Chapter 4: The Other Secret
Tasha arrived twenty minutes later.
Marcus was waiting in the kitchen with the folder spread across the table.
His younger sister entered, closed the door behind her, and took one look at his face.
"So you found it.""
Marcus stood.
"How long have you known?""
Tasha dropped her purse onto a chair.
"Known what?""
"Don't play with me.""
"I'm not.""
He pushed the statements toward her.
"These.""
Tasha glanced down.
"About three weeks.""
"Three weeks?""
"I was checking your mother's old account paperwork.""
Marcus frowned.
"What does Mama's account have to do with mine?""
"Nothing. I came by to bring you the insurance documents you asked me to scan. You weren't home. Vanessa was.""
Marcus waited.
"I used your office computer. One of these statements was sitting in the printer.""
Marcus ran a hand over his head.
"And you didn't call me?""
"I wanted proof before I accused your wife of stealing from you.""
The word stealing made his stomach twist.
"Where is the money going?""
Tasha pulled out her phone.
"I don't know for sure.""
"Tasha.""
"I said I don't know for sure.""
She opened a screenshot.
"But the transfers go to an account under V. Carter.""
Vanessa's maiden name.
Marcus leaned against the counter.
"How much?""
"I added what I found. About eighteen thousand.""
His eyes widened.
"Eighteen?""
"Over fourteen months.""
Marcus stared at the floor.
The amount was bad.
The timing was worse.
Fourteen months.
Not long after the wedding.
"What is she doing with it?""
Tasha hesitated.
"There's more.""
Marcus looked up.
"Of course there is.""
"I didn't want to tell you without knowing what was happening in your house.""
"Tell me now.""
Tasha crossed her arms.
"Jordan called me twice this summer.""
Marcus went still.
"What?""
"He asked if he could stay with me.""
Marcus stared.
"He told me you and Vanessa had plans.""
"We didn't.""
"I figured that out later.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Jordan begged me not to.""
Marcus pushed away from the counter.
"You should have told me anyway.""
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
"I know, Marcus.""
Tasha's voice cracked.
"He said Vanessa got mad when he talked to you about things. He said if you knew he called me, it would make it worse.""
Marcus's anger collapsed into something heavier.
"You believed him?""
"I believed he was scared.""
Marcus pulled out a chair and sat.
Tasha joined him.
"For what it's worth," she said softly, "I never thought she'd hurt him.""
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
"Neither did I.""
Tasha touched his wrist.
"What's happened?""
Marcus told her.
The dinner.
The extra chores.
The lunches.
Danielle's photograph.
The school assignment.
By the time he finished, Tasha's eyes were wet.
"Marcus.""
He shook his head.
"I was here, Tash.""
"You were working.""
"I was gone.""
"You were trying to take care of them.""
"And she used that.""
Neither spoke for a while.
Then Tasha asked, "Where's Vanessa?""
"I don't know.""
Almost on cue, the front door opened.
Vanessa entered carrying two shopping bags.
She froze when she saw Tasha.
Then her eyes moved to the folder.
Everything in her face changed.
"Tasha.""
Tasha leaned back.
"Vanessa.""
Marcus stood.
"What is V. Carter?""
Vanessa set the bags down carefully.
"My account.""
"I know whose account it is.""
Her shoulders stiffened.
"Then why'd you ask?""
"Eighteen thousand dollars.""
Vanessa looked at Tasha.
"So this is what you do? Go through our finances?""
Tasha rose.
"Don't make me the problem.""
"You've never liked me.""
"This isn't about liking you.""
Marcus stepped between them.
"Stop.""
Both women fell silent.
He looked at Vanessa.
"Why have you been moving money?""
"I was saving.""
"For what?""
"Our future.""
"That money was already in savings.""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"I needed something in my name.""
Marcus stared.
"Why?""
"Because everything here is yours.""
"This house is ours.""
"It's in your name.""
"We bought it before we married.""
"Exactly.""
Marcus waited.
Vanessa folded her arms.
"I gave up my apartment when I moved here. Caleb changed schools. I changed my whole life.""
"So you secretly transferred eighteen thousand dollars?""
"I protected myself.""
"From me?""
"From uncertainty.""
Marcus laughed once, bitterly.
"You were building an exit fund.""
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
"Women do it all the time.""
"Not with money meant for both children's college accounts.""
Silence.
Tasha looked sharply toward Vanessa.
Marcus saw it.
"You knew where it came from?""
Vanessa said nothing.
His voice dropped.
"You took money from Jordan and Caleb's accounts?""
"I was going to replace it.""
"When?""
"I don't know.""
"With what?""
"I said I don't know!""
Her shout echoed through the kitchen.
All three adults froze.
Vanessa breathed heavily.
Then she lowered her voice.
"I felt trapped.""
Marcus stared at her.
"In what?""
"This family.""
The words came out before she could soften them.
Tasha's face changed.
Marcus felt strangely calm.
Vanessa kept talking.
"I was expected to walk in here and become everybody's mother. Cook like Danielle. Parent like Danielle.
Smile at her pictures. Listen to Jordan compare everything I do to her.""
Marcus said, "So you punished him.""
"I disciplined him.""
"You deprived him of food.""
"I never starved him.""
"The fact that you need that sentence should tell you something.""
Vanessa's mouth closed.
Marcus stepped closer.
"I need you to pack a bag.""
Her eyes widened.
"You're putting me out?""
"For now.""
"This is my home.""
"Jordan needs to feel safe here.""
"And Caleb?""
Marcus's face tightened.
"Caleb stays.""
Vanessa laughed in disbelief.
"You are not taking my child.""
"I'm not taking anybody. I'm saying the boys don't need to be dragged out in the middle of this.""
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
"You think Caleb is staying with you after this?""
A small voice answered from the hallway.
"I want to.""
Everyone turned.
Caleb stood near the stairs.
His backpack hung from one shoulder.
School had ended.
None of them had heard the bus.
None of them had heard him come inside.
His face was streaked with tears.
Vanessa stared at her son.
"What did you say?""
Caleb swallowed.
"I want to stay with Dad and Jordan.""
Vanessa looked as if he had slapped her.
Marcus immediately moved toward him.
"Caleb, buddy—"
But Caleb stepped backward.
Not from Marcus.
From Vanessa.
May you like
And when he spoke again, his next words changed the argument completely.
"Because Mom makes me lie too.""
