Page 23 of A Christmas Adventure

"How's the renovation going?" Maite asks, abruptly changing the subject.

Olga wipes her mouth with her napkin and feels Violeta's gaze of interest fixed on her. Every time she shares something about her life or related matters, her neighbor's daughter pays absolute attention, as if everything about Olga interests or fascinates her, the same way Olga feels when it's Violeta who's speaking.

"Very slowly," she says with such a natural smile that Violeta feels a kind of pinch in her stomach.

Violeta, except for that front patio that needs urgent renovation, doesn't remember seeing signs of obvious repairs when she was at Olga's house.

"What are you renovating?" she asks, so focused on Olga that for a moment, she's forgotten her mother is there.

"Actually it's not really a renovation. I'm just changing a few things I don't like. Right now I'm working on the wallpaper in my bedroom. My aunt and uncle had awful, bland taste in decor and every time I go in there, I feel out of place. So that's what I'm doing, but it's quite a hassle."

"I'm sorry I can't help you," Maite laments, genuinely affected, "but ever since José left, I barely have time to breathe. When I get out of the bakery I also have to handle all the orders, the invoices..."

"You don't have to justify yourself, Maite," Olga cuts her off, "I completely understand."

"I could help you on the days I'm here," Violeta blurts out in a burst that's probably the fault of the wine.

Olga looks at her, as alarmed as Violeta feels when she realizes what her offer implies, but neither has time to object because Maite seems delighted by the idea.

"That would be fantastic," her mother applauds. "I owe you so many favors, Olga, that I'd feel much better if my daughter can lend you a hand, at least until you finish your bedroom."

"I really appreciate it, but I can't take away from the little time you have together," Olga says, considering her excuse to be a good one.

"You're not going to take away that much from us. I'm going to be very busy a couple afternoons - on those days Violeta could go with you. Between the two of you, I'm sure you'll give it a good push and get it almost done. Besides, I'll also need you to do me a favor."

"What favor?" Violeta asks with a face of circumstance.

"On Tuesday I need you to go to Huesca to deliver the orders. Antonio's son can't and I've already committed. Between the two of you, you can do it in one morning and then take advantage and spend the afternoon there."

"And the bakery? Who will help you?" Olga worries.

"The girls will have to manage on their own for one day, it won't be a big deal."

Maite mops up the juice the shrimp left on her plate with a piece of bread, not giving more importance to the conversation, as if she had already decided everything. Olga and Violeta look at each other and their pulses race at the idea of spending a day together. It hasn't occurred to either of them to refuse that part about staying in Huesca for the afternoon, perhaps because they both thought the same thing - about that bar where they met and the hostel where they spent the best night of their lives.

After clearing the plates, they move to the sofa with glasses of sweet wine accompanying the Christmas sweets Maite bought in excess. The three women continue talking. At Olga's request, Maite tells anecdotes from when herdaughter was little. On any other occasion Violeta would be embarrassed and scold her mother for unearthing some of her most mortifying moments, however, in this case she doesn't mind, maybe because the wine has taken away a bit of her modesty, or maybe because of the fascination with which Olga listens to her and the knowing laughs the two exchange throughout the evening. Olga also shares some things about herself, although more about her teenage years when she makes it clear that she has always been an extroverted woman and at the same time protective of her space. That's how they spend a couple of hours until Maite yawns exhausted and looks at her watch.

"With your permission, I'm going to head to bed now, since I have to get up early to go to the bakery tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? But it's Christmas, Mom," Violeta protests, stunned.

"That's right, what do you have to do at the bakery on a day like that?" Olga chimes in.

"I made a commitment to some customers to make mantecados and roscas for them. It was shortly after José left, I was overwhelmed and needed to fill my hours however I could, and now I can't tell them no."

"Jeez, Mom," Violeta complains.

"It will only be a couple of hours, it won't take me long. I prepared the dough today. I just have to bake everything and put it on trays, that's all."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Olga offers.

"Not at all, there's only work for one person there."

Maite gets up and gives each of them a kiss.

"You two continue chatting, you're not bothering me. And tomorrow, if you don't have plans, come over for lunch too, so you're not alone," Maite says.

Olga smiles gratefully; in reality, there is nothing she wants more than to continue spending time with her neighbor, although in this case, if she's honest with herself, it's her daughter she most wants to see. But she knows she should decline the offer, not only because of that irrepressible attraction she feels towards Violeta and which she clearly doesn't know how to control, but she's realizing that she's starting to like Violeta beyond her physical appearance and that's going to cause a much worse problem, one she'll have to overcome when her neighbor's daughter returns to Madrid and Olga is left there missing her.