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—Violeta has 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.
"You could become the café manager and make the churros," she always says when the topic comes up.
Olga laughs and nods because it's really something she'd like, so they've already contacted the owners and are trying to reach an agreement on the price. This business would be just Olga and Violeta's. Maite says the bakery gives her enough headaches, and she's at an age where she's starting to think more about retirement than new businesses.
"Those two trays over there," Violeta says when Olga enters the back room.
It's been only three days since her mother left, and Violeta has taken charge. To Olga, she resembles a traffic cop, directing and giving orders.
"And those donuts are ready too," she points out when Olga is still picking up the loaves.
"Anything else?"
The tone she uses makes Violeta turn and stare at her. She approaches slowly, not caring that Antonio is unloading the empty bread boxes he delivered this morning.
"Do you have a problem?" Her threatening yet provocative tone ignites Olga's body as if a firecracker had exploded inside her.
She leaves the loaves where they were and, without thinking much, grabs Violeta's arm and pulls her to the small room, where she corners her against the wall. Violeta, her pulse racing, looks at her expectantly.
"You really like bossing people around, don't you?" Olga asks, placing her hands on the wall, framing Violeta's head between them.
"Does it bother you?" Violeta replies, touching her side.
Olga shivers from head to toe.
"What bothers me is that you only boss me around. What's the deal? Isn't there anyone else here?"
"There's no one else here I like, and you don't know how hot I get when you're angry. And it's so easy to piss you off."
Violeta shrugs, and Olga looks dumbfounded for just a moment.
"So that's it," she says and presses so close to her that air can't pass between their bodies. "It turns you on to be bossy. Want me to buy you a whip and handcuffs so you can boss me around in bed too?"
Violeta's mind takes very little time to imagine the scene, and she gets so worked up that when she responds, she stutters.
"W-would you?"
"It depends."
"On what?" Violeta grows impatient.
"On how you behave today. I'm dying of heat and I'm hungry. I feel like eating at Nuria's restaurant. Get us a table, and then I'll do whatever you want."
"Nuria is my mother's friend. You know I can get a table with one call," Violeta says with a half-smile of pure satisfaction.
Olga kisses her and presses against her until the current runs through every inch of their bodies.
"Maybe I want you to spank me," she hisses in her ear, and Violeta nearly faints.
Antonio calls her from the other side, and they separate. Violeta is so flustered that when she leaves, she can't get her bearings. Olga is so satisfied with having managed to disturb her that way, she forgets to take the loaves of bread she came in to fetch.