Chapter 7: The Paperwork That Could Take His Son Away
Darnell read the document again.
Then he read it a third time.
At the top, in bold black letters, were the words:
*TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTODY ARRANGEMENT.*
His name appeared beneath the section labeled Biological Parent.
Renee's name appeared beneath Proposed Guardian.
And at the bottom was a signature that looked almost exactly like his.
Darnell slowly raised his eyes.
"What is this?""
Renee crossed her arms.
"It's a document.""
"Don't play games with me.""
"I'm not.""
"Why is my name on a guardianship agreement?""
She sighed as if he were the one making things difficult.
"Because we've been discussing what's best for Noah.""
"Who is we?""
"Me and Monica.""
Darnell stared at her.
"You and your sister have been discussing giving away my son?""
"That's not what it is!""
"Then explain it.""
Renee snatched her phone.
"You're making it sound criminal. It's just a temporary arrangement.""
"Temporary?""
"Yes. You work nights. You're constantly exhausted. You barely have time for him.""
Darnell felt his stomach tighten.
"So you decided I wasn't a good enough father?""
"I didn't say that.""
"Your document says otherwise.""
Renee walked toward the kitchen.
"Monica knows people who understand these things. She said we could arrange something that would make everything easier.""
"For whom?""
"For everyone!""
Darnell followed her.
"Did you ask me?""
"You would have said no.""
"Of course I would have!""
His voice echoed through the house.
Renee flinched.
He lowered it again.
"He's my son. You don't get to make decisions about his future behind my back.""
She placed her phone on the counter.
"You're not listening. This wasn't about taking him away permanently.""
"Then why does the document say residential custody?""
"Because it has to say something.""
"Who prepared it?""
"Monica.""
"Is she a lawyer?""
Renee hesitated.
"She knows someone.""
Darnell shook his head.
"That's not an answer.""
He picked up the phone and photographed every page.
Then he noticed the date.
The document had been prepared almost two months earlier.
Two months.
That was before the missing coat.
Before the teacher's note.
Before he had discovered the hidden clothes.
He looked at Renee.
"How long have you been planning this?""
She said nothing.
"Two months?""
"Darnell—"
"Answer me!""
Renee finally spoke.
"Since you started talking about changing your work schedule.""
He remembered that conversation.
He had mentioned transferring to an earlier shift so he could spend more evenings with Noah.
Renee had seemed supportive.
She had even suggested that he should consider taking fewer overtime shifts.
Now he understood why.
"You wanted me to work less so you could make me look incapable of caring for him?""
"That's ridiculous.""
"Then why prepare a custody document?""
"Because someone needed to think about Noah's future!""
Darnell looked at the paper.
"And you thought the best future for him was one where he couldn't live with his own father?""
Renee rubbed her temples.
"I thought he'd be better off with a more stable schedule.""
"I'm his father. I can change my schedule.""
"You never do!""
"I was working to provide for him!""
"And I was the one raising him!""
Darnell's expression hardened.
"Apparently not.""
Renee's eyes filled.
For a moment, he thought she might finally admit what she had done.
Instead, she said:
"Do you know how hard it is living with a child who reminds you every day that you're not his real mother?""
Darnell stared at her.
"Noah never asked you to be his mother.""
"That's not the point.""
"Then what is?""
"He gets all your attention. All your sympathy. All your money.""
"He's nine years old!""
"And Jayden and Mia are supposed to just accept that?""
Darnell looked at the staircase.
He thought about the children upstairs.
Jayden had been brave enough to tell the truth.
Mia was too young to understand any of it.
Neither child deserved to become a weapon in this argument.
He placed the document on the counter.
"Give me Monica's number.""
Renee stiffened.
"Why?""
"Because I want to know who else has been involved.""
"You're not contacting my sister.""
"Then I'll find her myself.""
Renee grabbed her phone.
"You're threatening me now?""
"No. I'm investigating what happened to my son.""
He took the bags of winter clothing and walked toward the front door.
Behind him, Renee shouted.
"You can't just take everything and leave!""
Darnell stopped.
"I can take my son out of a situation where he's being mistreated.""
"He's not being mistreated!""
Darnell turned.
"Then explain the photograph of him freezing in a school hallway.""
Renee said nothing.
"Explain the money.""
Nothing.
"Explain the forged signature.""
Her lips trembled.
Darnell opened the door.
Then she said something that stopped him.
"Monica already spoke to someone about Noah.""
He turned slowly.
"Who?""
Renee looked down.
"A woman named Patricia.""
"Who is Patricia?""
"She's connected to a family placement organization.""
Darnell felt his stomach drop.
"Did you submit my son's information?""
Renee didn't answer.
"Did you submit it?""
"Only as a possibility.""
Darnell stared at her.
A possibility.
His son had become a possibility in a plan created by three adults who had never asked him what he wanted.
He stepped outside.
But before closing the door, he looked at Renee one last time.
"You have until tomorrow morning to give me every document, every message, and every piece of information connected to this arrangement.""
"And if I don't?""
"Then I'll let the appropriate people investigate.""
He closed the door.
At Loretta's house, Noah was asleep on the couch.
His new green coat was folded beside him.
Darnell sat at the dining table and showed his mother the photographs of the guardianship paperwork.
Loretta read them silently.
When she finished, she removed her glasses.
"Baby, this is bigger than a family argument.""
"I know.""
"You need legal advice.""
"I'm calling an attorney first thing tomorrow.""
Loretta nodded.
Then she glanced toward the living room.
"Have you told Noah?""
"Not everything.""
"Good. Let him be a child tonight.""
Darnell's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
"Mr. Brooks? My name is Patricia Ellis. I believe your wife mentioned me.""
Darnell stood.
"How did you get my number?""
"Your wife provided it.""
"What do you want?""
"I'd like to discuss a possible family placement arrangement involving Noah.""
Darnell gripped the edge of the table.
"Who authorized you to discuss my son?""
"Mrs. Brooks contacted our office.""
"She's not his biological parent.""
"I understand that.""
"Then you understand she cannot sign him away.""
Patricia paused.
"Mr. Brooks, I think there has been a misunderstanding.""
"Was a guardianship application submitted?""
"Not a formal application.""
"Was my signature attached to anything?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
Darnell closed his eyes.
"Who submitted it?""
"Your wife.""
"Was the signature verified?""
"No.""
Darnell's voice became quiet.
"Then I suggest you preserve every document she sent you.""
Patricia hesitated.
"Mr. Brooks, there's another issue.""
"What?""
"The reason your wife gave for seeking this arrangement wasn't simply your work schedule.""
Darnell looked toward Noah.
"What reason did she give?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"She stated that Noah had been experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties at home, and that you were considering sending him to live elsewhere.""
Darnell felt the room spin.
"That's a lie.""
"I understand.""
"No. You don't. My son has never been told he's going anywhere.""
Patricia paused.
Then she said:
"Mr. Brooks, your wife also mentioned that another family member was willing to provide a statement supporting her concerns.""
"Who?""
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
Then she gave him a name.
"Your wife's sister, Monica.""
Darnell ended the call.
He looked at the guardianship papers.
Then at the sleeping child on the couch.
The coat that should have been on Noah's shoulders weeks earlier was now folded beside him.
Darnell picked up his phone and called the attorney whose number his mother had given him.
But before the call connected, another notification appeared.
It was a message from Monica.
You need to stop digging into this. You don't know what Renee has already arranged.
Then a second message arrived.
And if you want to keep Noah, you need to hear what happened before Tasha died.
Darnell's fingers went numb.
May you like
Because Tasha was Noah's biological mother.
And Monica had just brought a dead woman's name into a fight about his son.
