Page 51 of A Christmas Adventure

"Well," Violeta cradles her face in her hands and smiles with a bold and amused gesture that throws Olga off, "you should be even happier, because I've turned down the offer and as compensation for my dedication and effort, my boss has forgiven me in writing for the fifteen days I owe him by contract in exchange for doing video conferences with Teresa, the colleague I have ongoing projects with."

Olga has suddenly stopped crying and looks at her paralyzed.

"Are you serious?" she manages to ask after a few seconds of silence in which they just look at each other and smile.

"Yes, that's why I took longer to get here, I had to stop by home for a bigger suitcase," Violeta confirms with a kiss.

Olga takes her hand and guides her to the couch because she needs to sit down.

"But Violeta, have you thought this through? It's an important decision and a very drastic life change."

"You call being able to be with you drastic?"

Violeta makes a face. Olga shakes her head slowly, still shocked.

"No, honey, but..."

"No buts, Olga. I've thought about it a lot, don't think I haven't. And thinking so much is what made me have a shitty week. I left here knowing that I wanted to stay and being very clear that I wanted to break with my life in Madrid and start over here, with you, with my mother and at the bakery."

Olga starts crying again, her emotions are overflowing. In her head, the only weekend she imagined was a horrible one where Violeta arrived saying she had accepted the offer and she told her she couldn't keep seeing her.

"Stop crying, Olga," Violeta says, distressed, "you'll end up making me cry too."

Olga smiles through so many tears and kisses her.

"I just need you to confirm it to me one more time, Violeta. Tell me you're doing this for yourself and not for what we have, you can't reject something you've been fighting for so long and..."

"Shut up already," Violeta cuts her off, putting a finger on her lips. "During these days I've realized that what I wasfighting for was just a way to keep myself motivated in that job, a wrong way of convincing myself that I liked it, but after the days I spent helping at the bakery, I've understood that's where I truly enjoyed myself and felt useful. I don't want to leave, Olga, I like this town, I like working at the bakery, and I like you."

Olga smiles and wipes her tears with her sleeve.

"I'm glad, because I'm falling in love with you, Violeta, and you don't know what an awful week I've had," she says and pulls her until Violeta ends up sitting on her thighs.

"Well, that's over; you're going to have Violeta until you're sick of me," she jokes against her lips.

"I highly doubt that will ever happen."

They both kiss and laugh, and when things start to heat up, Olga stops Violeta.

"Wait," she says breathlessly, "first we have to give the news to your mother, the poor thing is also very worried."

"Alright," Violeta accepts resignedly. "By the way, this week I have to go to Madrid for a couple of days to finish packing my things and settle the apartment rental issue, and if possible, I'd like you to come with me."

"More reason then to go see your mother," Olga smiles, then gives her a pat on the bottom and they both head out the door.

Epilogue

On this Saturday in July, the temperature in Alquézar is almost unbearable. They're in the middle of a heatwave that started yesterday, and even inside the store with fans running since early morning, Olga can't shake the feeling that her clothes are sticking to her body.

On days like this, she remembers some winter days when she longed for the heat. Now she regrets it.

"Here you go," she says, handing some loaves of bread to a lady.

"Olga," Violeta calls from the back room, "the bread is ready. Come in when you can."

As soon as she says it, she disappears again, and Olga frowns. Maite left on Wednesday to embark on a two-week cruise. She and Violeta drove her to Huesca to catch the train to Barcelona, where the ship departed on a singles excursion for all ages after they both encouraged her to do it.

In the six months she's been living here—living half the time at her mother's house and half at Olga's—Violetahas shown great initiative in the bakery and has become so involved that Maite trusts her completely, and Olga is thrilled to see her so happy and motivated. Many nights, when she stays at her house and they're in bed, she talks about ideas to improve the bakery, new recipes, products they could sell in the store, or even buying the vacant space next door—empty for years—and expanding to include a café and churro stand.