Chapter 3: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
Diane enlarged the photograph with two fingers.
The document was blurry, but she could read the heading.
*TEMPORARY CHILDCARE AUTHORIZATION AND EMERGENCY CONTACT FORM*
Her full name appeared beneath the heading.
Her home address was correct.
Her phone number was correct.
And at the bottom, beside a line marked Authorized Caregiver, somebody had written Diane Brooks in a flowing signature that looked remarkably like her own.
Diane stared at it until the letters seemed to blur.
Then she called the unfamiliar number.
Marcus answered immediately.
“Ms. Diane?””
“Yes. Who gave you this number?””
“Tasha.””
“Why are you sending me a document with my name on it?””
“Because Tasha told me you'd signed it.””
“I haven't signed anything.””
A pause followed.
Then Marcus said, “That's what I was afraid of.””
Diane walked back toward the community center, though she had no intention of entering it yet.
“What exactly did Tasha tell you?””
“That you agreed to watch the children while we were away. She said you had already arranged your weekend around it.””
Diane let out a slow breath.
“Did you speak to me?””
“No, ma'am.””
“Did you receive a text from me?””
“No.””
“Then why did you believe her?””
Marcus didn't become defensive. That surprised her.
He answered quietly.
“Because she showed me the document.””
Diane glanced at the photograph again.
“Where did she get it?””
“I don't know. She said it was something your family used when you watched the kids.””
“That is a lie.””
“I understand that now.””
Diane studied his tone.
He sounded embarrassed, not angry.
That was something, at least.
“Where is Tasha?”” she asked.
“At the airport.””
“Are the children with her?””
“Yes. All three.””
“Good.””
Marcus hesitated.
“Ms. Diane, can I ask you something?””
“You can ask.””
“Has Tasha ever told you about a man named Calvin?””
Diane's expression changed.
Calvin was the father of Tasha's youngest child, Micah.
She had met him twice. Both times, he had been polite but distant, the kind of man who answered questions with as few words as possible.
“Why are you asking about Calvin?””
“Because Tasha told me he was out of the picture.””
Diane frowned.
“He lives in Georgia.””
“That's not what she told me.””
“What did she tell you?””
Marcus exhaled.
“She said Calvin had signed away his parental rights and didn't want anything to do with the baby.””
Diane gripped her phone.
“That is not true.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I spoke to Calvin last month. He asked whether Micah was still taking the formula his pediatrician recommended. He wanted to buy more.””
Marcus was silent.
Then he said, “She told me he hadn't seen the baby in six months.””
Diane closed her eyes.
The lies were multiplying faster than she could count them.
“Marcus, listen to me. I don't know what Tasha told you about me, but I have not agreed to take the children. I did not sign that document. And I am not responsible for the arrangements she made with you.””
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
“Yes, ma'am.””
“Because I'm not going to let somebody else's emergency become my permanent responsibility just because they wrote my name on a piece of paper.””
“I wouldn't expect you to.””
Diane heard airport announcements in the background.
Then Marcus lowered his voice.
“I think you should know something else. Tasha told me the children were going to stay with you because she was afraid their fathers would interfere with the trip.””
Diane stopped walking.
“Interfere how?””
“She said they might try to stop her from taking the kids out of state.””
“Is she taking the children on the trip?””
“No. She told me they were staying with you.””
Diane looked at the photograph.
The unauthorized signature.
The invented agreement.
The lie about Calvin.
Suddenly, the situation felt bigger than a woman who had irresponsibly booked a vacation.
“Marcus,” she said, “don't let her board that plane until you understand exactly what she has done.””
“I wasn't planning to.””
“Good.””
“I've already told her I'm not going anywhere until we talk.””
Diane's shoulders loosened slightly.
“Then talk to her. But don't make promises on my behalf.””
“I won't.””
After the call ended, Diane remained beside her car.
The community center door opened, and a woman in a bright yellow dress stepped outside.
It was Lorraine, one of Diane's closest friends.
“There you are!”” Lorraine called.
“We thought you got lost.””
Diane slipped her phone into her handbag.
“I wish.””
Lorraine took one look at her face.
“What happened?””
“My niece happened.””
Lorraine groaned.
“Again?””
Diane gave her a tired smile.
“Apparently, this time she's forged my signature.””
Lorraine's mouth fell open.
“I'm sorry. She did what?””
Diane looked toward the parking lot.
“I need to make a few calls.””
“Diane, we have bingo.””
“I know.””
“And you promised to bring the peach cobbler.””
“It's in the trunk.””
Lorraine narrowed her eyes.
“Then you're not leaving until I get my cobbler.””
Despite everything, Diane laughed.
“Woman, somebody could be committing a felony, and you're worried about dessert?””
“Somebody is always committing something in your family. That doesn't mean I should go hungry.””
For the first time that afternoon, Diane felt her chest loosen.
She opened the trunk, handed Lorraine the covered dish, and took a breath.
“Save me a seat.””
“Are you coming in?””
“After I make two calls.””
Lorraine nodded, then paused.
“And Diane?””
“What?””
“If that child has really forged your signature, don't let anybody talk you into calling it a misunderstanding.””
Diane watched her friend disappear through the glass doors.
Then she opened her contacts and called Calvin.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Hey, Miss Diane.””
“Calvin, I need to ask you something about Micah.””
His tone changed immediately.
“Is the baby okay?””
“Yes. He's okay. They're all okay as far as I know.
But Tasha has told people you've signed away your parental rights. Is that true?””
“What?””
“Did you sign anything giving up your rights?””
“No, ma'am. Absolutely not.””
“Did you know she's planning to leave town?””
A long silence followed.
Then Calvin said, “She told me she was taking the kids to her cousin's house for a few days.””
Diane's stomach tightened.
“Which cousin?””
“She didn't say. I texted her this morning asking for the address, but she never answered.””
Diane looked toward the sky.
Clouds were beginning to gather over the neighborhood.
“Calvin, the children are with her right now. She's at the airport with a suitcase, and she was planning to leave them at my house without my permission.””
“She's what?””
“I'm handling it. I need to know whether you're available to help with Micah if she can't make other arrangements.””
“Of course I am.””
“Can you come to her location?””
“Send me the address.””
Diane hesitated.
“I don't want you showing up to argue with her. The children don't need that.””
“I won't argue. I just want to make sure my son is safe.””
“Good. I'll send you the information I have.””
After ending the call, Diane sent Calvin the airport terminal information Marcus had provided.
Then she called Tasha.
Her niece answered almost immediately.
“Auntie, please tell me you've changed your mind.””
“No.””
Tasha groaned.
“Then why are you calling?””
“Because Marcus sent me a document with my name on it.””
Silence.
Diane continued.
“I didn't sign that document, Tasha.””
A car door slammed somewhere in the background.
“What document?””
“The childcare authorization.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Your signature is not the only one that matters. My name is on that form.””
Tasha's voice sharpened.
“It was just paperwork!””
“Paperwork that claims I agreed to take your children.””
“You were supposed to take them anyway!””
“No, I wasn't.””
“Everybody knows you always watch them!””
“Not without being asked.””
Tasha lowered her voice.
“Aunt Diane, don't make this bigger than it is.””
“You made it bigger when you used my name.””
“I was trying to get everything organized!””
“Then why didn't you ask me?””
“Because you always say no when I ask you for things!””
Diane almost laughed.
There it was.
The truth, finally delivered without decoration.
Tasha wasn't afraid of asking.
She was afraid of hearing an answer she didn't like.
“You know what, Auntie?”” Tasha continued.
“I'm tired of being judged by this family. Every time I try to do something for myself, somebody has an opinion.””
“Going on vacation is not the problem.””
“Then what is?””
“Leaving your children with somebody who hasn't agreed to take them. Telling your boyfriend that I signed a form I never saw. Telling him their fathers have abandoned them when that isn't true.””
Tasha went quiet.
Diane heard an announcement over the airport speakers.
Then her niece said, “Who have you been talking to?””
“That doesn't matter.””
“It matters to me!””
“You should have thought about that before you involved other people in your lies.””
Tasha's breathing grew faster.
“You don't understand what I'm dealing with.””
“Then explain it.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because you'll tell everybody!””
Diane looked toward the community center.
A woman inside waved at her through the window, holding up a bingo card.
Diane almost smiled.
“Tasha, I am sixty-two years old. I have a mortgage, a car, friends, church responsibilities, and a life. I am not going to spend the rest of my years chasing down every secret you create.””
“I never asked you to do that!””
“No. You just expect me to clean up after you.””
Tasha began crying again.
This time, Diane didn't soften her voice.
“Are you still planning to board that plane?””
“I don't know.””
“Good. Then you have a decision to make.””
Diane ended the call.
For several seconds, she stood motionless in the parking lot.
Then she went inside.
The community center smelled of coffee, fried chicken, and sweet perfume. Folding chairs scraped across the floor. Women laughed over their cards.
Lorraine had saved her seat near the middle of the room.
A paper plate sat beside Diane's place, holding a generous slice of peach cobbler.
“You look like you could use sugar,” Lorraine said.
“I could use a new family.””
“Those cost too much. Eat your cobbler.””
Diane sat down.
For twenty minutes, she tried to concentrate on bingo.
She listened for the numbers. She marked her card. She even won a small gift basket filled with scented candles and hand lotion.
Then her phone vibrated.
A text from Marcus.
*MARCUS: We found out who created the document.*
Diane's fingers went still.
Another message arrived.
*MARCUS: It wasn't Tasha.*
Diane read the words twice.
Then her phone rang.
Marcus's name appeared on the screen.
She answered.
“Who made it?””
His voice sounded strained.
“Someone who has access to your family information.””
“Marcus, stop talking around it.””
He took a breath.
“Ms. Diane, the document was sent to Tasha from an email address belonging to your older sister.””
Diane stared at the screen.
“Patricia?””
“That's the name attached to the email.””
Diane stood so quickly that her chair scraped backward.
Across the table, Lorraine looked up.
“What's wrong?””
Diane didn't answer.
Because Patricia had been the one who warned her about Tasha.
Patricia had shown her the messages.
Patricia had told her about the financial guarantee.
And now Marcus was telling her that a document bearing Diane's forged signature had come from Patricia's email account.
Diane walked out into the hallway.
“Marcus,” she whispered, “are you absolutely certain?””
“Yes, ma'am. I have the email. I can forward it to you.””
Diane pressed her free hand against the cool wall.
“Why would my sister send Tasha something like that?””
“I don't know. But there's something else in the email chain.””
“What?””
Marcus hesitated.
Then he said, “Tasha wasn't asking Patricia how to leave the children with you.””
Diane's pulse quickened.
“What was she asking?””
May you like
Marcus's answer came quietly.
“She was asking how to make sure you couldn't refuse.””