Chapter 2: The Envelope Nobody Was Supposed to Find
"Nobody touch that envelope.""
Tasha's voice cracked through the living room.
Walter looked at her.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then he picked it up.
"Why are you so worried about this?""
"It's private.""
"Then why does it have Isaiah's name on it?""
Tasha reached for it.
Walter moved his hand away.
On the phone, Daniel was becoming increasingly impatient.
"Dad, put me on speaker properly. I want to hear what's happening.""
"You already are, son.""
"Then tell me what you're holding.""
Walter turned the envelope around.
"Something with your son's name on it.""
There was a long pause.
"Open it.""
Tasha shook her head.
"Walter, this is a family matter.""
Walter gave her a hard look.
"He's family too.""
Isaiah sat very still.
He recognized the envelope.
He had seen it before.
Two weeks earlier, Tasha had placed it inside the kitchen drawer after receiving a delivery. She had told him not to touch anything inside.
At the time, he hadn't understood why.
Now he was beginning to wonder.
Walter carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded piece of paper and a small photograph.
He unfolded the paper first.
It was a handwritten note.
For Isaiah's school expenses. Please make sure he gets what he needs this year. I don't want him feeling left out again.
Daniel's signature appeared at the bottom.
Walter read it twice.
Then he looked at Tasha.
"Daniel wrote this?""
Tasha's expression hardened.
"He sends messages like that all the time.""
"Then why did you hide this?""
"I didn't hide anything.""
Walter lifted the photograph.
It showed Isaiah standing beside Daniel in front of a school building.
The little boy was holding a backpack.
Not the camouflage one.
A different backpack.
A red backpack with a football logo.
Isaiah suddenly stood up.
"Grandpa?""
Walter turned.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"That's the bag Dad showed me.""
Tasha snapped her fingers.
"Isaiah, sit down.""
But Walter held up one hand.
"Let him speak.""
Isaiah swallowed.
"Dad called me last month. He said he was going to get me a new one because my old bag was broken.""
Daniel's voice came through the phone.
"That's right, buddy. I remember that conversation.""
Isaiah looked at the speaker.
"Did you forget?""
The question landed heavily.
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
"No, son. I didn't forget.""
"Then why didn't I get it?""
Daniel exhaled.
"That's what I'm trying to understand.""
Tasha stepped between Isaiah and the table.
"Enough. You're all making a huge deal out of nothing.""
Walter looked at the shopping bags.
"Five hundred dollars is not nothing.""
"The girls needed things too!""
"And nobody said they didn't.""
"They're growing girls. They need new clothes, new supplies, proper backpacks. I can't send them to school looking like they have nothing.""
Walter pointed toward Isaiah.
"And what about him? Does he not go to school?""
Tasha shook her head.
"His things are still fine.""
Walter lifted the broken backpack.
The loose strap dangled from his hand.
"Fine?""
He turned it toward her.
"Would you send Jordan to school with this?""
Tasha didn't answer.
"Would you send Ava?""
Still nothing.
Walter gently put the backpack back beside Isaiah.
"Then why is it acceptable for him?""
Jordan shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.
"Mom?""
Tasha turned sharply.
"What?""
Jordan looked at Isaiah.
"Can he have some of my pencils?""
Tasha's expression changed instantly.
"Jordan, don't get involved.""
"But I have lots.""
"I said don't get involved.""
Ava quietly removed a packet of colorful pens from her pencil case.
"Isaiah can have these.""
Tasha stood up.
"Put those back.""
Ava froze.
"But Mom—"
"Now.""
Ava slowly returned the pens.
Isaiah looked down.
He wished his sisters hadn't tried.
Not because he didn't want the pens.
But because he knew what happened when someone tried to give him something.
Later, when nobody was watching, Tasha always found a way to take it back.
Walter noticed the exchange.
His face grew darker.
"Dad?"" Daniel called through the phone.
"I want to speak to Tasha.""
Walter stepped aside.
Tasha picked up the phone.
"What?""
Daniel's voice was controlled.
"Tasha, I transferred five hundred dollars into your account on Monday.""
"I know.""
"That money was for Isaiah.""
"The girls needed things too.""
"I didn't ask you about the girls. I asked about my son.""
"They live in this house, Daniel. They have expenses.""
"And Isaiah is your child too.""
Tasha laughed bitterly.
"Easy for you to say. You're never here.""
The room fell silent.
Daniel took a breath.
"I work out of state because I have to. I send money every month. I call him every night when I can.""
"Sending money doesn't raise children.""
"No. But stealing the money I send for one child and spending it on other things doesn't raise him either.""
Tasha's cheeks turned red.
"Don't accuse me of stealing.""
"Then show me the purchase records.""
She looked away.
Daniel continued.
"I want the bank statement. I want the receipt. And I want to know why my son still doesn't have a backpack.""
Tasha lowered the phone.
"You're embarrassing me in front of everyone.""
Daniel's voice softened slightly.
"I'm not the one who embarrassed you.""
Walter took the phone.
"Son, there's something else.""
"What?""
"I found this envelope. It contains your note and a picture of Isaiah with that red backpack.""
"Yes. I sent him that picture.""
"Did you send anything else?""
Daniel went quiet.
Then he answered.
"I sent another payment.""
Walter frowned.
"What payment?""
"Three hundred dollars. Separately. Last Friday.""
Tasha's head snapped up.
Walter looked directly at her.
"Three hundred dollars?""
Daniel continued.
"I spoke to Isaiah about joining the school football club. He wanted to try out, so I sent extra money for his uniform and shoes.""
Isaiah's eyes widened.
"Grandpa...""
Walter crouched beside him.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Dad said I could play football?""
Daniel heard him.
"Of course, buddy. I told you I'd help.""
Isaiah's voice trembled.
"I thought you changed your mind.""
Daniel sounded devastated.
"Why would you think that?""
Isaiah glanced at Tasha.
Then he looked down.
"Mom said you couldn't afford it anymore.""
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Walter slowly stood.
"Tasha, did you receive another three hundred dollars?""
She rubbed her forehead.
"I don't remember.""
Daniel's voice rose.
"You don't remember receiving three hundred dollars?""
"I have a lot of bills to manage!""
"Then open your banking app.""
"Stop ordering me around!""
Walter placed the receipt beside the phone.
"Nobody is ordering you around. We're asking where the money went.""
Tasha walked toward the kitchen.
"I need a minute.""
Walter watched her leave.
Daniel spoke quietly.
"Dad, don't let her hang up.""
"I won't.""
"Can you check whether Isaiah has any of his school supplies?""
Walter turned toward the boy.
"Let's see, young man.""
Isaiah slowly opened the camouflage backpack.
Inside were two old notebooks, one broken pencil, and a small plastic ruler.
Walter pulled out the notebooks.
The first had several pages missing.
The second had a torn cover.
He opened the pencil case.
Empty.
Then he found something folded between the pages.
A school supply list.
It was dated three weeks earlier.
Most of the items were circled in blue ink.
At the bottom, someone had written:
Please bring all supplies on the first day.
Walter looked at the date.
"Isaiah, when did your teacher give you this?""
"Last week.""
"And did you give it to your mother?""
The boy nodded.
"She said she'd take care of it.""
Walter looked toward the kitchen.
Tasha was standing near the counter, staring at her phone.
He noticed a shopping bag on the floor beside her.
A brand-new pair of designer shoes sat inside.
Then he noticed a second bag.
And a third.
He walked toward them.
Tasha quickly stepped in front.
"Those are mine.""
Walter stopped.
"Nobody said they weren't.""
"Then leave them alone.""
He looked at the bags.
"Did you buy these with the school money?""
Tasha's eyes flashed.
"You have no right to question my purchases.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Actually, I do. That money came from me.""
Tasha turned toward the phone.
"You know what? I'm done with this conversation.""
She reached for the speaker.
Walter moved it out of reach.
"Not yet.""
Tasha stared at him.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely frightened.
Not because of the questions.
But because she was beginning to realize that the family was no longer willing to accept her answers.
Then Walter's phone vibrated.
A notification appeared on the screen.
It was a message from an unfamiliar number.
He opened it.
There was a photograph attached.
It showed Tasha standing inside a children's clothing store three days earlier.
Beside her was a woman Walter recognized immediately.
His daughter-in-law's sister.
Beneath the photograph was one sentence:
You should ask Tasha who she really bought those school supplies for.
Walter slowly looked up.
May you like
And when he read the sender's name, his face changed.
It was the name of Isaiah's teacher.
