Chapter 10 - The Father She Feared Becoming RealNia’s father was named Calvin Brooks.
Marcus knew almost nothing else.
Calvin had left when Nia was twelve, drifted in and out for several years, then vanished completely after a bitter dispute over support.
Nia’s mother rarely spoke about him.
Nia spoke about him even less.
Now he had called.
And somehow he knew about the petition.
Marcus leaned against the counter.
“What did your mother say?”
“He called her asking why I’m ‘dragging some man into court.’”
Marcus frowned.
“That sounds specific.”
Nia’s hands shook.
“Aunt Yolanda must have told somebody.”
“Call her.”
Nia did.
Yolanda answered on the second ring.
“Auntie, did you tell my father?”
“What?”
“Calvin knows about the case.”
Yolanda went silent.
“Auntie.”
“I didn’t tell Calvin.”
“Who did you tell?”
“My cousin Denise.”
Nia shut her eyes.
“Auntie.”
“She asked how you were.”
“And you told her I filed child support?”
“I was worried.”
Marcus murmured, “Apparently privacy really is part of the problem.”
Nia shot him a look.
Yolanda heard.
“Marcus, I don’t need commentary.”
“You’ve had commentary on my life for weeks.”
“Stop,” Nia said.
She returned to the phone.
“Denise talks to Daddy’s sister.”
Yolanda exhaled.
“I didn’t think—”
“No. You didn’t.”
The irony was brutal.
Everyone had been acting on incomplete information while claiming to protect Nia.
Now the story had escaped the apartment.
Two hours later, Calvin called Nia directly.
She almost did not answer.
Marcus said, “You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
She answered anyway.
“Hello?”
“Nia.”
Her father’s voice was deeper than she remembered.
She went rigid.
Marcus stepped away to give her privacy.
Calvin continued.
“I heard you got a little boy.”
Nia swallowed.
“You don’t get to call after twelve years and start there.”
Silence.
“Fair.”
“Why are you calling?”
“I heard you’re taking his father to court.”
“That is none of your business.”
“Maybe not.”
“Definitely not.”
“I just wanted to say something.”
Nia almost laughed.
“You haven’t said anything to me since I was seventeen.”
“I know.”
“Then choose carefully.”
Calvin exhaled.
“Your mother and aunt told you a version of what happened between us.”
Nia’s face changed.
Marcus watched from across the room.
“What version?”
“That I disappeared because I didn’t want responsibility.”
“You did disappear.”
“I left your mother.”
“You left me too.”
Calvin went quiet.
“I was ashamed.”
“That doesn’t pay child support.”
“No.”
Nia gripped the phone tighter.
“Don’t call me to defend yourself.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why?”
“Because fear can make people do ugly things before anything ugly has happened.”
Nia stopped breathing for a moment.
“How do you know what I did?”
“I know enough.”
“You know nothing.”
“That may be true.”
His voice softened.
“But I know your mother started preparing for me to leave years before I did.”
Nia stared at the wall.
“What are you talking about?”
“She hid money. Read my mail. Kept records on everything I spent. Accused me of planning to abandon you.”
Nia’s voice sharpened.
“Because you did.”
“Eventually.”
“That proves she was right.”
“Or maybe we spent years turning fear into prophecy.”
Nia looked sick.
Marcus did not know what Calvin was saying, but he recognized the expression.
Calvin continued.
“I’m not blaming your mother. I gave her reasons not to trust me later.”
“Later?”
“I cheated.”
Nia closed her eyes.
“There it is.”
“Yes.”
“So don’t compare Marcus to you.”
“I’m not.”
“Good.”
“I’m comparing you to your mother.”
Nia froze.
Marcus saw her face collapse.
Calvin’s voice remained quiet.
“If the man is dangerous, protect yourself. If he neglects his child, protect your boy.”
He paused.
“But if he hasn’t done those things, be careful you don’t spend years prosecuting a future that hasn’t happened.”
Nia ended the call without saying goodbye.
Marcus approached slowly.
“What happened?”
She sat.
“My father said my mother used to hide money from him because she thought he would leave.”
Marcus said nothing.
“He said she watched everything. Planned for the breakup before it happened.”
Marcus pulled out a chair.
“And then he cheated.”
“Yes.”
“So she had reason eventually.”
“Yes.”
Nia wiped tears away.
“But I don’t know which came first anymore.”
Marcus sat beside her.
For once, there was no accusation between them.
Only uncertainty.
Nia whispered, “What if I became my mother?”
Marcus looked at her.
“What if I become him?”
She turned.
Marcus continued.
“You’ve been assuming your family history only belongs to you.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“My father left too.”
Nia stared.
Marcus had never told her that.
“My mother said he died when I was little.”
“No.”
His eyes were wet now.
“He left.”
Nia whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Marcus stared at the family photo on the counter.
“Because I decided a long time ago I would never be a man who leaves his child.”
He looked at her.
“And maybe that’s why your petition didn’t just feel like you doubted me.”
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His voice broke.
“It felt like you told me I was already him.”
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