Chapter 16 - Forty-Three Thousand Dollars
Derrick had no idea he owed Grant forty-three thousand dollars.
Rebecca requested the billing records immediately.
By the following afternoon, twelve months of invoices covered her conference table.
Aisha was not present.
This problem belonged to Derrick.
For once, he had to face it without using her as either opponent or explanation.
Rebecca adjusted her glasses.
“Some of these entries are substantial.”
“How substantial?”
“Multiple attorney conferences billed by two professionals. Extensive preparation. Private investigator fees.”
Derrick frowned.
“Private investigator?”
Rebecca looked up.
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
She turned the invoice.
There it was.
Investigative services regarding residential activity and parenting-time verification.
Derrick’s stomach dropped.
“I never authorized a private investigator.”
“Grant may argue your engagement agreement authorized necessary third-party services.”
“To follow Aisha?”
“Apparently.”
Derrick remembered photographs from the custody file.
Aisha leaving an extended-stay apartment.
Aisha entering her office late.
Aisha picking up groceries after 9 p.m.
Grant had presented them as “documentation.”
Derrick had assumed an associate took them.
He had not asked.
Again.
He had not asked.
“How much?”
“Approximately seven thousand.”
Derrick stared.
Seven thousand dollars spent proving Aisha bought groceries late at night.
Rebecca continued.
“There are also fees for asset analysis.”
“Which assets?”
“That’s unclear.”
Derrick leaned back.
His chest felt hollow.
“Did I become insane?”
Rebecca did not smile.
“You became litigious.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Usually money.”
Despite himself, Derrick laughed.
It lasted two seconds.
Then he covered his face.
“I spent almost a hundred thousand dollars doing this.”
“Between paid fees and the claimed balance, yes.”
“I could have funded college.”
“You still can.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“No.”
Rebecca closed the invoices.
“What outcome do you actually want now?”
Derrick looked at her.
“Fifty-fifty.”
“Why?”
The question irritated him.
Then he realized she was testing him.
“Because Maya and Elijah should have both parents.”
“Anything else?”
“I need help.”
Rebecca waited.
Derrick sighed.
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“Anything else?”
He looked down.
“I don’t want Aisha carrying everything again.”
Rebecca nodded.
“That answer is more useful.”
Derrick frowned.
“How?”
“Equal custody is not only division of time. It is division of responsibility.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She opened a notebook.
“Who schedules dental appointments?”
He hesitated.
“Aisha historically.”
“Who handles school forms?”
“Aisha.”
“Clothes?”
“Aisha mostly.”
“Summer camps?”
“Aisha.”
“Birthday gifts for classmates?”
“Aisha.”
“Medicine refills?”
“Both now.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“If the new schedule simply gives Aisha more days while she continues managing the invisible work, you have not created equal parenting.”
Derrick thought of Loretta’s warning.
He hated how often other people now seemed to understand his marriage better than he had.
“What do I do?”
“Start learning the work.”
That evening he created a shared spreadsheet.
School contacts.
Medical appointments.
Clothing sizes.
Extracurricular deadlines.
He almost sent it to Aisha.
Then stopped.
A spreadsheet was his instinct.
Systematize.
Control.
He deleted it.
Instead, he opened the co-parenting app Naomi had suggested.
He entered only factual items.
Maya — dentist February 18, confirm attendance.
Elijah — refill due January 29, Derrick handling.
School — spring registration due February 2.
Then he sent Aisha one message.
I’m going to start taking responsibility for medical scheduling and half of school administration. We can divide specific categories instead of assuming you’ll coordinate.
Aisha read it twice.
Her first reaction was suspicion.
Her second was exhaustion.
Her third, unexpectedly, was relief.
She replied:
Good. Put proposals in writing and we can review.
No praise.
No emotional reward.
Derrick accepted it.
The next morning, Naomi called Aisha.
“There’s something you need to know.”
Aisha tensed.
“What now?”
“Derrick’s prior counsel used a private investigator during the custody case.”
She went cold.
“What?”
“Rebecca disclosed it because some reports may become part of the corrected record.”
Aisha stood.
“Someone followed me?”
“It appears so.”
“When?”
“During the temporary-hearing period.”
Aisha’s skin crawled.
She remembered a gray sedan parked twice near the extended-stay hotel.
A man in a cap outside her office.
At the time she thought she was paranoid.
“What did they photograph?”
“Mostly ordinary activity.”
“That’s not the point.”
“I know.”
“Did Derrick know?”
“Rebecca says he claims he knew photos existed but not how they were obtained.”
Aisha laughed sharply.
“Of course.”
“Aisha.”
“He never knows anything until paperwork appears.”
Naomi allowed the anger.
Then said, “There may be another issue.”
Aisha closed her eyes.
“What?”
“One report documents you entering a pharmacy at 9:38 p.m. Grant used that timing to suggest your work schedule disrupted evening routines.”
“I was buying Elijah’s medication.”
Naomi became silent.
“What?”
“I have the receipt.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. He had an ear infection.”
“Do you still have it?”
“I keep medical receipts for taxes.”
Naomi’s voice changed.
“Find it.”
Aisha did.
The receipt was inside a digital folder.
Date.
Time.
Prescription name.
Elijah Carter.
9:41 p.m.
Aisha stared at the screen.
She remembered that night.
Derrick had called from home saying Elijah’s antibiotic bottle had spilled.
Aisha had been leaving work.
She volunteered to stop at the pharmacy because Derrick was already with the children.
Grant later used the photograph to imply she was out late on a work night.
Aisha forwarded the receipt to Naomi.
Then searched her old messages.
She found Derrick’s text.
Can you please grab Eli’s replacement prescription? I can’t leave Maya here.
Aisha’s answer:
Already heading there.
Her hands began to shake.
This was not omission anymore.
The context had been available to Derrick.
He had known exactly why she was at the pharmacy.
And he had allowed the photo to be used anyway.
Aisha called him.
He answered cheerfully.
“Hey.”
“Did you know why I was at the pharmacy?”
Silence.
Derrick knew immediately.
“Aisha—”
“Did you know?”
“Yes.”
Her voice dropped.
“And you let Grant show the judge that photograph?”
Derrick’s breath caught.
“I forgot what night it was.”
Aisha stared at the wall.
“Think very carefully before you answer again.”
Another silence.
Then Derrick said the sentence that changed the case.
“I knew.”
Aisha closed her eyes.
“Why?”
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His voice broke.
“Because by then I didn’t want anything that helped you.”
