The Sleeping Serpent

Chapter 4

Tyler's class schedule had been heavier than normal, and lately, weekends were dedicated to writing his blog and working on the book. He was at his desk when Luna interrupted, "Do you want to go to the farmer's market later, then we can stop by The Parlor for guacamole and a beer and watch soccer?"

Looking up, Tyler was at first annoyed she'd broken his train of thought. "I have to finish this today. I'm jammed. Text me later and I'll let you know."

Luna was about to turn and go when he commented, "I see you're going to yoga." He'd stated the obvious, seeing she wore black practice pants and a tank top depicting Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of protection. "What time will you be home?"

She sighed, "If you would make plans to do something with me, I'd come straight home."

He struggled with that idea for a second before waving her away. "Call me later. I'll try to finish and get this posted." Then he turned his attention back to the computer screen.

Even in his late forties, Tyler had a youthful appearance. At six feet two, he was lean and well-built, with a Ralph Lauren model appearance and dazzling smile that drew admiring looks from women, including his students. When they had first started dating, Luna couldn't help feeling threatened. The men she had previously been involved with had been players, and she'd been burned too many times. When Tyler confessed after only a few weeks that he was dating her exclusively, she surprised herself by jumping in with both feet and never looking back.

She would have liked for him to commit to her plan, or even come up with one of his own. Instead, she murmured, "OK, I'll call you," and left. She'd packed well-worn boyfriend jeans and a black crocheted Free People top into a Ralph Lauren kilim tote bag, glad it was a weekend so she didn't have to skip out on work with more vague excuses.

Sensing her disappointment, Tyler called out, "Luna?" When she came back, he apologized. "I'm sorry I've been so busy. Let's do something tomorrow. We can go for a run and have an early dinner. How about sushi?"

She leaned over, putting her head between him and the screen, and gave him a kiss. "I love you, honey. Of course, that would be great. I'll call you later." At the door, she added as an afterthought, "So today I might hang with Nico if he's not doing anything."

Tyler smiled, but she wasn't sure how genuinely. As she turned to leave, he said, without sounding judgmental, "I guess you have yourself a new project, huh?"

She chuckled and shrugged. "I suppose maybe I do." Having found it all very exciting, she'd told him every detail she could recall about the despacho ceremony, Nico's life, and Kundalini Yoga, adding that Nico seemed lonely and needed a good friend.

Not sure if she might get cold, she put on her favorite Nigel Preston & Knight stone suede fringed jacket and left.

° ° °

Following Nico's voice, Luna found him in the office, yelling in Spanish at someone on the phone. Looking up, he gestured for her to come in and sit down. He had on a simple black T-shirt, and she was happy to see he wore the Om necklace. After a few more minutes, he said "Besos," and hung up.

Running his fingers through his hair and gently tugging at the roots, he gazed up at her. She saw his eyes were moist. "I don't know what to do, bella. That was my sister. She said my mother is getting worse." He walked over to a hot kettle and poured her a mug of tea, then refilled his own. "I'm going to have to go home and nurse her back to health again. She won't take her medication and wants to give up; she's tired."

In a flash, she was back in sixth grade, overhearing those words, "She's tired," spoken between her father and relatives. Luna didn't know what to say. Nico spoke as though she knew what he was talking about, but she didn't. After a moment's thought, she replied, "If your mother needs you, Nico, you should go to her right away."