Chapter 8: The Night Isaiah Asked to Leave
Daniel didn't sleep that night.
He spent hours staring at the ceiling of his hotel room, replaying every conversation he had ever had with his wife.
Every time he had asked about Isaiah, she had said the same thing.
"He's fine.""
"He has everything.""
"Don't worry about him.""
He had believed her.
Now he couldn't stop thinking about the drawing.
The little boy standing behind everyone else.
The broken backpack.
The empty lunchbox.
And the question that had haunted him since the phone call.
Did I do something bad?
At 5:30 the next morning, Daniel packed his suitcase.
His flight was scheduled to leave at seven.
He called Walter.
"How are the children?""
"Sleeping.""
"Is Isaiah okay?""
Walter paused.
"He's been asking whether you're really coming.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Tell him I'm on my way.""
Walter lowered his voice.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"Isaiah asked if he could sleep in my room last night.""
Daniel frowned.
"Why?""
"He said he didn't want to be alone.""
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed.
"What happened?""
Walter took a breath.
"After you went offline, Tasha tried to talk to him. He started crying. He asked her whether Aunt Denise was going to take him away.""
Daniel's hands tightened around the phone.
"What did Tasha say?""
"She told him nobody was taking him anywhere.""
"And did he believe her?""
"No.""
Daniel stared at the wall.
"Thank you for staying with him.""
"He's my grandson, son. You don't need to thank me.""
After the call, Daniel boarded his flight.
Meanwhile, at Walter's house, Isaiah woke to the smell of pancakes.
He walked into the kitchen wearing his yellow polo and a pair of blue pajama trousers.
Walter was standing near the stove.
"Good morning, young man.""
"Good morning, Grandpa.""
"Did you sleep well?""
Isaiah nodded.
"Can I have pancakes?""
Walter laughed.
"That's exactly why I made them.""
He placed a plate on the table.
Jordan and Ava were already eating.
Ava pointed toward the chair beside her.
"Sit here.""
Isaiah climbed up.
For a few minutes, the children talked about school.
Jordan described her new pink backpack.
Ava explained how she planned to decorate her pencil case.
Then Isaiah quietly asked:
"Can I bring my new backpack today?""
Walter smiled.
"We haven't bought it yet.""
"Oh.""
"But we will.""
Isaiah looked down.
"Can we get it before Dad comes?""
"Why?""
"So I can show him.""
Walter placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That's a good idea.""
The doorbell rang.
Tasha entered the kitchen.
She had spent the night at home, and she looked exhausted.
Her royal-blue suit was gone. She wore a simple sweater and black trousers.
"Good morning.""
The children answered quietly.
Walter turned off the stove.
"You're early.""
"I wanted to see the kids.""
Tasha looked at Isaiah.
"Can I talk to you?""
Isaiah stopped eating.
Walter watched him carefully.
"Only if he wants to.""
Tasha nodded.
"Of course.""
She crouched beside his chair.
"Isaiah, I want to apologize for yesterday.""
He looked at her.
"I heard you.""
"I know I hurt you.""
Isaiah picked at the edge of his napkin.
"Are you still sending me to Aunt Denise?""
Tasha's eyes filled.
"No.""
"Promise?""
She swallowed.
"Promise.""
"Can I stay at my school?""
"Yes.""
"And can Dad come?""
Tasha nodded.
"He's coming today.""
Isaiah's shoulders relaxed.
Then he asked something that Tasha clearly hadn't expected.
"Mommy, can I tell Dad everything?""
She looked stunned.
"Of course.""
"Even about the lunch money?""
Tasha lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Even about Marcus?""
Her lips trembled.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Isaiah nodded.
Then he returned to his pancakes.
Walter watched the exchange.
He wanted to believe Tasha was beginning to understand.
But he also knew apologies were easy.
Trust would take much longer.
At 10:15, Daniel arrived.
The moment he stepped through the door, Isaiah ran toward him.
"Dad!""
Daniel dropped his suitcase.
He caught his son in both arms.
"There's my boy.""
Isaiah buried his face against his father's shoulder.
Daniel held him tightly.
"I'm sorry, buddy.""
Isaiah looked up.
"Why?""
"Because I should have known you needed help.""
"But you sent money.""
"I did. But I should have made sure you received what you needed.""
Isaiah wrapped his arms around his father's neck.
"I missed you.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I missed you too.""
Jordan and Ava joined the hug.
For a moment, the living room felt like a family again.
Then Daniel noticed the camouflage backpack beside the sofa.
He picked it up.
The broken zipper opened immediately.
He looked inside.
Two old notebooks.
One pencil.
A crumpled school list.
His face tightened.
"Is this really everything?""
Isaiah nodded.
Daniel sat down and placed the backpack beside him.
"Today we're going shopping.""
Isaiah smiled.
"Can I get the football one?""
Daniel laughed.
"Absolutely.""
Walter picked up his keys.
"I'll drive.""
Tasha stood near the kitchen doorway.
"Daniel, can we talk first?""
He looked at her.
"About what?""
"Everything.""
Daniel nodded.
"After we get Isaiah what he needs.""
Tasha looked hurt.
But she didn't argue.
They drove to a large department store.
Isaiah walked between Daniel and Walter, holding both their hands.
He stopped in front of the backpack section.
Rows of colorful bags hung on the shelves.
Red ones.
Black ones.
Blue ones.
Bags decorated with superheroes and cartoon animals.
Then he saw it.
A navy-blue backpack with a bright football emblem on the front.
His eyes widened.
"Dad!""
Daniel followed his gaze.
"That's the one?""
Isaiah nodded enthusiastically.
Daniel lifted it from the shelf.
"Let's check the straps.""
Walter examined the zipper.
"Strong enough.""
Isaiah ran his hand over the fabric.
"Can I have it?""
Daniel smiled.
"It's yours.""
The boy hugged the backpack.
Then he looked at the neighboring shelf.
There were two smaller bags.
One pink.
One purple.
"Can we get these for Jordan and Ava?""
Daniel laughed.
"They already have backpacks, buddy.""
"But what if they want different ones?""
Walter chuckled.
"You're a generous little fellow.""
Daniel placed the blue backpack in the cart.
They bought notebooks, pencils, markers, a lunchbox, a water bottle, and new football shoes.
Isaiah insisted on choosing everything himself.
At the checkout, he carefully placed each item on the counter.
When the cashier asked whether he wanted a bag, Isaiah proudly held up his new backpack.
"No, thank you. I have one now.""
Daniel smiled.
On the way home, Isaiah fell asleep in the back seat.
His new backpack rested beside him.
Daniel looked at Walter.
"Thank you.""
Walter kept his eyes on the road.
"You don't have to thank me.""
"I should have been here.""
Walter nodded.
"Yes. You should have.""
Daniel looked out the window.
"I thought everything was okay.""
"Sometimes people become very good at hiding problems.""
Daniel looked down at his hands.
"I won't make that mistake again.""
When they arrived, Tasha was waiting in the living room.
A woman sat beside her.
Denise.
She was wearing a beige coat and holding a leather handbag.
Daniel stopped.
"What is she doing here?""
Denise stood.
"Daniel, we need to clear up a misunderstanding.""
Daniel placed the shopping bags on the floor.
"There is no misunderstanding. You forged my signature.""
Denise rolled her eyes.
"I was helping my sister.""
"You tried to remove my son from his school.""
"Because the arrangement was already discussed!""
"With whom?""
Denise looked toward Tasha.
Tasha remained silent.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Did you tell my wife that you would pay her two thousand dollars for Isaiah's school place?""
Denise folded her arms.
"I offered to help.""
"Did you promise to pay?""
"Yes.""
"Did you pay?""
"No, because everything became complicated.""
Walter interrupted.
"You promised to pay her after Mason was enrolled.""
Denise sighed.
"Yes.""
Daniel stared at her.
"And did you know she was using the money I sent for Isaiah to pay a private debt?""
Denise hesitated.
"I knew she had financial problems.""
"Did you know Marcus was threatening her?""
Denise's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked uncomfortable.
Tasha turned toward her sister.
"You told me Marcus wouldn't come to the house!""
Denise shook her head.
"I never said that.""
"You said he wouldn't bother me if I kept making payments!""
"That's different.""
Daniel looked between them.
"How much do you owe Marcus?""
Tasha whispered, "Seven thousand.""
Daniel stared.
"You owe seven thousand after paying four thousand?""
She nodded.
Denise suddenly spoke.
"Actually, I know why the amount is still so high.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked at Tasha.
Then she said:
"Because Tasha wasn't the only one borrowing money.""
Tasha stood abruptly.
"Denise, don't.""
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?""
Denise took a breath.
"It means some of that money was used to cover something else.""
Walter stepped forward.
"What something else?""
Denise looked at Daniel.
"Your wife wasn't just paying off her own debt.""
She paused.
"She was paying off a debt she took out in your name.""
Daniel went completely still.
"What?""
Denise opened her handbag.
She pulled out a folded document.
Then she placed it on the coffee table.
Daniel picked it up.
His name was printed at the top.
Below it was a loan agreement.
The amount was twelve thousand dollars.
The date was eight months earlier.
Daniel stared at the signature.
It looked like his.
But he knew he hadn't signed it.
He slowly looked at Tasha.
"Did you take out a loan using my name?""
Tasha began crying.
Denise stepped back.
And then Daniel noticed something even more disturbing.
The loan document listed the address of the house.
But the person who had guaranteed the loan wasn't Tasha.
It was Walter.
Daniel turned toward his father.
"Dad...""
Walter took the document.
His eyes moved across the page.
May you like
Then his face drained of color.
Because the signature beneath the guarantee looked exactly like his own.
