Page 13 of Christmas Shelter

When she finishes putting everything up, she pours herself a bit more wine and, from the corner of the living room, observes everything satisfied with the result. She frowns again and takes a long drink from her glass, although she has enjoyed this moment she's given herself decorating her house, there's something still missing and, although she suspects what it might be, she refuses to think that if Carlota had been there with her, everything would have been much better and more fun.

Chapter 10

"I don't know why I listen to you. Going out in this cold should be illegal," Patricia says, hugging herself as she walks beside Aida among the Christmas market stalls.

"Don't be such a killjoy. You're on vacation, and you're not going to stay locked up in your house all day."

"Just until the twenty-seventh," Patricia smiles, and Aida rolls her eyes. "Are you buying anything?"

"I don't know," Aida shrugs and keeps walking, wrapped in her puffer jacket as if the cold doesn't affect her. "Maybe yes, maybe no."

"Always so mysterious," Patricia shakes her head.

Aida winks at her and nudges her with her shoulder. Patricia laughs and returns the gesture, but when she's about to defend herself from her ex's next attack, a sound coming from nearby makes her freeze.

"What's wrong?" Aida asks, and Patricia raises her hand asking for silence.

Aida furrows her brow, not understanding why she's asking for quiet with all the noise around, but thenthe sound happens again through the commotion, and Patricia's eyes widen like saucers as she smiles.

"Holy crap," she says in surprise.

"Are you going to tell me what's happening?" Aida starts to lose patience.

"I think it's Coco," Patricia responds.

"Coco? The dog from the road?" Aida asks.

Patricia nods while scanning everything expectantly until two new barks help her confirm that it is, indeed, Coco. Her eyes start scanning everything around her until, three stalls ahead, she spots the animal shelter's booth that they set up every year at the Christmas market to encourage people to adopt instead of buying pets.

"They're over there, come on, let's go," Patricia says.

Aida hasn't had time to see the shelter's booth or understand what's happening, but she has no choice but to start running when her ex-girlfriend grabs her hand and pulls her forcefully toward where Coco is. When they arrive, the dog is indeed there, and when Patricia greets him, the canine goes crazy with joy and raises his front paws to rest them on Patricia's waist. She hugs him and kisses him under Carlota's perplexed gaze, whose heart starts racing inexplicably when she sees Patricia burst into the booth with such joy - something that only makes sense when the goofy smile that had formed while watching Patricia and Coco's scene vanishes as soon as she notices Aida's presence, Patricia's ex.

"Who is she?" Vanesa asks, pointing at Patricia and snapping her out of her trance.

"Patricia, the girl who rescued Coco," she responds with her eyes fixed on her.

"And the other girl?" Vanesa continues asking.

"Her ex," Carlota answers, unable to hide her discomfort.

"Aha," Vanesa smiles.

Carlota turns her neck and looks at her.

"What?"

"Nothing," Vanesa laughs.

Carlota clears her throat, realizing how obvious her attitude is, and tries to relax her expression.

"What a connection," Vanesa says, addressing Patricia. "I'm Vane, Carlota's partner," she introduces herself, extending a hand that Patricia shakes.

The cardiologist looks over Vanesa's shoulder and focuses on Carlota, who responds by raising her hand when Patricia greets her.

"I'll take him," Patricia says suddenly. "I'll adopt him."

"That's true love," Aida quips, greeting the dog.

---