Chapter 5: What She Planned to Sign
Darius put the envelope on the table and backed away like it could burn him.
I didn't touch it.
“Where did you get this?””
“In Mom's closet.””
“Did she know you took it?””
“No.””
“What were you doing in her closet?””
“I was looking for my passport.””
I nodded slowly.
“Okay.””
He swallowed.
“Are you going to leave?””
The question was so quiet I almost missed it.
“Why would I leave?””
“Because of all this.””
He looked down at the envelope.
“My mom said you might.””
I stared at him.
“Darius.””
He looked up.
“Whatever happens between me and your mom, you are not losing me.””
His eyes filled.
“But what if she makes you?””
I shook my head.
“She can't.””
He wiped his cheek quickly.
“That's what she said before.””
“What did she say?””
“That if you knew what she was planning, you'd hate her.””
I looked at the envelope again.
Then I opened it.
Inside was a stack of documents.
The first page had my name.
My full legal name.
Marcus Elijah Hale.
Below it:
*MARITAL PROPERTY AND ASSET SEPARATION*
My stomach dropped.
I turned the page.
There was a list.
The house.
The joint savings account.
The investment account we'd opened after Darius made varsity.
The vehicle.
Then a section titled:
*Proposed Division of Assets.*
Beside the house was a note.
Primary residence to remain available for Darius.
I read it again.
Available for Darius.
Not me.
Not Jayden.
Darius.
I turned another page.
Then stopped.
There was a second note.
Client believes spouse will voluntarily transfer residence if presented as protection for minor child.
I stared at the sentence.
My ears started ringing.
Darius was watching me.
“What does it say?””
I closed the folder.
“Nothing you need to worry about.””
“But it's about the house.””
“Yes.””
“Does she get it?””
“I don't know.””
He looked frightened.
“Are you mad at me?””
I stood immediately.
“No.””
“But it's because of me.””
“No.””
“Then why is my name on everything?””
I crouched beside him.
“Listen to me.””
He nodded.
“You did not ask for any of this.””
He looked away.
“Mom said you were going to choose Jayden anyway.””
I felt something break inside me.
“She said that?””
Darius nodded.
“She said you were always going to choose your first family.””
I sat back on my heels.
“Darius.””
He whispered, “I don't want the house.””
“I know.””
“I don't want a vacation without Jayden.””
“I know.””
He wiped his nose on his sleeve.
“I just wanted everybody to stop fighting.””
I pulled him into a hug.
He resisted for half a second before collapsing against me.
“I don't want you to go either,” he whispered.
“I'll never punish you for something you didn't do.””
We stayed like that for a while.
Then footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Tasha.
Darius pulled away.
She entered the kitchen and froze when she saw the envelope on the table.
Her face changed instantly.
“You went through my room.””
“No,” I said.
“Darius found this.””
She stared at him.
“You took something from me?””
“I was looking for my passport.””
“You had no right.””
I stepped forward.
“Neither did you.””
She looked at me.
“What did you read?””
“Enough.””
She glanced at Darius.
“Go upstairs.””
He didn't move.
“Tasha,” I said, “he stays.””
“He doesn't need to hear this.””
“He already heard enough.””
She laughed bitterly.
“You think you're protecting everyone.””
“I am protecting my son.””
“Exactly.””
Her voice shook.
“That's all you've ever done.””
I looked at her.
“And what have you been doing?””
“Protecting mine.””
“You were preparing to take my house.””
“I was trying to make sure Darius had somewhere to live!””
“He lives here.””
“And what happens when you leave?””
“Leave?””
She looked down.
“You're already talking to an attorney.””
My eyes narrowed.
“So you've been planning for me to leave.””
“No.””
The answer came too fast.
I opened the folder.
“Then explain this.””
She stared at the document.
Tears filled her eyes.
For the first time, she looked less angry than tired.
“I knew this would happen.””
“What?””
“You'd make me choose.””
“I never asked you to choose.””
“You chose years ago.””
“I chose both boys.””
She shook her head.
“You don't understand.””
“Then tell me.””
She pressed both hands against the counter.
“When I married you, I thought Jayden would become part of our family.””
“He did.””
“No.””
Her eyes lifted to mine.
“You kept two families.””
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It does to me.””
She pointed toward the staircase.
“Every decision starts with Jayden.””
“That isn't true.””
“It is.””
“School?””
“Jayden.””
“Money?””
“Jayden.””
“Vacations?””
“Jayden.””
I looked at her.
“You canceled his ticket.””
“Because I wanted Darius to have one thing!””
“You could have asked for a trip.””
“You would've said no.””
“Yes.””
“Exactly!””
Her voice cracked.
“You would've chosen him.””
I took a step closer.
“Yes.””
She stared at me.
I didn't take it back.
“I will choose my son.””
Tasha wiped a tear away.
“Then what am I supposed to do?””
“Tell me the truth.””
“I have.””
“No.””
I held up the divorce documents.
“You haven't.””
She closed her eyes.
“Marcus…”
“Who is the lawyer?””
She stayed silent.
“Who helped you prepare the transfer?””
Nothing.
“Who were you meeting Monday?””
She finally looked at me.
“A bank representative.””
“For what?””
She didn't answer.
I stared at her.
“Were you going to refinance the house?””
Her silence was enough.
Darius looked between us.
“You were going to sell the house?””
“No,” Tasha said quickly.
“Then what were you going to do?””
She covered her face.
I took the documents and stood.
“I'm done guessing.””
I walked toward the garage.
“Where are you going?”” Tasha asked.
“To Calvin.””
“Marcus, don't.””
I stopped.
“Why?””
She looked terrified.
“Because if you show those papers to him, you won't be able to undo what happens next.””
I turned around.
“There should be nothing to undo if you've done nothing wrong.””
Her lips parted.
She looked at Darius.
Then at me.
And finally she said,
“The man I was meeting on Monday isn't from the bank.””
I waited.
“Who is he?””
Tasha's eyes filled with tears.
“He's your brother.””
I froze.
I hadn't seen my older brother Daniel in eleven years.
Not since the funeral.
Not since the argument that ended with him leaving the state and taking a secret with him.
I stared at my wife.
“What does Daniel have to do with my house?””
Tasha whispered four words.
May you like
“He owns the mortgage.””
And suddenly, the three plane tickets made sense in a way I wasn't ready to understand.