Another Time, Same Place
By
Mahogany Brown
(c) Copyright by Mahogany Brown, March 2011
Cover Art by Jenny Dixon, 2011
Published by New Concepts Publishing
Smashwords Edition
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
Chapter One
10 years ago
Despite being over a century in age, the Victorian style townhouse had been well taken care of. The other two townhouses on either side, though younger and more stylishly designed, could not compare.
“You should see the backyard, it’s huge.”
Niobe looked up at her boyfriend. Every day for the past school year, they had walked by this house. Kalen had talked about the plans he had for the house. Those plans mainly included the two of them married with a couple of children.
He held her hand tighter and pulled her up the walkway. “Come on.”
“Where are you going?”
“To show you the backyard.”
“That’s trespassing.” Niobe looked at the front window. “What will you say when someone asks what are you doing?”
Kalen grinned wider and pulled her along. “The homeowner won’t mind. She’s anxious to meet you, actually.”
“She wants to meet me?”
“Yeah, I told her all about you.”
Niobe frowned. Why her boyfriend had told a complete stranger about her was beyond her. Only because she loved him so much that she allowed him his eccentricity. Like the time he had bought her a rose bush instead of the bouquet of pale blue roses she had wanted for their first year anniversary. She had tried to look pleased, but it was hard. She had really been expecting roses not a rose bush.
“You look cute when you scowl,” he chided and chucked her under the chin. He pressed the doorbell when they made it to the porch. A tinny version of ‘Spanish Harlem’ played.
“That’s different,” Niobe said.
“That’s my grandmother for you. She always liked things different.”
Niobe stared at him. “This is your grandmother’s house? Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t know until last week. Ironic she’d move into this house, huh?”
The door opened and they were faced with Kalen’s grandmother. She was a little shorter than Niobe with snow-white hair and the same dark blue eyes as Kalen. She took Niobe’s hand in hers and smiled.
“You must be Niobe. Lovely to meet you. You were right, Kalen. She’s a pretty one.”
“Niobe, my grandmother, Agatha Divers.”
“It nice to meet you too.”
“So, you’ve come to show her the back yard, have you? Well, go on then. Make sure you come inside afterwards.”
Kalen lead Niobe around to the back. He was right. It was bigger than the front yard. Agatha had a good-sized vegetable garden, greenhouse and gazebo. Even with all that, there was still room for the patio furniture and barbeque.
“You like it?”
“I love it. Maybe if you’re really nice to grandma, she’ll let us have the place.”
“Already taken care of. She said that all I have to do is tell her when we’re getting married and she’ll sign the house over to us. We can have the wedding here. Right here in the back yard.”
“We’re getting married in the backyard?”
“Well, yeah. I don’t want one of those big productions.”
She smirked and turned to him.
“Why do I get the feeling that you don’t like my idea?”
“Didn’t say that.”
He walked further into the backyard. “We can get married in the gazebo. And we can set up the tent for the wedding party next to it. And set up another tent where the patio stuff is for everyone else. Sam’s mom will provide the flowers and the decorations…what? Okay, you really don’t like my idea.”
Niobe shrugged. “It sounds very nice. But maybe I want a big production. Tons of bridesmaids. Arrive in a horse drawn carriage. You should have discussed this with me first as we seem to have a difference of opinion.”
He pulled her into his arms and touched his forehead to hers. “Nice try. I know you. You want something nice and small.”
“Okay, okay you’re right. But before we start planning our wedding we have to graduate first. And then there’s the prom. And college.”
“Speaking of the prom, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Oh? Can you give me a hint?”
Kalen laughed and kissed her nose. She turned her head and caught his mouth. He kissed her sweetly. “Nope. But I will say this: you’ll love it.”
“Now, you’ve got me really curious.”
“All right, enough of that you two, come inside,” Agatha called from the kitchen window. “The last thing I need is for those uptight puritan neighbors gossiping.”
“Let them gossip,” Kalen said and kissed Niobe again.
“Kalen,” his grandmother warned.
Inside the kitchen, Niobe and Kalen sat down at the long wooden table. Niobe accepted the glass of orange juice that Agatha offered her.
“Have a turnover. I made them fresh this morning.”Agatha sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. “So graduation is coming up. Are your heads all filled up with the prom or do you two have plans for college?”
“We’ve got plans,” Kalen said.
“You have your college picked out as well?”
“I do,” Niobe said. “I’m just waiting for a response. Oh, I’ve got to go,” Niobe said looking at her watch. “My grandmother gets unbearable when I’m late getting home. Thanks for the eats.”
“You’re welcome, love. Make sure she gets home safe, Kalen.”
“Is your grandmother speaking to your father yet?” Kalen asked once they were outside.
Niobe gave a bitter laugh. “I think it’s more that he doesn’t want to speak to her. He blames her for my mother’s death.”
“What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. My mother drank herself to death. My grandmother didn’t give her the alcohol.”
“No, but she could have tried to stop her. If you see someone that you care about slowly killing themselves shouldn’t you try to do something to stop it?”
“I know.”
“Intervention?”
“That only works if the person is willing to accept the help to overcome their addiction. Apparently, my mother wasn’t.”
“What about AA meetings?”
“She went for a month. And then she stopped drinking for about four months. Then she and my grandmother had a fight and then she started drinking again.”
“What were they fighting about?”
“My Dad, what else?”
“Has he called?”
“No and it’s been almost two years now.”
“I could ask my mother to hire a private investigator if you want.”
“No, that’s okay. If my father wants me to find him, I will. We better say goodbye here.”
They were two blocks from her house.
“You know it’s getting really annoying having your grandmother hate me so much.”
“She doesn’t hate you. It’s just a strong dislike.”
“And that’s better? Why do I always have to meet you somewhere else? Even when I try and be nice to her, she’s rude to me.”
Niobe blew air.
Kalen ran his fingers through his shoulder length dark blonde locks. “Maybe it’s my hair. You think if I cut it she’ll like me any better?” he asked sarcastically. “Because I would make an appointment right now. Better yet, I’ll shave my head.”
“Kalen.”
He groaned in frustration. “I can’t help it, Niobe. She treats me like I’m an outcast or something. I was thinking that maybe she knew that we had sex that night and that’s why she’s treating me this way. She probably thinks I forced you. It’s not fair.”
She took his face in her hands. “I know. But look at it this way, when we get married you won’t have to deal with her. So what are we doing tomorrow?”
“We can go to a movie if you want.”
“Sounds good.” She reached up and kissed him.
He pulled her close. “You know I love you, right?”
Niobe grinned. “Yeah, I know. I love you too. See you tomorrow.”
Niobe couldn’t understand why her grandmother didn’t like Kalen either. He was a lot better than the other guys she had dated. Niobe wondered what her grandmother would do when she and Kalen got married. Probably refuse to come to the wedding. Yeah, that would be like her grandmother.
Liza was waiting for her in the foyer when she walked into the house. She never waited in the foyer. Even when her grandmother waited up for her, she sat in her favorite chair in the living room reading or crocheting. She didn’t stand by the door with an annoyed look on her face.
“Hey, grandma.”
“Come into the kitchen.” Liza turned and walked away.
Niobe followed her, her stomach in knots. It must be something to do with her father. Maybe he had called and they had fought.
Niobe sat down at the kitchen table. Her grandmother sat and folded her hands in front of her.
“There is no gentle way to say this…I want you to stop seeing Kalen.”
Niobe stared at her grandmother in disbelief. Was she crazy? She loved Kalen and he loved her. She was not going to break up with him.
“Why?”
“Because you deserve someone better than him.”
“There isn’t anyone better than Kalen. I’m not breaking up with him just because you don’t like him.”
“You have to.”
“Why do I have to? Is it because he’s white?”
“I could care less about his skin color.”
“Then why are you assuming that he’s not good enough for me? If he was black would you be telling me to break up with him?”
Liza was silent.
“I guess I have my answer. Well, I am not breaking up with him because you’re a bigot.” Niobe stood. “I’m eighteen years old. I’m not a child. So stop treating me like one.”
“Sit down, Niobe. Eighteen or not, you are still under my roof and you will listen to me. My dislike of Kalen has nothing to do to with his skin color. But I know his kind. Yes, he’s good looking and I’m sure that you have fun with him…but you’re going to be graduating soon and you have to think about your future. Next thing you’ll be telling me that you are getting married or worse: you’re pregnant. Don’t think I didn’t know what you and Kalen were doing that night.”
Niobe looked away. “We used protection. We’re not stupid. And we will get married one day. After we…”
“No, you won’t.”
Niobe’s hands clenched. “And how are you going to stop me? You’re not my mother or my father.”
“You listen to me, Niobe Clarke. I am your mother and father right now. Your mother was too weak and drank herself to death over a man that wasn’t worth her. And if your father was a good man he would have never left no matter what I said to him.”
“How can you say that? How would you feel if someone was putting you down all the time? Would you stick around? No matter how you felt about him, that didn’t give you the right to speak to him the way you did,” Niobe shot back. “You were always yelling at him and telling him how useless he was. If someone were saying those things to me every day I would leave too.”
“I only said those things because they were true. He knew nothing when it came to responsibility. The only reason that he married your mother was because he got her pregnant. When I found out I made sure that he married her. If I didn’t, your mother would have had to raise you all by herself. I had to raise her by myself and I was not about to let her go through that. Now I am thinking that I should have just let him leave. Your mother would have been better off without him. You both would have been.”
Niobe sat there stunned and bewildered.
“Didn’t he say that he would call you? Has he?”
“Maybe he’s just busy,” Niobe said quietly.
“Or maybe he doesn’t care. He’s been gone for two years. I care about you, Niobe. And I will not let you throw your life away on a boy who won’t amount to anything. Niobe, listen to me. I know that you care about him, but you have to think about your future.”
Niobe was thinking about her future. She was thinking that she didn’t want a future without Kalen. She shook her head.
“You have to break up with him. If you don’t then I won’t pay for your college education. Three letters came for you today. Ryerson, Centennial and Sheridan. They all accepted you. Break up with Kalen and I’ll make sure that you can go to any one of your choice.”
Tears streamed down Niobe’s face. Her grandmother knew how much going to college meant to her. And to use that against her was just cruel. If she didn’t go, her grandmother would blame Kalen not her own spitefulness.
“But…but…I can’t hurt Kalen like this. He won’t be a disappointment. I know.”
Liza stood up. “I’m sorry, Niobe. You have a choice: go to college or break up with Kalen. I would suggest that you do this sooner than later. I have to head down to the community centre to help out with the after school reading program. I left dinner for you in the oven.”
After she heard the front door close, Niobe ran up to her room and slammed the door. She threw herself on her bed and cried until her chest hurt. Her grandmother’s tabby, Ginger had jumped on the bed. Ginger looked at Niobe with her big green eyes and meowed sadly.
“Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel.”
Niobe’s eyes went to her shelf. There sat a medium sized dark blue box. She got up and took the small keepsake box from her shelf. Inside were all the pictures her and Kalen had taken, movie stubs and the dried rose that he had given her for Rose Day at school. She picked out one picture from the box. It showed her and Kalen sitting together under a tree in the schoolyard. It was right around their one year anniversary. They looked so happy.
But now she had a choice: go to college or keep Kalen.
She looked at the picture again. “I am so sorry, Kalen,” she whispered.
Niobe just hoped that Kalen would forgive her one day. And maybe she would have the courage to tell him the real reason she had let him go. Because as it stood now, there was no way she could.
Chapter Two
“So, did you book the room?” Samuel, Kalen’s best friend, asked with a smirk.
Kalen moved three bags of soil to the next available skid. “I did.”
“Does she know what you have planned for her?”
Kalen grinned. “Been there.”
“Get out. When?”
“Last month. And damn…she’s good,” he said and gave Samuel a knowing grin.
“Damn, I thought that her being Sara’s friend would have made it easier for me. I even got her to go on one date with me. Then she saw you and she forgot all about me.”
“Oh please, she was mine from day one. She probably only went out with you because she had nothing else to do.”
“Very funny. Ha, ha. Did her grandmother see you?”
“Naw, I hid under the bed. When her grandmother went to sleep I climbed out the window. So, who you taking?”
“Don’t know yet. Maybe I’ll just go stag. Tammy was asking who you were going with.”
“She’s knows that I’m going with Niobe.”
“Maybe she’s hoping that you and Niobe will break up. I bet you’ve already got your wedding planned. Watch out she doesn’t turn into Bridezilla. Your grandmother gonna sell you the house?”
“She said that she’d just give it to me. After Niobe and I get married she’ll move in with my mother. But she’s putting it in the will for me just in case she passes on before Niobe and I get married.”
“I’m not paying you boys to socialize on my time.”
They both looked up to see the owner of the nursery, Annabelle Watts. Samuel grinned at his mother.
“Well, if you were paying me, then maybe I wouldn’t socialize with the hired help.”
Annabelle raised an eyebrow at her son. “Just for that, you have to handle the bags of manure. Mr. Benson wants three bags of sheep manure or did he say he wanted the back of the truck filled. You better get the shovel, dear.”
“Aw, Ma. Why can’t Randal do it?”
“Randal is off today. Get going or you’re not getting the money for your car. Your choice.”
Samuel muttered something that only Kalen heard and headed over to where the loose manure was stored.
“I can help him,” Kalen said.
“No, no. Samuel needs to work a little harder. Meeting up with Niobe today?”
“Yeah, but first I need to get a haircut.”
“It’s about time. Did Niobe complain about your long hair?”
“Hey, she likes my hair. Her grandmother thinks I’m bad news. It must be the hair.”
“She’s just being protective.”
Kalen grunted. “If you say so.”
Chapter Three
Kalen had wanted to argue with Niobe and ask her why she just didn’t tell her grandmother that he was meeting her at the house. But she hadn’t sounded like herself when he had called.
Walking through the park, he saw her up ahead seated on one of the benches. He called out to her. Niobe didn’t look up. He called again as he got closer.
Niobe looked up this time. She looked pale.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“You cut your hair.”
“Yeah, I figured that maybe your grandmother might dislike me a little less.” He smiled and ran his fingers through his now spiky locks. She didn’t smile back. “Niobe, what’s the matter?”
Niobe took his hand and led him farther into the park. She chose a bench that was out of sight of the path. She took a deep breath. “We can’t see each other anymore.”
“What did you say?”
“I’m…breaking up with you.”
“But why?”
She looked away. “Because I…don’t want to be with you anymore.”
What the hell was she saying? She was joking. She had to be.
“Niobe, you can’t be…”
“Sorry. I just thought that I should tell you before we went any further.”
“Went any further? Hold on, what the hell happened between last night and now? When I left you yesterday, you told me that you loved me. And now you’re telling me that you don’t want to see me anymore? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’m sorry. But it’s better this way. We’ll be both going off to college or university and we’ll meet other people and…who knows what might happen?”
He blinked. “Even if I met other people that wouldn’t change how I feel about you. Niobe, I love you. You know that. And I know that you love me too. Look at me and tell me that you don’t.”
She turned to face him. “I don’t,” she said quietly.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Kalen, I have to go. I’m really sorry.”
“Sorry? You’re sorry? You’re breaking my heart and you’re telling me that you’re sorry?”
“I know…but I…goodbye Kalen.” Niobe stood up.
He grabbed her arm. “Just tell me one thing: is it someone else?”
“No.”
She pulled out of his grip.
Kalen stood there watching her walk away. What the hell had happened? Kalen frowned. Her grandmother had done this. There was no way that Niobe would just break up with him. He had to confront Liza Clarke and ask why the hell she hated him so much.
Liza Clarke opened the door when he rang the bell. She stood there with a smug expression on her face.
“Niobe’s not here.”
“I want to speak you, actually.”
“Let me guess, this has to do with Niobe breaking up with you. It’s really for the best.”
“Is that what you told her?”
“It’s the truth.”
“I love your granddaughter and she loves me.”
“Love is not enough. You will only cause my granddaughter grief. I don’t want her to end up like her mother. You will just have to get used to not having her around.”
“And what if I still come around?”
“Then I will call the police. I should have never let her continue to date you. And I am sure that you forced her to have sex with you.”
Kalen’s fists clenched at his sides. “I did not. I would never force her to do anything she didn’t want to do,” he hissed.
Liza Clarke shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I suppose I can be thankful that she didn’t get herself pregnant.” She closed the door in his face.
Kalen stood on the porch for a few more seconds, and then got into his car. Just before he pulled away, he saw movement at the front window. Niobe stood there. Seconds later her grandmother pulled her from the window.
Kalen headed to his grandmother’s house. The smile she greeted him with left her face when she saw his expression. Without another word she ushered him into the large kitchen.
Agatha sat down beside him and poured herself a cup of tea. She sipped. “Are you going to tell me or shall I just ask questions?”
“Niobe broke up with me.”
“Just now? But the both of you were just here yesterday and…”
“It was her grandmother. Somehow she got Niobe to break up with me. I don’t know how, but she did. She said that I would cause Niobe grief.”
“You did tell me that her grandmother was not that fond of you.”
“But I never gave her a reason not to be. I was never rude to her. I didn’t treat Niobe badly. What did her grandmother say to her to make her just…do this?”
Kalen washed his hands over his face and then put his head down on the table. He raised his head when his grandmother touched his arm.
“Apparently her grandmother threatened her with something. Something that was very important to Niobe and she had to choose.”
“But what would be more important than us?”
“Kalen, I saw the way you two were looking at each other. Niobe loves you. Don’t judge her too harshly. But look at it this way, this might have been for the best.” She raised her hand to stop him from speaking. “This might be for the best, for now. Why don’t you let things alone for a while? If she loves you then this will work out.”
Chapter Four
“Hi, Mrs. Clarke, is Niobe around?”
“She’s in the living room.”
“Hey.”
Niobe glanced up. Sara, Samuel’s twin sister, walked into the living room. Sara snatched the book from her and dragged her out to the back porch.
“Okay, have you gone mad? Why the hell did you break up with Kalen?” she hissed. “He is like the best catch in the whole school. Do you have any idea how many girls would kill to be his girlfriend. One in particular named Tammy Cook. When she hears about this, she is going to be all over him. He’s vulnerable now. Tammy will take advantage of that. The last person that Kalen needs in his life is that bitch.”
“He told you I broke up him?”
“No, he told Sam and then Sam told me. Sam was surprised that you hadn’t told me. What the hell happened?”
Niobe told Sara the whole story.
“But…that is so unfair. How could she do that to you?”
“Is Kalen really upset?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“I didn’t want to hurt him like this.”
“Maybe you should tell him what your grandmother said to you.”
“I can’t. He’ll think that I was selfish to choose my education over him. It’s what I did.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Kalen isn’t stupid. You know that.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now. And now the prom is coming up. I don’t think I’m going. I can’t go there and risk seeing him. Then everyone will gossip and…” she sighed.
“The phone is for you, Niobe,” her grandmother called from the kitchen window. “It’s your father.”
Her father? She told Sara goodbye and Niobe ran into the house. Niobe picked up the portable phone and headed back into the backyard.
“Hi, Daddy! I miss you so much! I knew you would call one day. Grandma kept saying that you wouldn’t. I almost hate her.”
“Miss you too, sweetie. What’s this about you hating your grandmother?”
“But I do…well…almost.”
“What happened?”
“Grandma made me break up with Kalen. She threatened me. She said that she wouldn’t pay for college if I didn’t.”
“Whoa. Back up there. You broke up with Kalen? I could have sworn that you two were getting married.” He sighed. “Your grandmother is quite the charmer, isn’t she? So, she finally decided to get him out of your life. I’m so sorry, Niobe.”
“It’s not your fault. Who would have thought that grandma would do something like this?”
“So, why did she force you to break up with Kalen, besides not wanting to pay for college?”
“She said that he would turn out like you and she didn’t want me to end up like Mom.”
“Turn out like me,” he muttered. “That was harsh. Had I called earlier then maybe I could have prevented this. I’ll still send you the money if you’d rather not take it from your grandmother.”
“It really doesn’t matter now,” she paused. “Daddy, grandma said that she forced you and mom to get married. Is that true?”
It was a few moments before he replied. “She did. But I would have married your mother eventually. I just wanted to wait until I got settled with a job I had lined up. I had a job offer in New York, but your grandmother didn’t want your mother away from her since she was pregnant. So, I declined the job offer. I’m not telling you all this to hate your grandmother, but I think you should know the reason. She didn’t force us to get married. She just pushed us when we weren’t ready. You were kind of a mistake. That doesn’t mean I’m sorry we had you.”
“I understand. Where are you anyway?”
“New York. Life’s been good to me here. But I’d been trying to call you ever since I left. I kept getting your grandmother and she refused to let me speak to you. I'm surprised she did this time.”
Niobe paused. “Really? She said that you didn’t care and that’s why you never called. I can’t believe she lied about that.”
“Your grandmother will have to deal with the consequences of her actions eventually. But enough of that. I want you come and visit me. Spend the summer. We have to catch up.”
“Summer in New York? Oh, yeah. You remember my best friend Sara? Can she come too?”
“As long as her parents say it’s okay.”
“Oh, thank you, Daddy! I hope that Sara can come.”
“And I’m sure that you and Kalen will work things out. Now, let me talk to your grandmother.”
Niobe brought in the phone and handed it to her grandmother. Liza wiped her hands on a dish towel and looked at Niobe.
“He wants to talk to you. I’m going to be visiting him this summer. After I finish my exams of course. Hopefully, Sara will be going with me too.” Niobe would not back down concerning this. She had already screwed things up with Kalen. She would not do the same with her father.
Liza took the phone.
Niobe went up stairs to start packing. Being away from here was just what she needed. Niobe didn’t think that she could handle being around her grandmother. And she knew she couldn’t handle seeing Kalen around all summer either.
She had to tell Sara the good news.
Chapter Five
Sara was seated on the porch with Sam and Kalen. Niobe paused. Sara got up and beckoned to her. “Hey, guys.”
Samuel put on a smile. Niobe could see it was forced. She was about to say that she had to go when Kalen asked, “So what are your plans for the summer?”
“I'm going to see my Dad in New York.”
“So, you’re not going to the prom?” Kalen asked.
“No. Are you guys going?”
Samuel shrugged. “I haven’t got a date. Jennifer asked, but I don’t want to go with her.”
“She’s nice.”
Samuel frowned at his sister. “No, she’s not. And she’s kinda on the big side. Nothing worse than a fat girl.”
“How about a fat guy? Men,” Sara asked, crossing her arms.
“It’ll be good for you to see your father,” Kalen said. “Did he tell you why he didn’t contact you all this time?”
She nodded. “Mostly due to my grandmother.”
“I was hoping we could spend the summer together. But I guess you should go and see your father. But you’ll write?” Sara asked.
“Actually, I asked my Dad if you could come with me. He said yes.”
“Hey, great!” Sara beamed. “So, we’re leaving after exams, right? We have to have a little party before we go since we’re not going to the prom.”
“Why aren’t you going?”
“Don’t have a date. And if you’re not going, then why would I? We can order some Chinese and watch movies. It’ll be fun. And we won’t have to get all dressed up.”
“Sounds good. I better get home. See you guys.”
Niobe was halfway down the walkway when Kalen called out to her. She turned.
“Mind if I walk with you?”
* * * *
They walked for a few blocks not speaking. Kalen looked over at her. She kept her head straight ahead. He remembered the first day that he had seen her. He was coming out of his history class and he just saw a flash of dark curls go past. He turned to look and saw a cute little body encased in jeans and a sweater. He had asked Samuel if he knew her.
Samuel had told him that she was in his biology class and his sister’s best friend. After that he always made sure that he spoke to Sara in the hopes that Niobe might be around. Only problem was that when he had happened to come upon Sara and Niobe, he suddenly couldn’t talk to her. He always just smiled at Niobe and then took off down the hall. Two months it went like that, him talking to Sara and just staring at Niobe when he thought she wasn’t looking. He’d figured that Niobe thought he was some weirdo not worth her time. As it turned out, it was Niobe who had come up to him and started a conversation. Then as the saying goes, the rest was history. And it seemed like they were going to be history now.
“Sara told me if you were wondering?”
Niobe turned to face him. “What did she tell you?”
“That it was really your grandmother who told you to break up with me. I kind of figured that was the reason. I guess she just couldn’t take me being with you anymore.”