Serenity (Inevitable #5)(35)

"That may not be possible, niná, given that you've got two hotheads for parents. But they do love you very much, you know that, hmm? They may have odd ways of showing it, but I happen to know that you're the single most important thing to your mother and father."

"I know," sighed Sasha. "And even though they drive me crazy at times, I love them, too. I'm just not sure I'm emotionally up for dealing with both of them at the same time, and especially at Christmas. I've spent too many years of my life playing peacemaker between those two."

Linda gave her niece a sympathetic look. "I know, niná. You had to grow up far too quickly with those parents of yours, particularly when they acted like children so often. But you've made a good life for yourself, Sasha, despite spending your first fifteen years living like a gypsy."

Sasha nodded. "I love my life," she agreed. "And if it hadn't been for you, Tia, I might never have had the chance to live a normal life."

She had come to stay with her aunt Linda, the divorced wife of her uncle Joaquim - Enzo's older brother - for what was supposed to have been just a few weeks one summer. Sasha had been weary of following one or the other of her parents on whatever tour they'd been on, and when the offer had come from Linda to stay with her for a time she'd eagerly accepted.

Sasha had been entranced with both Linda's brightly painted cottage, and the coastal community of Stinson Beach where her aunt had taken up residence after the tempestuous divorce from Joaquim. It was peaceful there, despite the influx of weekend visitors to the beach, and Sasha knew within days of her arrival that she didn't want to leave anytime soon. Linda had filled the whimsically decorated cottage with the various forms of art she produced for a living - paintings, sculptures, pottery - as well as a veritable menagerie of animals, most of them rescues. Dogs and cats cohabited with birds and fish, and outside in the little garden was a small chicken coop and a rabbit hutch. Linda also grew vegetables and herbs, and canned her own fruit. She lived a simple, peaceful existence, far removed from the hectic, unceasing weeks Sasha spent traveling around the globe. Linda's cottage had felt like home the first time Sasha had stepped through the doorway, and when the invitation had come to remain there after her visit was supposed to be over, she had jumped at the chance. 

Enzo hadn't put up much of a fight when Sasha had broached the subject of living permanently with Linda, but then again he had always been something of a pushover when it came to his daughter. Katya, however, had been quite another matter, and she'd screamed and cursed and threatened when Sasha had quietly insisted on staying put. In the end, it had been Enzo who'd convinced his fiery sometime-lover to acquiesce to their daughter's wishes, but Katya had been so hurt and angry that she had refused to speak to Sasha for almost three full months. And it hadn't simply been Sasha's desire to stay put and live in one place for a few years that had created such a rift between her and Katya. Rather, it had been Sasha's decision to quit dance that had really sent her mother over the edge.

But they had eventually made up, even if Katya had never really forgiven her daughter for abandoning the career as a ballroom dancer that she'd always envisioned for Sasha. And when Sasha had decided to become a yoga teacher, and then a masseuse as well, Katya's ire had been stoked anew. Katya strongly believed that Sasha was wasting her time and God given talents on something as frivolous as yoga, and that she could have had a very successful career as one of the professional dancers on Beyond Ballroom. The fact that Sasha had grown to hate all of the pageantry, costumes, and cattiness involved in competing and performing hadn't seemed to matter to Katya. All she saw was a wasted opportunity, and that her only child had elected to live like a hippie instead of a celebrity.

Sasha idly stroked the fur of one of Linda's cats - a fat orange marmalade named OJ. "I should be heading back soon," she told her aunt regretfully. "Even though it's in the opposite commute direction, there's always plenty of traffic heading into the city."

Sasha didn't own a car, but Chad or Julio were always happy to loan her one of their vehicles when she needed to go somewhere. She didn't particularly like to drive, but always made it a point to visit her aunt at least once or twice a month. Linda was the only family she had in northern California, and frankly the only family member she could turn to when she needed advice.

"It was good to see you as always, niná," replied Linda. "And I appreciate your driving all the way out here on your day off."

Friday was the one day of the week when Sasha didn't teach a yoga class or schedule any massage appointments. Instead, she spent the day sleeping in a bit, going for long walks, running errands, and seeing Linda, either here in Stinson Beach or in San Francisco for brunch or dinner.