"

"She called me in the afternoon. She went to talk to her boss to ask for dismissal."

Maite falls silent and grabs a churro before fixing a worried look on Olga.

"Bad move," she opines, "it's too hasty."