Chapter 2: The Signature That Wasn't His
Darius placed the school letter flat on the marble island.
“Don't move anything,” he said.
Renee stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me. Put the baby down somewhere safe, then tell me why my name is on a document withdrawing my daughter from school.””
Renee gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
“This is ridiculous. You're making a scene over paperwork.””
“Then explain the paperwork.””
She settled the infant into his nearby padded seat, adjusted his light-blue blanket, and returned to the island. Her movements were precise, almost theatrical, as if she were determined to demonstrate that nothing in the kitchen had gone wrong.
“Maya has been struggling,” Renee said.
“She's distracted. She forgets assignments. She comes home with unfinished work. I thought a break would help her get organized.””
Darius looked toward his daughter.
“Is that true, sweetheart?””
Maya shook her head.
Renee slapped her palm against the counter.
“Don't start with the lying again!””
Maya flinched so violently that her backpack tipped over. A pencil case spilled across the floor.
Darius stepped between them.
“Do not shout at her.””
“I'm her stepmother!”” Renee shouted back.
“I have responsibilities, too. You leave before sunrise and come home whenever you want. Who do you think handles everything here?””
“I never asked you to pull my daughter out of school.””
“You asked me to help raise her!””
“I asked you to love her.””
The words landed harder than either expected.
For a moment, Renee's mouth opened without producing a sound. Then she folded her arms and glanced toward the baby.
“Fine. If you think I'm such a terrible wife, do everything yourself. Feed the baby.
Prepare dinner. Get her to school. Handle the teachers calling about her behavior.””
“Which teachers?”” Darius asked.
Renee hesitated.
“What?””
“You said teachers have been calling. Which teachers?””
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the island.
“I don't remember their names.””
“You don't remember the names of teachers calling about my child?””
“Because I'm busy keeping this family together!””
Darius reached for his phone.
“I'm calling the school.””
Renee stepped forward immediately.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
The single word had come out too quickly, too urgently.
Darius studied her face.
“Why not?””
“Because it's after hours. You'll embarrass yourself, and tomorrow you'll realize this was all a misunderstanding.””
“Then there won't be anything to worry about when I call.””
He unlocked his phone.
Renee's voice softened abruptly.
“Darius, please. Think about what you're doing. We're married. You should talk to me before you involve strangers.””
“Strangers didn't forge my signature.””
Maya sniffled behind him.
Darius turned and crouched beside her.
“Baby girl, I need you to tell me the truth. How long has this been happening?””
Maya stared at the floor.
“Since the beginning of the school year.””
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
“Every day?””
“Most days.””
“Most days?”” he repeated gently.
Maya nodded.
“Sometimes she lets me go when there's a test. But she says I have to come straight home afterward. She says the baby can't be alone.””
Renee shook her head furiously.
“That is not what happened!””
Maya pressed both hands over her mouth, trying to stop herself from crying.
Darius reached for her hand.
“Keep talking, sweetheart. You're not in trouble.””
“She makes me finish my homework at night,” Maya whispered.
“But sometimes I'm too tired, and she says I'm lazy.””
Renee seized a dish towel from the counter and threw it into the sink.
“Because I am tired of being blamed for everything! I cook, I clean, I take care of your son, and somehow I am the villain!””
Darius rose slowly.
“Our son has a mother. Maya has a father. Neither child should have to earn the right to be cared for.””
Renee's eyes flashed.
“You think money solves everything. You think because you pay the bills, you can come home and judge me.””
“No. I think because I'm her father, I have a responsibility to protect her.””
He dialed the school's main number.
Renee stood motionless as the phone rang.
Then Maya tugged gently at her father's sleeve.
“Daddy?””
He covered the microphone.
“Yes, sweetheart?””
Maya glanced toward Renee, then back at him.
“There's something else in my backpack.””
Darius looked down at the scattered school supplies.
“What is it?””
Maya swallowed.
“A paper she told me never to show you.””
Renee lunged toward the backpack.
“Don't you dare!””
Darius caught her wrist before she could reach it.
“Take one more step toward my daughter, Renee, and we're going to have a very different conversation.””
The phone continued ringing in his other hand.
Then someone at the school answered.
“Good afternoon, this is the attendance office. How can I help you?””
Darius kept his eyes on Renee.
“This is Darius Bennett. I need to verify a withdrawal request bearing my signature.””
The woman's tone changed.
“Mr. Bennett, thank you for calling. We were hoping to speak with you about that.””
Darius went still.
“Why?””
There was a pause.
“Because the withdrawal request wasn't the only document we received.””
May you like
Across the island, Renee closed her eyes.
And Maya, trembling beside her father, reached into the torn front pocket of her backpack and began pulling out another folded sheet of paper.
