Page 12 of A Christmas Adventure

Maite turns around very decisively after setting a small tray on the table containing freshly baked croissants, muffins, and cookies. Violeta immediately realizes she's perfectly fine.

"Not at all, I escaped to bring you breakfast," she says, happy to have her daughter with her.

"Mom... You didn't have to."

"Of course I did. Besides, this way I get to walk a bit, which is good for me. Come on, now that you're up, sit down, and I'll serve coffee and have breakfast with you."

Mother and daughter sit across from each other, and Violeta takes a cookie with chocolate chips that almost melts in her mouth.

"Oh my God," she says without stopping eating, "I had forgotten how good they were."

Her mother laughs and pushes the tray closer for her to take another, but this time Violeta opts for a croissant that she dips in her coffee with milk.

"What a way to kill the flavor," her mother complains.

Violeta laughs; she knows her mother can't stand it when she does those things.

"When we're done, I'm going with you. You'll be swamped today."

"Well, it's still early now," Maite says, checking the time, "but from nine o'clock on, I won't deny we'll be running around like crazy."

"Then it's decided, and that way you can introduce me to Olga. I'm really looking forward to meeting her."

"I'm also really looking forward to introducing you to her. I'm sure you'll hit it off, although it won't be possible this morning because I gave her the day off. They're bringing her some materials to do some renovations, and if she's not at home, who's going to receive them?"

"Oh," says Violeta, disappointed.

She has been hearing so much and so well about her mother's neighbor for so many days that meeting her had become a priority for her.

"Don't worry, I've told her a lot about you, and she's also eager to meet you, so she's invited us for coffee at her house this afternoon. It will be the first time I've visited since she's been living here next door."

"You've never been to her house?" Violeta is surprised.

"And she's never been to mine either. We've barely had time."

"I thought you got together a lot," her daughter doubts.

"Yes, yes, but we usually go for a walk if the weather is nice or have coffee at a bar in town."

When they get up ready to leave, Violeta notices a small stack of letters piled on the living room furniture.

"They're from your father. They arrive here, and I don't know what to do with them. I don't have an address to send them to, and I don't know, throwing them away doesn't seem right either."

Her mother's voice has faded, and the two of them stand in silence, staring at the pile on the furniture.

"It's not your thing, Mom. It's up to him to worry about it."

"I know, but he's always been very absent-minded about these things. I'm sure he still hasn't changed his address." Maite's eyes remain fixed on the letters as she speaks. Violeta picks them up and puts them in her purse.

"Okay, I'll take care of it. I'll call him and tell him to change his address, or I'll throw them away," she says, heading for the door.

Maite looks at her mournfully. Every time she tries to ask Violeta how she feels about what has happened, her daughter changes the subject or responds with evasive answers. She knows she's affected because, even though Violeta doesn't live with her, it's as if he's abandoned her too, and not finding a way to know how it affects her daughter hurts Maite almost more than her husband's departure.

The two women spend the morning working, and the hours fly by for Violeta without her realizing it. She knows a lot of people and entertains herself by greeting all the ladies who tell her how happy they are to see her there. She moves smoothly behind the counter, and although at times it stresses her out when people crowd around, and the three people she's helping and herself can't keep up, she enjoys it like never before. When it's time to leave, she's even surprised.

"Already? But there's still cleaning and tidying up to do."

"Today Antonio is in charge of closing up. I want to spend time with you."