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Out of all the places I never thought I would be back here… in Walpole, New Jersey. Had it not been my mother's dying wish I would still be back in Tennessee finishing school. She was an African American nurse who worked for the Lenape tribe. She was very good with medicine. My father was Lenape. He died of lung cancer when I was seven. When I turned eighteen, I moved out with my aunt and left this world and its secrets behind. I guess five years wasn't enough. Mom passed of a brain tumor, the size of a lemon the doctor's said. I didn't come back when I found out she was sick.

'Once you start a plan you move forward you have no time to go backwards' my mom said to me when I had told her I would come back to take care of her. Things got more complicated after that.

So why couldn't I get out of my truck and go up to Marie's door. She and my mom were child hood 'besties'. She's also my son's grandmother. Does she know, I wonder. Did he ever tell her? I enjoyed going to Marie's house when I was younger. She was and still is a nice woman. I didn't get the chance to step out, because the door opened and there she came out, hair as thick as a lion's and cinnamon skin which is aging beautifully. When she saw me she looked mildly stunned. Maybe she didn't expect me to come. Maybe she knew about her grandson. I slowly opened the door and got out of the truck. It smelled like everlasting trees and leaves.

"When you told me you were stopping by I wasn't expecting to see you for another few hours." she said. I shrugged.

"It seems I'll have nothing but time on hands now, so I thought I would stop here first before going to her place. How is everyone here?" I asked. She crossed her arms and gave a mildly pleasant smile.

"It's going. You going to be moving back into the old house?" she asked. I nodded.

"Yeah. I'm going to finish school online." I replied, and now Marie moved closer to me with her arms out and she wrapped her arms around me, and I was a bit stunned by it, but I replied to it.

"Oh Kaia, I am so sorry." she said lightly. I could hear the sincerity in her tone. My mom and she were close so when she passed, I could imagine she cried. I nodded and bit my bottom lip as to keep myself together.

"Thank you." I replied and she pulled back and looked me over.

"Are you going to be okay in that house by yourself?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Yes. I plan to bring my son down as well once I get situated." I replied. Her eyes widened with shock, but it was a good shock.

"A son. Oh that's wonderful, I mean good that he will be able to stay here as well." she told. I nodded and looked around at the place and then her house.

"Nothing's changed." I noted and she nodded.

"Yes, Mac's kept this place stable." she told. I nodded and looked at her now.

"When is her funeral?" I asked. She looked at me now with gentle eyes once more.

"It'll be in three days, you know give you a chance to settle in." she told. I nodded slowly. "You know, Philip was devastated when you packed up and left."

'Why?' I almost asked, but didn't. Back in the younger days, when we were in high school, people said I was the It girl or the queen bee, but I didn't want that title. I was nice to everyone really and tore people down when they bullied less fortunate people. I guess I believed everyone was equal.

"How is he now?" I asked and she only shook her head.

"He's different I'll tell you that." she said.

"Good different or bad different?" I asked. I knew Philip Kopus was a trouble maker and so I was expecting him to have been back in juvie well jail now. He and I were very good friends any idea one of us had the other didn't mind following. I never understood why until the first sleep over. She sighed.

"He's changed." she concluded, but gave another safe smile. "My other son, Junior is riding around somewhere here, you may get to meet him if you decide to come over for dinner."

Dinner. That meant being social with people who are somewhat strangers, but aren't technically. I felt like an outsider here, because I have been gone for so long. I shrugged and smiled some.

"Sure. I am going to get settled in and I'll drive around later on." I said and she smiled and nodded.

"Good. I'll see you soon." she told and I nodded and got back in my truck and drove from her home. Marie is always so kind and accepting. Even after getting in trouble with Philip, she was somewhat forgiving. I lived about twenty minutes away in a two story house from most of the other houses. When I pulled into the parking lot, I cut off the truck, had a two second melt down which was just screaming, and then pulled myself together and got out of the truck. I liked my truck. It was where I could get out my aggressiveness and anger without my son seeing it.

I decided to just get in and get things done. I moved my stuff into the house. Everything was the same from how I left it five years ago. She never changed a thing. I moved to my old room and just looked at it. I took most of my things with me so all that was left the bed which had plane blue sheets on it for days I was supposed to come visit. I looked over at the bed and just stared at it. I had my first sleep over with Philip on that bed. I shook my head and just left out the room. I brought in all my things and unpacked them in my parent's room. My mom had some nice furniture and so I wouldn't get rid of anything unless I needed to. I tidied up a bit, and then showered and got into one of my casual dresses and just lied on my parents' bed. Why didn't my mom want me to come back?

Maybe she couldn't face seeing me? I never told her I was pregnant because I was leaving just a few days after I found out. I told my aunt and she took care of me through the entire process. I was exhausted from the drive so after hooking up my lap top I fell asleep. I don't know how long I was sleeping, but a loud banging was ringing in my head causing me to sit up quickly and look around. There was more banging and that's when I realized it was the door. I got up and left the room moving to the door. When I opened it however, I was stunned now and cringed a bit at who was standing there in a tight grey shirt and large pants. He had grown some facial hair and his eyes were steely and firm.

"You know when my mom said you were back I almost didn't believe her." he said in a deep yet smooth tone. I couldn't say anything really. I was too busy admiring his now larger size and handsome facial features. "So where is he, Kaia…where is my son?