He Bought New Rims While His Daughter Went Without School Shoes

For several seconds, Tiana couldn't hear anything except the refrigerator humming behind her.

She sat at her mother's kitchen table with the phone pressed to her ear, staring at the transfer receipt between them.

“My name?”” she repeated.

“Yes,” Keisha said.

“Your name and phone number.””

Tiana gripped the edge of the table.

“Why would he give you my information?””

“I don't know. I wasn't the one who handled the paperwork. I just overheard the conversation when I was helping close the shop yesterday.””

“Did I sign anything?””

“No. Not that I know of.””

“Did I agree to guarantee anything for him?””

“No.””

Tiana closed her eyes.

She had spent years learning how to protect herself from Jaylen's promises. She kept copies of school records, saved messages about expenses, and wrote down the dates when he agreed to contribute to Amara's needs.

But she had never imagined she would need to protect herself from a debt he had created using her identity.

“Keisha, I need you to tell me exactly what you heard.””

The woman hesitated.

“Jaylen was talking to the owner near the register. He said his child's mother was good for the money if he couldn't come up with the balance. He gave the owner your number and said you two had an arrangement.””

Tiana's stomach twisted.

“What arrangement?””

“I don't know. The owner asked if you knew about it. Jaylen said you did.””

Denise reached across the table and took Tiana's free hand.

Tiana squeezed it.

“Thank you for calling me,” she said.

“Can you give me the shop's name and the owner's number?””

“Of course. And, Tiana?””

“Yes?””

“I'm sorry. I thought about staying out of it, but I kept thinking about my little girl. If somebody did that to her, I'd want somebody to tell me.””

Tiana swallowed.

“I understand.””

When the call ended, she sat motionless.

Her mother rubbed her hand.

“Baby, look at me.””

Tiana raised her eyes.

“Did you ever agree to pay for those rims?””

“No.””

“Did you ever give him permission to use your name?””

“No.””

“Then we're going to find out what happened before we panic.””

Tiana nodded, but her heart was beating too fast.

She thought of the man who had stood in his driveway the previous afternoon, pointing at a list of school expenses and accusing her of always wanting something.

He had spent money intended for their daughter.

He had told his mother the school fees were handled.

He had lied to the school.

And now, apparently, he had told a stranger that Tiana would cover the consequences.

Her phone buzzed.

Jaylen's name appeared on the screen.

*Jaylen: We need to talk. Call me.*

Tiana stared at the message.

She typed, Did you use my name to get the rims?

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

Then disappeared.

A minute later, her phone rang.

She answered and put him on speaker.

“What did you tell the shop owner?”” she asked.

Jaylen didn't greet her.

“What did Keisha tell you?””

Tiana's eyes widened.

“So it's true.””

“I never said that.””

“You just asked what she told me.””

“Because she's sticking her nose into something she doesn't understand.””

“Did you use my name?””

Jaylen exhaled sharply.

“Tiana, listen to me. It's not what you think.””

“Then tell me what it is.””

“I needed a reference.””

“A reference for what?””

“The payment arrangement.””

“Did you tell the owner I agreed to pay your debt?””

“I said you might help if something happened.””

“Did you ask me?””

“I knew you wouldn't understand.””

Tiana pulled the phone closer.

“You didn't ask me because you knew I'd say no.””

“Can you stop making everything sound so bad?””

“Did you give him my phone number?””

“Yes, but—”

“Did you tell him we had an agreement?””

Jaylen was silent.

Tiana's voice trembled.

“Answer me.””

“I told him we'd work something out.””

“Who is we?””

“You and me. We're Amara's parents.””

“Being Amara's parents does not give you permission to put my name on your debts!””

Her mother stood up and walked to the sink, pressing both palms against the counter.

Jaylen lowered his voice.

“Look, the rims are already on the car. I just need until Monday to settle the balance.””

Tiana stared at the wall.

“You spent six hundred dollars that your mother gave you for Amara. Then you borrowed more money for rims you didn't need. Now you want me to help you pay for them?””

“I didn't say you had to pay everything.””

“You used my name without asking me.””

“I was going to explain.””

“When?””

“I'm explaining now!””

“No, Jaylen. You're explaining because someone told me.””

He said nothing.

Tiana wiped her cheek.

She hadn't realized she was crying until her fingers came away wet.

“Do you know what Amara asked me last night?””

Jaylen sighed.

“Please don't start with that.””

“She asked me if she could wear her old shoes one more week because she didn't want me spending money on her.””

The silence on the other end was immediate.

“She heard me talking about the bills,” Tiana continued.

“She's eight years old, Jaylen. Eight. She's already trying to make herself cheaper to raise.””

“Don't say that.””

“Why? Because it makes you feel bad?””

“Because that's not fair.””

“What's not fair is our daughter thinking her needs are a problem.””

Jaylen's voice became defensive again.

“I love my daughter.””

“Then why does loving her always seem to come after everything else?””

“Tiana—”

“No. You don't get to use my name, my credit, or my patience to clean up your mistakes. If that shop owner contacts me, I'll tell him the truth.””

“You wouldn't do that.””

“I absolutely would.””

“You're trying to ruin me over some rims?””

Tiana let out a disbelieving laugh.

“You ruined your own agreement when you made one using my name.””

She ended the call.

For several seconds, neither woman spoke.

Then Denise came back to the table.

“You did the right thing.””

Tiana shook her head.

“I don't know what I'm supposed to do now.””

“First, we get the facts. Then we make sure nobody can put this on you.””

Her mother opened a drawer and took out a notebook.

“What's the shop called?””

Tiana gave her the name.

Denise wrote it down, then pushed the notebook toward her.

“Call them. Ask for a copy of anything with your name on it. Don't argue.

Don't threaten. Just get the records.””

Tiana nodded.

She called the shop.

A man answered after two rings.

“Good morning, Carter Custom Wheels.””

“My name is Tiana Brooks. I understand Jaylen Brooks gave you my information when he purchased a set of rims. I need to speak to the owner about that.””

“This is Carter.””

His voice was brisk and businesslike.

“What can I do for you?””

“I've been told that my name was used as a guarantee for Jaylen's remaining balance. I never authorized that.””

A pause followed.

“Mr. Brooks told me you two had agreed to help cover the payment if he couldn't.””

“He was wrong.””

“Ma'am, I have his paperwork right here.””

“Does it contain my signature?””

Another pause.

“I'd have to check.””

“Please do.””

Paper rustled on the other end.

Tiana heard a drawer open.

Then Carter said, “There's a name and phone number listed under secondary contact. I don't see a signature from you.””

“Is there a document showing that I agreed to pay?””

“Not one signed by you.””

“Then please send me a copy of every document that contains my name.””

“I'm not sure I can release all of that without checking our policy.””

“I am not asking you to share Jaylen's private banking information. I'm asking for the record in which my information was used.””

Carter sighed.

“Fine. I'll check with my office manager and get back to you.””

“Thank you.””

Tiana ended the call.

Her mother nodded approvingly.

“Good. Keep everything in writing from now on.””

Tiana picked up the school list.

The forty-eight-dollar shoes were circled in blue ink.

She ran her thumb over the circle and felt a fresh wave of exhaustion.

She had planned to spend Sunday taking Amara to the park. They were supposed to make homemade pizza, finish a school project, and choose a book to read together before bedtime.

Instead, she was investigating a debt she had never agreed to pay.

And she still needed to buy the shoes.

Her phone rang again.

This time, it was Jaylen's mother, Patricia.

Tiana answered.

“Hello?””

“Tiana, baby, what's going on?””

Patricia sounded worried.

“Jaylen called me. He said you were accusing him of doing something dishonest with the money I sent for Amara.””

Tiana closed her eyes.

“He told you that?””

“He said there's been a misunderstanding.””

Tiana looked at the transfer receipt.

“Patricia, did Jaylen tell you he paid the school?””

“Yes. He told me he had everything handled.””

“The school says no payment was made.””

Patricia fell silent.

“And he used the money you sent for Amara on something else,” Tiana continued.

“He admitted it to Malik.””

“What did he spend it on?””

Tiana hesitated.

Then she said, “The rims on his car.””

A sharp breath came through the phone.

“No.””

“I'm sorry.””

“No, baby. I gave him that money because he told me Amara needed help. He promised me he would use it for her.””

“I know.””

Patricia's voice broke.

“I asked him twice if the school was taken care of. Twice, Tiana.””

Tiana stared at the list.

“I don't know what else to say.””

“You don't have to say anything. This isn't your fault.””

For the first time that morning, Tiana felt someone else carrying part of the weight.

Patricia took a shaky breath.

“I'm going to call him.””

“Please don't let him turn this into an argument about me.””

“I won't.””

“And Patricia?””

“Yes, baby?””

“Amara still needs her shoes.””

“I know.””

Patricia paused.

“I'm going to make sure she gets them.””

Tiana thanked her and ended the call.

She was still sitting at the table when an email arrived from Carter Custom Wheels.

The subject line read:

*Secondary Contact Information — Jaylen Brooks*

Tiana opened the attachment.

The first page contained the purchase amount, the deposit, and the remaining balance.

The second page listed her name, address, and phone number.

Beside her information was a typed statement:

Secondary guarantor agrees to assume outstanding balance in the event of default.

At the bottom, beneath the statement, was a signature.

It wasn't hers.

It was a crude imitation of her name.

Tiana stared at it until the letters blurred.

Her mother pulled her chair closer.

“Is that your signature?””

Tiana shook her head.

“No.””

She enlarged the document.

The signature was clumsy, but the name was unmistakable.

Someone had signed Tiana Brooks.

Someone had done it without her permission.

And the shop had accepted it.

Her phone vibrated again.

A message from Jaylen appeared.

Don't do anything stupid. We can fix this between us.

Tiana looked at the forged signature, then at the school expense list beside it.

For the first time, she wasn't wondering how to convince Jaylen to help his daughter.

She was wondering how far he had gone to avoid doing it.

Then another email arrived.

This one came from the shop owner.

Ms. Brooks, please call me as soon as possible. I reviewed the original paperwork, and there's an additional issue I believe you need to know about.

Tiana's fingers went cold.

She opened the message.