Chapter 8 - The Signature
Tanya came home while they were still standing in the hallway.
She saw Malik.
Then Renee.
Then the documents.
Her handbag slipped from her shoulder.
“Where did you get those?”
Renee answered.
“Behind a photograph of Andre.”
Tanya looked at Darrell.
His expression was controlled again.
Too controlled.
“Tanya,” Malik said, “did you sign this?”
She took the preliminary company agreement.
Her eyes moved down the page.
“No.”
Darrell sighed.
“It's a draft.”
Tanya looked at him.
“With my signature?”
“A sample.”
“A sample of my signature?”
“So the attorney could see where—”
“What attorney?”
Darrell stopped.
Malik watched Tanya's face.
For the first time, the betrayal was no longer aimed only at him.
Darrell stepped forward.
“You're all turning paperwork into something it's not.”
Tanya held up the document.
“This says I own thirty percent of a company using a loan against my house.”
“Our house eventually.”
Tanya stared at him.
Malik almost missed the word.
Eventually.
Renee did not.
“Interesting.”
Darrell turned.
“Stay out of this.”
“You keep saying that to people whose names appear on the consequences.”
Darrell ignored her.
“Tanya, we discussed the company.”
“We discussed maybe investing.”
“This is the structure.”
“You said fifty-fifty.”
“Things changed.”
“When?”
“After I spoke to people.”
“What people?”
“People who understand business.”
Tanya's face hardened.
“And apparently forged signatures.”
“Stop saying forged.”
“What would you call it?”
“Preliminary.”
Malik looked at his mother.
“Did you know about the hundred fifteen thousand?”
Tanya did not answer.
“Mom.”
“I knew he wanted more than forty-two.”
“How much did you agree to?”
“Sixty.”
Darrell rubbed his forehead.
“Because sixty wasn't going to solve everything.”
Tanya spun toward him.
“Everything?”
“The business needs capital.”
“You said the loan was for debt.”
“And restarting operations.”
“You told me twenty thousand would restart it.”
“That was before estimates changed.”
Renee asked, “What estimates?”
Darrell pointed toward the door.
“You need to leave.”
Tanya said, “No.”
Everyone turned.
Darrell stared at her.
“What?”
“She asked you a question.”
“Tanya.”
“What estimates?”
Darrell's jaw moved.
“Equipment. Licensing. Payroll.”
“Show me.”
“I don't keep every document in my pocket.”
“Show me tonight.”
“This interrogation is ridiculous.”
Tanya looked at Malik's packed belongings.
Something in her shifted.
“Was his watch an accident?”
Darrell's expression tightened.
“What?”
“The watch.”
Malik gave her the pawn receipt.
Tanya read it.
Color left her face.
“Darrell.”
“I told him I didn't know.”
“You knew that was Andre's.”
“No, I didn't.”
“It has his initials.”
“I didn't look.”
“You hated that watch.”
Silence.
Malik glanced at Renee.
Tanya continued.
“You asked me why I kept Andre's old things.”
“I asked why your whole house looked like a memorial.”
“You called the watch junk.”
“I don't remember that.”
“I do.”
Tanya's hands began trembling.
Darrell's voice softened.
“Baby, you're upset.”
“Don't.”
“You've had a stressful two days.”
“Don't talk to me like I can't understand paper.”
“I didn't say that.”
“No. You say things around what you mean.”
Darrell looked at Malik.
“This is what you wanted.”
Malik shook his head.
“I wanted my mother to choose me.”
“And now?”
“Now I want her to choose herself.”
Tanya looked at him.
The words hit harder than accusation.
Darrell laughed.
“Listen to this.”
Malik faced him.
“You needed me gone because I noticed you.”
“You think everything's about you.”
“No.”
Malik pointed to the proposed company agreement.
“That isn't about me.”
Then the pawn receipt.
“That is.”
Then the packed boxes.
“And that was.”
He looked at Tanya.
“Mom, how many things does he get to explain separately before you admit they're connected?”
Tanya lowered her eyes.
Darrell grabbed his keys from the counter.
“I am not standing here while a nineteen-year-old lectures me.”
“Where are you going?” Tanya asked.
“To cool off.”
“Leave the house keys.”
Darrell stopped.
A hard silence filled the room.
“What?”
Tanya's voice shook.
“Leave your keys.”
Darrell turned slowly.
“You're serious?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not an answer.”
“Then leave the keys until I do.”
His expression changed.
The warmth disappeared.
So did the patient boyfriend.
“You really want to embarrass me in front of him?”
Tanya's eyes widened.
Malik noticed the phrase.
In front of him.
Darrell stepped closer to Tanya, not touching her.
“After everything I've done for you?”
Renee moved slightly forward.
Darrell noticed.
He backed away.
Then he laughed.
“Fine.”
He pulled the keys from his pocket.
Placed them on the table.
Beside Malik's old silver key.
Two sets of keys.
Two men.
Two entirely different claims to the same house.
Darrell walked out.
Tanya watched the door close.
Then she sank onto the stairs.
For a while she cried silently.
Malik did not comfort her.
Not yet.
Finally Tanya whispered:
“I think I made a terrible mistake.”
Renee answered gently.
“No.”
Tanya looked up.
Renee's eyes were wet too.
“You made a series of choices.”
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Tanya flinched.
“And if you want Malik to trust you again, you need to stop calling them one mistake.”
