Chapter 12 - The Hallway Outside CourtThe family courthouse smelled like coffee, paper, and anxiety.
Tasha sat beside Felicia on a wooden bench.
Across the hallway, Kelvin wore a charcoal suit that looked new.
His attorney leaned toward him, speaking quietly.
Denise sat with Maya and Eli farther down the hall.
Maya held a small stuffed rabbit.
Eli swung his feet beneath the bench.
Marcus had offered to come.
Tasha told him not to.
Felicia had advised keeping unrelated parties away from the hearing.
So Marcus waited by his phone.
The case was called at nine-forty.
Inside the courtroom, Kelvin’s attorney argued that Tasha’s housing was unstable and that Kelvin could provide a more secure environment.
Felicia produced the written rent agreement.
Current utility bills.
School attendance reports.
Medical records.
Tasha’s employment offer.
Then she addressed child support.
“Mr. Price currently owes approximately eight thousand four hundred dollars in arrears.”
Kelvin shifted.
His attorney said, “The arrears are the subject of a separate enforcement proceeding.”
The judge nodded.
“They are nonetheless relevant when the petitioner claims superior financial stability.”
Tasha kept her face still.
Kelvin looked irritated.
His attorney then introduced the photograph Maya had taken of the rent notice.
Felicia stood.
“Your Honor, that photograph was obtained by the petitioner instructing his ten-year-old daughter to photograph documents in the respondent’s home.”
The judge looked at Kelvin.
“Is that accurate?”
Kelvin’s attorney said, “Mr. Price asked his daughter whether the home was safe.”
“That was not my question.”
Kelvin swallowed.
“Yes.”
The judge’s expression changed.
Children were often pulled into custody disputes.
Judges disliked it.
“Do not use your daughter as an investigator.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Then came Maya.
The judge did not question her in open court.
Instead Maya went to chambers with a court professional.
Tasha watched the door close.
Her hands shook.
Felicia whispered, “Breathe.”
“What if she says she wants him?”
“Then we listen.”
Tasha looked terrified.
Felicia continued.
“Love is not a competition.”
Tasha nodded.
Twenty minutes later Maya returned.
She ran to Denise.
No one asked her what she had said.
That restraint felt enormous.
The judge denied Kelvin’s emergency request.
There was no immediate evidence that the children were unsafe or inadequately cared for.
However, the judge scheduled a regular custody review for six weeks later and strongly advised both parents to avoid discussing litigation with the children.
Outside the courtroom Kelvin approached Tasha.
Felicia stepped closer.
Kelvin stopped a respectful distance away.
“You happy?”
“No.”
“You won.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“You made me look like a deadbeat.”
Tasha stared.
“The payment record did that.”
His jaw tightened.
“You always act like money is the only thing that matters.”
The accusation was almost funny after the week she had lived.
“No.”
She looked toward Maya and Eli.
“But promises matter.”
Kelvin glanced at them.
“I love my kids.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you treat me like I don’t?”
“Because love and responsibility are not synonyms.”
He looked away.
Tasha felt a flash of recognition.
Marcus could have said the same thing to her.
Love did not erase misuse.
Good intentions did not erase secrecy.
“I need you to stop asking Maya questions about my house,” she said.
“I was worried.”
“So ask me.”
“You don’t tell me anything.”
“Then go through attorneys.”
“That costs money.”
“Yes.”
“Easy for you to say.”
Tasha almost laughed.
“No.”
“It really isn’t.”
Kelvin left.
Maya approached.
“Can we go home?”
“Yes.”
“Is Dad mad?”
Tasha crouched.
“Your dad’s feelings are his job.”
Maya nodded.
“Are you mad?”
“My feelings are my job too.”
Maya looked relieved.
Tasha kissed her forehead.
That evening she called Marcus.
“How’d it go?”
“Emergency request denied.”
He exhaled.
“Good.”
“Regular review in six weeks.”
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Kids?”
“Quiet.”
“Jayden asked about them.”
Tasha smiled faintly.
“Tell him they’re okay.”
A pause.
Then Marcus said, “I put five hundred into his 529 today.”
“Why?”
“My mother.”
Tasha understood immediately.
“She admitted it?”
“Yes.”
“How are you?”
“Angry.”
“At me too?”
“Yes.”
“Fair.”
Marcus leaned against his kitchen counter.
“Tasha.”
“Yeah?”
“I keep thinking about what Jayden said.”
“Which part?”
“That he didn’t want to be the reason we hate each other.”
Tasha closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“I don’t hate you either.”
It was the closest they had come to tenderness in years.
Then Marcus said, “But I don’t trust you with earmarked money right now.”
The tenderness disappeared.
Tasha breathed in.
“I know.”
“You’re not going to argue?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I wouldn’t trust me either.”
Marcus was silent.
Tasha continued.
“Not because I think helping the kids was wrong.”
“I know.”
“Because I made the decision alone.”
“Yes.”
“And because I told Jayden to keep it quiet.”
“Yes.”
“And because this isn’t the first time.”
Marcus sat down.
“No.”
Tasha looked at the coffee table.
The handbag receipt still sat there.
She had not thrown it away.
Maybe because she needed to remember what it opened.
“I want mediation,” she said.
“For custody?”
“For co-parenting.”
Marcus hesitated.
“Okay.”
“Not lawyers fighting.”
“Okay.”
“I want rules.”
He almost smiled.
“You want rules?”
“Don’t enjoy this.”
“I’m enjoying it a little.”
She laughed despite herself.
Then her email chimed.
A message from Brightline.
AUTOMATIC PAYMENT FAILED. LATE FEE ASSESSED.
Tasha’s smile disappeared.
Marcus heard the silence.
“What happened?”
She stared at the screen.
“Nothing.”
The word left her mouth automatically.
She stopped.
Then corrected herself.
“My loan payment bounced.”
Marcus waited.
Tasha sighed.
May you like
![92 The Girl They Called Broke Was a Billionaire’s Daughter—But Her Father’s Arrival Exposed a Secret Powerful People Had Buried for Years]](https://cdn.treeiq.biz/site_590/2026/11/clone-0-0915d882-53d7-4d17-b43a-a010ca1a1068.webp)
“And I was about to hide it.”
That frightened her more than the fee.
Related Stories
