Chapter 9 - The SignatureMarcus stared at the screen.
The signature resembled his.
But only from a distance.
The M had the wrong angle.
The R in Reed curved in a way he had never written it.
He downloaded the document.
His first instinct was rage.
His second was disbelief.
Tasha had admitted using the money.
Had she forged his name too?
At 10:47 p.m., he called.
Tasha answered immediately.
“What happened?”
“Did you sign my name?”
Silence.
“Tasha.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The college account.”
“I signed paperwork.”
“My signature is on it.”
Another pause.
“I don’t remember.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“It was nine years ago.”
“You remember the exact balance.”
“Because I felt guilty.”
“So did you forge my signature?”
“No.”
The answer came faster now.
Marcus stood in his kitchen.
“Then who did?”
“I don’t know.”
“It didn’t draw itself.”
“Send it to me.”
Marcus texted the PDF.
He heard her open it.
Then silence.
“Tasha?”
“Oh.”
“What?”
“I know what that is.”
His anger sharpened.
“Tell me.”
“The bank sent forms to the apartment.”
“And?”
“I filled mine out.”
“Who signed mine?”
Tasha was quiet too long.
Marcus felt cold.
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Loretta.”
Marcus actually lowered the phone.
Then raised it again.
“My mother signed my name?”
“She said you told her to.”
“When?”
“After we broke up.”
“I never told her that.”
Tasha sounded confused now.
“She came over.”
“For what?”
“To get some of your mail.”
Marcus remembered.
Loretta had helped him untangle utilities, insurance, and accounts during the breakup.
He had been working sixty-hour weeks and sleeping badly.
“What happened?”
“She asked about the savings account.”
“And?”
“I told her I needed to use it.”
“What did she say?”
“That you would never agree.”
Marcus felt sick.
“Then what?”
“She said the bank only needed the forms.”
“You let my mother forge my signature?”
“I thought you authorized it through her.”
“You just said she said I would never agree.”
Tasha stopped.
Marcus pressed.
“You knew.”
“I knew she thought you would fight me.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
The admission landed heavily.
“But she told me you had told her to help close everything.”
“I didn’t.”
Tasha whispered, “I believed what was convenient.”
Marcus stared out the dark window.
There was no clean villain here.
Tasha had wanted the money.
Loretta had wanted the breakup finished.
Marcus had avoided asking questions.
Each person had accepted the version that required the least confrontation.
“I’m calling her.”
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“Don’t do it angry.”
He laughed.
“You don’t get to advise me on anger.”
“You’re right.”
She paused.
“But Jayden is already carrying enough.”
Marcus ended the call without responding.
He did not call Loretta that night.
He waited until morning.
That was the only restraint he could manage.
At seven-fifteen he stood on his mother’s porch.
Loretta opened the door in a robe.
“What are you doing here?”
Marcus held up his phone.
“What is this?”
She squinted.
Then recognized the document.
Her face changed.
“You called the bank.”
“Did you sign my name?”
Loretta opened the door wider.
“Come inside.”
“Answer me.”
“Don’t stand on my porch making a scene.”
“Did you sign my name?”
“Yes.”
The word stunned him despite everything.
“You forged my signature.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Why?”
“You were falling apart.”
“That does not give you permission.”
“You and Tasha were screaming every day. You were sleeping on my couch. You told me you wanted your name off everything connected to that apartment.”
“Not Jayden’s savings.”
Loretta crossed her arms.
“Tasha said she needed it.”
“And you helped her?”
“You want the truth?”
“That would be new.”
Loretta flinched.
Marcus regretted the cruelty but did not apologize.
She sat.
“I wanted you free.”
“Free of what?”
“Her.”
Marcus stared.
Loretta continued.
“You had spent years trying to rescue Tasha from every crisis. I thought if the rent got covered and the account closed, there would be nothing left tying you together except Jayden.”
“There was always Jayden.”
“I know.”
“No, Ma.”
He shook his head.
“You knew there was a child. You didn’t understand what that meant.”
Loretta’s eyes hardened.
“I was protecting you.”
“Everybody keeps saying that.”
“What?”
“Protecting.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Tasha protected Jayden by spending his savings. She protected the kids by splitting six hundred dollars. Jayden tried to protect Tasha by offering to move out. You protected me by forging my name.”
Loretta looked away.
Marcus leaned forward.
“You know what all this protecting has in common?”
She said nothing.
“Nobody asks the person they’re protecting.”
Loretta’s eyes filled.
“I was afraid you’d go back.”
“To Tasha?”
“Yes.”
“Why did that matter so much?”
“Because you disappeared when you were with her.”
Marcus frowned.
Loretta’s voice softened.
“You worked constantly. You paid everything. You came home angry. You stopped laughing.”
“That doesn’t make forgery okay.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“It doesn’t.”
Marcus had expected denial.
Again, confession was harder.
“Did Tasha know you were signing my name?”
“She knew I signed something.”
“Did she watch?”
“No.”
“Did you tell her I approved?”
Loretta hesitated.
“Yes.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Jesus.”
“She wanted to believe me.”
“I know.”
He stood.
“I need space.”
“Marcus.”
He turned.
Loretta’s voice broke.
“Don’t keep Jayden from me.”
He looked back.
“I won’t.”
Relief crossed her face.
“But you are not talking to him about custody, his mother, or money again.”
Loretta stiffened.
“You can’t—”
“I can decide what conversations my twelve-year-old is pulled into.”
“He called me.”
“Then listen.”
Marcus opened the door.
“Don’t recruit him.”
Outside, morning sunlight hit hard.
His phone rang.
Tasha.
He almost ignored it.
Then answered.
“What?”
Her voice sounded panicked.
“Marcus, I need you to come over.”
“What happened?”
“It’s Kelvin.”
Marcus’s body tensed.
“Is everybody safe?”
“Yes.”
“What did he do?”
“He filed.”
“For what?”
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Tasha swallowed.
“Emergency temporary custody.”
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