Chapter 4: The Son I Thought I Knew
For three seconds, I couldn’t breathe.
The bank employee’s words repeated in my mind like an alarm I couldn’t shut off.
Someone attempted to transfer the remaining funds.
And that someone was my son.
Malcolm.
The same man who had called me because he was worried about Isaiah.
The same man who told me the school money wasn’t the only thing missing.
The same man who sounded devastated when he heard Emily’s savings account had been emptied.
I gripped the phone tighter.
“I’m sorry,” I said slowly.
“Can you repeat that?””
The woman on the other end lowered her voice.
“Mrs. Thomas, our records show an attempted transfer request connected to Malcolm Thomas’s account information.””
My eyes stayed locked on Tasha.
She was standing across the kitchen, frozen.
“What was the amount?”” I asked.
There was a pause.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.””
My heart dropped.
Twenty-five thousand.
Not a small mistake.
Not a misunderstanding.
A number large enough to destroy whatever trust was left.
“Was the transfer completed?”” I whispered.
“No. It was flagged because of the account restrictions.””
I closed my eyes.
Emily’s document.
The one protecting Isaiah.
The one that made sure nobody could simply take what belonged to him.
“Thank you,” I said.
After I hung up, the kitchen felt unbearably quiet.
Tasha was the first person to speak.
“You heard what she said.””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
Her expression changed.
For a moment, I thought she looked relieved.
Like she wasn’t the only person carrying a secret anymore.
“Then you know.””
“Know what?””
“That Malcolm is not innocent.””
I stared at her.
“You’re saying my son tried to take Isaiah’s money?””
She crossed her arms.
“I’m saying you should ask him before you blame me for everything.””
That sentence bothered me.
Not because she was defending herself.
Because she sounded prepared.
Like she had been waiting for this moment.
I picked up my purse.
“I’m going to talk to Malcolm.””
“Good.””
I stopped at the door.
“Tasha.””
She looked up.
“Whatever happens next, Isaiah deserves the truth.””
Her face softened slightly.
Then she said something I never expected.
“I know.””
I left without another word.
Malcolm arrived at my house two hours later.
He looked exhausted.
His hair was messy.
His shirt was wrinkled.
The confident man who always tried to sound like he had everything under control looked like someone who had been carrying a secret too heavy for too long.
“Mom.””
I didn’t invite him to sit.
“Did you try to transfer twenty-five thousand dollars from Isaiah’s account?””
His face changed instantly.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Fear.
That was my answer before he even spoke.
“Who told you?””
I felt something inside me break.
Not because he knew.
Because he didn’t deny it.
“Does it matter?””
He looked away.
“Mom, it’s complicated.””
“No.””
My voice was sharper than I intended.
“It’s not complicated.””
I pointed toward the hallway where Isaiah’s school bag sat on a chair.
“My grandson has a broken backpack.””
Malcolm swallowed.
“Mom…”
“He thought his father sent money for school supplies.””
“I did send money.””
“Then why didn’t he have anything?””
He closed his eyes.
“I didn’t know.””
I stepped closer.
“You didn’t know?””
“I thought Tasha bought everything.””
“You thought?””
He rubbed his face.
“Mom, I’ve been trying to fix this.””
“By taking his inheritance?””
He looked up quickly.
“That wasn’t what I was doing.””
“Then explain it.””
The silence stretched.
Finally, he sat down.
“I found out six months ago.””
“About the money?””
He nodded.
“About Tasha using it.””
I froze.
“Six months?””
“Yes.””
My voice became quiet.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“Suspected?””
He looked ashamed.
“She told me she borrowed some of it because we were behind on bills.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I confronted her.””
“And?””
“She promised she would replace it.””
I stared at him.
“You believed her.””
“I wanted to.””
That answer hurt.
Because I understood it.
Sometimes we don’t believe people because they deserve trust.
Sometimes we believe them because the truth is too painful.
“What happened yesterday?”” I asked.
Malcolm looked down.
“I found out she emptied another account.””
“Isaiah’s account?””
“Yes.””
“And you tried to transfer money?””
He nodded.
“I thought I could move the remaining money somewhere safe.””
“Without permission?””
“I was trying to protect him.””
I shook my head.
“By doing the same thing she did?””
His face fell.
“I know how it looks.””
“No, Malcolm.””
I stepped closer.
“You don’t understand how it looks.””
His eyes filled.
“I made mistakes.””
I looked at my son.
The little boy who used to hold my hand while walking to school.
The teenager who cried when his dog died.
The father who promised Emily he would protect their child.
“What else aren’t you telling me?””
He didn’t answer.
That silence was louder than anything.
“Malcolm.””
He finally whispered:
“There’s something about Emily’s death that I never told you.””
The room went cold.
“What does that mean?””
He looked toward the window.
“Before she died, she found out something.””
“What?””
“She found out money was missing.””
My heart stopped.
“From the account?””
He nodded.
“She was already suspicious of Tasha.””
I sat down slowly.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Emily made me promise not to destroy the family before I knew the truth.””
I stared at him.
“Malcolm, your wife left your son’s future in danger.””
“I know.””
“No. I don’t think you do.””
He looked broken.
“She also left me a letter.””
I looked up.
“What letter?””
“The night she died.””
My breath caught.
“Where is it?””
He reached into his jacket.
Then placed a folded piece of paper on the table.
“I never had the courage to open it.””
I looked at the envelope.
Emily’s handwriting.
My fingers trembled.
“What does it say?””
Malcolm looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
“Why?””
May you like
His voice cracked.
“Because I was afraid she knew something about me too.””