Chapter 20 - The Offer
Lorraine’s attorney called Alicia that Friday.
Settlement proposal.
No hearing.
No testimony.
No public fight.
Lorraine would execute a deed transferring the house to Tasha.
Tasha stared at Alicia.
“That sounds like winning.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
Of course it wasn’t.
“What does she want?”
“You assume responsibility for the outstanding home-equity balance.”
Tasha laughed bitterly.
“Sixty-eight thousand dollars.”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
“You release all claims against Lorraine related to rent payments, Marcus’s deposit and prior financial transactions.”
Marcus sat across the room.
“No.”
Alicia looked at him.
“This is Tasha’s decision.”
“I know. Still no.”
Tasha continued reading.
Then stopped.
“What is this?”
Alicia knew.
“A confidentiality clause.”
“I can’t discuss what happened?”
“Broadly, yes.”
“With my family?”
“Certain exceptions would apply, but the language is aggressive.”
“With my children?”
“We would modify that.”
Tasha pushed the paper away.
“She wants me to buy my own house back with her debt and promise never to tell anybody she took it.”
“That is one interpretation.”
“What’s yours?”
“That Lorraine understands she has risk.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“How much risk?”
“Significant.”
“Then why settle?”
Alicia looked at Tasha.
“Because court has risk too.”
Tasha hated the answer.
“Even with Denise?”
“Yes.”
“Raymond?”
“Yes.”
“The rehab records?”
“Yes.”
“Grandma’s letter?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“Judges decide evidence. Witnesses change stories. Documents are challenged. Litigation costs money.”
Tasha stood.
“So she might win.”
“Possible.”
Marcus watched her.
Alicia continued.
“You need to decide what outcome matters most.”
“The house.”
“Then the offer deserves consideration.”
Tasha looked at the settlement again.
If she signed, the house became hers.
Immediately.
No months of uncertainty.
No trial.
No relatives testifying.
No public humiliation.
She could keep the children stable.
For one terrible moment, it felt exactly like safety.
Then Jayden’s voice came from the doorway.
“You’re signing something?”
Tasha turned.
He was supposed to be at Marcus’s sister’s house.
Marcus frowned.
“What are you doing here?”
“Aunt Nia dropped me off.”
He looked at the papers.
“What is it?”
“Adult stuff.”
Jayden gave Tasha a look.
She sighed.
“Grandma offered to put the house in my name if I agree to some things.”
“Like what?”
“Paying the loan.”
“All ninety thousand?”
“Sixty-eight remains.”
His eyes widened.
“And?”
“Not talking publicly about the dispute.”
Jayden frowned.
“Why?”
Tasha hesitated.
“Because Grandma wants privacy.”
“Or because she doesn’t want people to know.”
Alicia looked away to hide what might have been a smile.
Tasha said, “It’s complicated.”
Jayden sat.
“You tell me that whenever it’s actually simple but uncomfortable.”
Marcus coughed.
“Where does he get this?”
Tasha glared.
Jayden looked at his mother.
“Do you want to sign?”
“I want this over.”
“That’s different.”
Tasha stared at him.
He continued.
“You got mad at Dad because he decided buying the house was best without asking you.”
Marcus winced.
Jayden turned toward Tasha.
“And Dad got mad because you decided splitting the six hundred was best without asking him.”
Tasha nodded slowly.
“So?”
“So if you sign because you’re scared and don’t tell anybody what you really want…”
He shrugged.
“Aren’t you doing the same thing?”
The room went silent.
Alicia removed her glasses.
Marcus looked at his son as if seeing him differently.
Tasha sat beside Jayden.
“What do you think I want?”
“I don’t know.”
“Exactly.”
Jayden frowned.
Tasha continued.
“Because I’m supposed to decide.”
“Yeah.”
She looked at the settlement.
For years, Lorraine had made decisions because she believed she knew what Tasha needed.
Marcus had tried to buy the house because he believed he knew what Jayden needed.
Tasha had redirected money because she believed she knew what all three children needed.
Every person had a good reason.
Good reasons were becoming dangerous.
Tasha picked up the pen.
Marcus stiffened.
She crossed out the signature line.
“I’m not signing.”
Alicia nodded.
“You understand the risk?”
“Yes.”
“You understand litigation may become expensive?”
“Yes.”
“Your mother could continue trying to evict you.”
“I know.”
“You may hear ugly things about your past finances.”
“I know.”
Alicia looked at her.
“Then I’ll notify opposing counsel.”
Jayden asked, “Does that mean court?”
“Yes.”
He looked nervous.
Tasha touched his hand.
“Still think I should?”
Jayden swallowed.
“I think you should do what you actually choose.”
Tasha smiled faintly.
“That’s what I’m doing.”
Her phone buzzed.
Lorraine.
A single message.
Last chance.
Tasha stared at it.
Then typed:
No.
The reply came almost immediately.
You are making the biggest mistake of your life.
Tasha looked around the room.
At Marcus.
At Jayden.
At the legal papers.
At the three backpacks still waiting at home for the first day of school.
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Maybe she was.
But for the first time, it would be her mistake to make.
