Shortly after nine on Friday morning, Anja zipped east on the bicycle path along the Dreisam River, ducking her head and squinting against the cool wind. God, she was ready for spring and warmer temperatures! She tried not to think of the fact that she might not have a job come spring.

A gray heron that stood stock-still in the middle of the river seemed to be sick of winter too. The bird had fluffed its feathers and tucked its long neck back against its body as it peered into the water, probably looking for breakfast.

She slowed so she wouldn’t disturb the heron, then sped up again. Being late to work was not an option today. Since Nobby had given his niece a key to the store a couple of days ago, she had beat them to work every day, so Anja left for work a little earlier too, hoping to get in before Susanne and prove her dedication.

When the beautiful cast-iron railings of Mariensteg, a pedestrian bridge across the river, appeared in front of her, she pedaled harder to make it up the ramp.

Just as she crossed the bridge, a raindrop hit her cheek. Within seconds, others followed, creating a pattern of dark spots on the asphalt. A cold droplet splashed onto her head through the air vents of her bicycle helmet and slowly trickled down her scalp. She cursed under her breath and tried to make it the last five hundred meters to the store without getting completely drenched.

But she couldn’t outrun the rain, which was now coming down hard. By the time she chained her bike to a streetlamp, she was soaking wet. She fumbled for her key as she hurried across the street, half-blinded by the rain dripping into her eyes.

At the door, she nearly collided with Susanne, who had arrived at the store at the same time. Unlike Anja, she had an umbrella, so her hair and her immaculate slacks, blouse, and coat were virtually dry.

“Oh wow.” Susanne stared at her. “You’re wet. Uh, I mean…soaked by the rain.”

Her stammering made Anja laugh despite feeling miserable. “Yeah. That’s what happens when you trust the weather report. Their cloudy-but-dry just broke loose all over me.”

Susanne stretched out her arm to hold the umbrella over her while she unlocked the door with her other hand. Not that it was doing much good at this point, but Anja appreciated the gesture.

Shivering with her wet hair, Anja stepped into the store after her and peeled off her gloves, her bicycle helmet, and her drenched coat, careful not to get any water onto their notebooks and paper products.

Susanne averted her gaze to the puddle of water forming on the floor. “Uh, I’ll mop that up. Why don’t you go dry yourself off or something?”