Chapter 18 - Kelvin’s SecretTasha did not want to know.
That was her first thought.
Kelvin had spent years making his instability someone else’s emergency.
She refused to inherit another secret.
“Then tell your wife,” she said.
“You don’t understand.”
“No. I understand perfectly.”
“Tasha.”
“I am not hiding anything for you.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“You called me.”
He went quiet.
“What do you owe?”
“I said—”
“How much?”
“Twelve grand.”
Tasha almost laughed.
Everyone was in debt.
“What kind?”
“Sports betting.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Kelvin.”
“I stopped.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“Does Nia know?”
“No.”
Nia was his wife of two years.
Tasha liked her.
More importantly, Maya liked her.
“You need to tell her.”
“I know.”
“No. Today.”
“You don’t get to order me.”
“You’re right.”
Tasha paused.
“But you also don’t get to use gambling debt as a reason your children receive less support.”
“I’m not.”
“You understated your income.”
“Because if support goes up—”
“There it is.”
Kelvin swore under his breath.
Tasha closed her eyes.
This was exactly how hidden money spread damage.
First one secret.
Then another decision to protect it.
Then another lie.
Then a child somewhere learning to be quiet.
“I’m telling Felicia about this call.”
“Tasha.”
“I won’t tell her details unless legally relevant, but I’m not agreeing to secrecy.”
“You always got to protect yourself.”
“Yes.”
For once, she said it without shame.
“I do.”
Kelvin hung up.
At the next therapy session, Tasha did not share Kelvin’s gambling issue with the children.
She told Dr. Mitchell privately because custody proceedings were ongoing.
Dr. Mitchell advised what Felicia had already said.
Do not turn the children into witnesses.
Do not diagnose Kelvin.
Document relevant behavior.
Let the legal process handle finances.
That evening Marcus visited to drop off Jayden’s forgotten math binder.
Tasha asked him to sit.
“What happened?”
“Nothing with Jayden.”
Marcus relaxed slightly.
“I need to tell you something.”
She explained Kelvin’s call.
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“Twelve thousand in gambling?”
“That’s what he says.”
“And he filed for custody saying you’re financially unstable?”
“Yes.”
Marcus laughed in disbelief.
Tasha held up a hand.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Turn it into proof I’m better.”
He stopped.
“I wasn’t.”
“You were about to.”
Marcus considered.
“Maybe.”
She nodded.
“I’m trying not to do that either.”
He sat back.
“So what happens?”
“Felicia handles the support case.”
“And Maya and Eli?”
“They keep being kids.”
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
“That’s harder than it sounds.”
“Yes.”
Jayden appeared.
“You staying for dinner?”
Marcus looked at Tasha.
She shrugged.
“There’s enough.”
“What is it?”
“Spaghetti.”
Marcus smiled.
“There’s always enough spaghetti.”
Maya and Eli came down.
Dinner was awkward at first.
Marcus usually ate with Jayden alone during his parenting time.
This felt almost like an old version of a family none of them had actually been.
Eli asked Marcus about his maintenance job.
Maya described a classmate who had copied her drawing.
Jayden complained about algebra.
Tasha listened.
For twenty minutes nobody mentioned money.
Then Eli spilled juice.
Marcus jumped up for a towel.
“I got it.”
Tasha laughed.
“You still know where everything is.”
“I’ve fixed half this house.”
“Landlord should pay you.”
“Don’t start.”
Maya giggled.
The room softened.
After dinner, Marcus found the handbag receipt on a magnet board near the kitchen.
“You kept that?”
Tasha looked embarrassed.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Reminder.”
“Of what?”
She thought.
“That one receipt can cost a lot more than one hundred eighty-nine dollars.”
Marcus smiled faintly.
He understood.
Then Jayden came in holding a school flyer.
“Field trip.”
Marcus took it.
“Washington, D.C.?”
“Spring.”
“How much?”
“Eight hundred seventy-five.”
Marcus’s eyes widened.
“For three days?”
“Bus, hotel, museums.”
Tasha laughed.
“Don’t do the shopping face.”
Jayden grinned.
Marcus scanned the form.
Deposit: two hundred dollars due next month.
Instinct told him to pay everything.
He felt the familiar rush.
Providing.
Proving.
Solving.
Then he stopped.
“What do you want to do?”
Jayden blinked.
“I want to go.”
“I know.”
“I can save some.”
Tasha looked at Marcus.
He nodded.
“How much do you think you can save?”
Jayden thought.
“Maybe one hundred?”
“From what?”
“Birthday money. Helping Uncle Darnell wash cars.”
Marcus said, “Okay.”
Tasha added, “I can contribute.”
Jayden looked at both of them.
“How much?”
Marcus smiled.
“We’ll figure it out together.”
The phrase sounded almost ordinary.
That was why it mattered.
Nobody claimed the whole burden.
Nobody secretly moved money.
Nobody told Jayden he was too young to participate.
The next morning, however, Marcus received an email from the state child-support portal.
A routine annual review of his own support order for Jayden had been initiated.
He frowned.
Then called Tasha.
“Did you request a child-support modification?”
Silence.
“Tasha?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“I don’t know.”
Marcus opened the notice.
The petitioner’s name appeared at the bottom.
Not Tasha.
COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES — ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
His income had increased significantly since the last order.
Marcus stared at the screen.
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