Chapter 8: The Truth About Evan
I thought I'd heard everything.
I hadn't.
Tasha sat across from me, fingers locked together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
Darius was still in the room.
He looked confused.
“You said Evan was going to help us,” he said.
Tasha closed her eyes.
“I thought he would.””
“You've lied to me?””
Darius's voice cracked.
Tasha looked at him.
“I was trying to fix things.””
“By lying?””
“I didn't know what else to do.””
I pushed the custody document away.
“Start talking.””
She looked at me.
“I met Evan again eight months ago.””
Darius stood.
“What?””
“He contacted me.””
“Why?””
“He said he wanted his son back.””
Darius went pale.
“I am not a thing.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you let him make decisions about me?””
Tasha's eyes filled.
“I didn't.””
“You bought the tickets.””
“Yes.””
“You moved money.””
“I was trying to leave safely.””
“With him?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“With Darius.””
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that like it makes sense.””
“It doesn't.””
She wiped her face.
“When Evan found out you had raised Darius for six years, he threatened to take you to court.””
I stared at her.
“He threatened you?””
“He said he had evidence that I'd withheld him from his son.””
“Did you?””
She said nothing.
That silence told me enough.
Darius stood frozen.
“You told me my dad didn't want me.””
Tasha looked at him.
“I was wrong.””
“You said he abandoned me.””
“He did.””
“You said he never asked about me.””
“I thought he didn't.””
“So what changed?””
Tasha took a breath.
“He found out about you.””
Darius's face tightened.
“And suddenly he wanted to be your father?””
“Yes.””
A bitter laugh escaped Darius.
“Because I'm fifteen now.””
Tasha didn't answer.
I leaned forward.
“Why Phoenix?””
“Because Evan has a lawyer there.””
“For what?””
She looked at the document.
“To establish paternity rights.””
I stared at her.
“But he's already on your son's birth certificate.””
“That's not enough.””
“Then why did you need the trip?””
She looked at the floor.
“He wanted a private meeting before he filed.””
“With Darius?””
“Yes.””
“And you planned to bring me?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because he told me you were dangerous.””
I almost laughed.
“You believed him?””
“I didn't know who to believe.””
“You believed him enough to move eighteen thousand dollars.””
Her head snapped up.
“That money wasn't for the trip.””
“Then what was it for?””
“A retainer.””
“For what?””
“To hire a lawyer in case you tried to stop me.””
The room went silent.
Darius stepped toward her.
“Stop you from doing what?””
She looked at him.
“I was going to take you to Phoenix.””
“And leave Jayden?””
Tasha's face crumpled.
“I didn't know what to do with him.””
There it was.
The sentence that had started everything.
Not hatred.
Not anger.
A choice.
She had chosen who to save.
And it wasn't my son.
Darius stared at her.
“He's your son too.””
Tasha looked at him.
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
Darius's voice rose.
“You keep acting like Jayden is some problem you have to move around.””
“Darius—”
“He's nine.””
“I know.””
“He calls you Mom.””
Tasha covered her face.
Darius turned away from her.
Then he looked at me.
“Dad, can I ask you something?””
“Anything.””
“Did you ever wish I wasn't here?””
The question crushed me.
I stood immediately.
“Never.””
“But I'm not your real son.””
I walked to him.
“You've never needed a blood test to be my family.””
His eyes filled.
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“You were twelve when you asked me if you could call me Dad.””
He nodded.
“I still remember.””
“I remember too.””
“And you said yes.””
“I meant it.””
Tasha started crying.
But I wasn't looking at her.
I was looking at the boy I'd helped raise.
A boy who now seemed terrified that every person in his life could leave.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Marcus Reed?””
“Yes.””
“This is Evan Cole.””
I stood straighter.
“How did you get my number?””
“I've known your number for months.””
“Why are you calling?””
“I think you deserve to know what Tasha didn't tell you.””
I glanced at her.
Her face had gone completely white.
“What?””
Evan said, “The custody petition isn't about Darius.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Then what is it about?””
“I was asked to sign an affidavit.””
“For what?””
He hesitated.
“Claiming that I witnessed you assault Tasha.””
I froze.
“I've never touched her.””
“I know.””
“Then why would you say that?””
“I wouldn't.””
“Who would?””
Evan's voice dropped.
“Your wife.””
I looked at Tasha.
She couldn't meet my eyes.
Then Evan added,
“And Marcus?””
“Yes?””
“You need to check your garage.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
“What is in my garage?””
Tasha whispered, “Nothing.””
I turned toward the door.
“I'll find out.””
Behind me, Darius said, “Dad…”
I stopped.
“Don't go alone.””
I looked back.
He was holding his phone.
His hands were trembling.
Because on his screen was a photograph.
A photograph taken inside our garage.
May you like
A photograph of a cardboard box I'd never seen before.
And taped to the front was my name.