Page 31 of A Christmas Adventure

"Well, they're forecasting snow for tonight," Olga replies distractedly before biting into a porra smothered in chocolate.

"But that's tonight, today we can take advantage of the clear day."

Olga turns to look at her and smiles.

"Do you have something in mind to do here?"

"Well, the truth is I don't know Huesca very well," Violeta says, twisting her lips into a wry expression, "but I know Alquézar. Have you been to the Vero Walkways?"

"I haven't had time yet."

A drop of chocolate falls onto Violeta's lap as she's about to bite into the porra she just dipped. Olga looks at her laughing and wipes it off with her napkin before leaning in and giving her a kiss on the lips.

"You're such a messy eater," she whispers, licking a bit of chocolate from the corner of Violeta's lips.

Violeta shivers and smiles at her, thinking she could spend the whole day like this, sitting next to her, sharing moments of complicity in the middle of the street as if only they existed.

"Do you want to go this afternoon? We can deliver what we have left, take a walk around here, eat at any restaurant that catches our eye, and then go back to the village. With the weather like this, you'll love walking around there, plus, it's the best time. With good weather, the place fills up withtourists, and instead of a walk, it seems like a religious procession."

"You make it sound so good that I can't refuse," Olga says, pleased.

It's just past three in the afternoon when they arrive in Alquézar. They decided to eat early so they could walk calmly along the walkways before nightfall. They park the van at the door of the bakery and walk towards the start of the route. Olga had really wanted to do this route, but by the time Maite finishes with all her things in the afternoons, it's already dark, and she's always put it off.

They both descend the stairs between damp rocks, the cold chilling them to the bone immediately, and Olga hugs her numb body.

"It's just this stretch, then it opens up and the sun will shine again," Violeta says.

When they reach the bottom, they stroll at a leisurely pace. Olga is amazed, even though not even the warmth of the sun's rays is managing to take away the cold. They approach the river bank and stand still there, contemplating the glints of the water. Olga positions herself behind Violeta and hugs her, giving her a kiss on the neck.

"It's beautiful," she says, looking ahead.

"In summer we can come back. If we take off our shoes, we can cross the river and go to the other side. There's nothing more than what you see," Violeta says, pointing toa stone esplanade that leads into a kind of cave that is more of a rock ceiling, "but it's fun."

"So you're counting on us still seeing each other in the summer?" Olga whispers and turns Violeta to face her.

Violeta stays very still, looking at her dazed. At that moment, Olga reminds her of the night they met, when she looked at her with that overwhelming confidence that made all her bones tremble and that she seems to have lost since she found out she's Maite's daughter.

"Don't you?"

Olga nods, playing coy. Violeta melts and lunges for her lips in a demanding kiss that Olga takes control of until she almost makes her lose her senses.

"Of course I want to," she whispers against her mouth, "and I also want to spend the night with you."

"Tonight?" Violeta's voice comes out high-pitched, almost choked with excitement just thinking about it.

"Yes, it's already Tuesday, Violeta, we have less than a week together," Olga declares.

Violeta swallows hard, not liking to think about that countdown. On Monday she has to return to Madrid, and every time she remembers it, her stomach churns. Last night she was talking to her friend Teresa and told her about the anguish she feels. Her friend didn't know what to say, and Violeta felt desolate because she's more and more confused.

"And how do we do it so my mother doesn't find out?" Violeta's head is about to explode.

Olga laughs and kisses her again.

"I don't know," she whispers provocatively, "think, when you want to be, you're very resourceful."

"I'll go out the window of my room when she goes to bed," Violeta suddenly says.

Olga lets out a laugh and bites her lip.