Page 16 of A Christmas Adventure

"Yes," her daughter replies with a half-truth.

She rested, but it took her a long time to fall asleep thinking about her neighbor.

"Go to the store, come on, being Christmas Eve, we're going to be swamped with people picking up orders and doing last minute shopping."

Violeta swallows hard and walks through the door that leads her to the other side. There she finds the two usual clerks she already met yesterday, and also Olga, who gives her a fleeting glance while expertly serving a customer. Violeta can't help but stare at her, discovering that in addition to the beauty that has her spellbound, she also likes the way she moves, her way of speaking andaddressing customers, her kindness, and also that short but genuine smile she gives to each person she encounters.

"Can you take this one, Violeta?"

One of the clerks points to a man waiting in front of her. Violeta reacts by clearing her throat and immediately smiles, asking what he needs. Olga glances at her sideways, nervous, noticing Violeta's restlessness and her own. She wasn't prepared for this, or to manage the nervousness it causes her.

For the next half hour, the four women serve customers nonstop while Violeta wonders when there got to be so many people in the town. They all move from one side to the other behind the counter, all of them do it easily except her, who is the most lost because she still doesn't know where everything is.

Both Olga and she try to avoid each other, until a customer asks Violeta for some pastries that are right where Olga is serving.

"Those over there?" Violeta makes sure, feeling her body go into combustion.

"Yes, yes, the ones with chocolate on the outside."

"How many do you want?"

"Two."

Violeta walks along the L-shaped counter until she reaches where Olga is, standing next to her and clearing her throat to get her attention. Olga turns around and the hair on her arms stands up as if there is static electricity around her.

"What's up?" she asks, glancing at Violeta out of the corner of her eye.

"I need to get two of those."

Violeta points with a nod of her head and bated breath. Olga steps aside, but she can't move too far because she's grabbing croissants from another tray right next to it, so their bodies brush and Violeta's hands start shaking so much that she can't grab the pastries with the tongs.

"Damn it," she says when she drops it the first time.

They look at each other for a moment and Olga bites her lips to keep from laughing. Violeta, annoyed, gives her a light push with her butt that makes Olga stumble and have to put her hand on the counter to keep from falling. She gives her a furious look, but it vanishes from her face immediately when her eyes wander over Violeta's body shapes without being able to help it.

"Hurry up," Olga demands nervously and Violeta drops the pastry again.

The older man that Olga is serving, with nothing better to do, watches them amused and turns to his wife, who is grabbing juice bottles from the fridge. Seeing that she's not paying attention to him, he gloats and turns his gaze back to the two clerks, who don't seem to be able to share space.

"Let me," Olga says, taking the tongs from her and grabbing the pastry Violeta needs so she can leave as soon as possible.

Violeta leaves in a huff and more and more nervous. Olga's proximity has only increased the desire she feels for her and her mind starts working on a loop, repeatingto herself that she won't be able to stand these days. Just like yesterday the hours flew by, today they feel unbearably long because she feels unable to breathe the same air as Olga without being able to share those kisses or the caresses that gave her so much pleasure.

Again, and without knowing when it happens, she finds herself spacing out, with a customer's order box in her hands while the customer waits for her to hand it over with the bill in hand. The same clerk as before gets her attention so she reacts.

"Sorry, here you go."

When Violeta turns around after charging her, she finds herself face to face with Olga, who grabs her arm and pulls her towards the back room, a small room that at the end has a door where there is a bathroom.

"You have to stop behaving like this," Olga says to her in a hushed voice as soon as they are alone in the small room.

"Behaving like what?" she asks, looking towards the door as if she needs to run away.

"Like you're stupid, Violeta. Stop looking at me like I'm a piece of candy, damn it, or your mother will realize it."

Violeta feels herself blush to the cheeks until they burn.

"What if I can't help it?"