Chapter 5 - The Secrets Hidden Under My Name
When I was nine, I didn't understand credit reports.
I didn't understand loans.
And I definitely didn't understand why grown-ups would put a child's name on financial paperwork.
But I understood something important.
My name belonged to me.
It was the name my mother had chosen.
The name Dad whispered when he tucked me into bed.
The name Grandma called when she wanted me to come eat.
And now Detective Brooks was telling Dad that someone might have used it to borrow money.
I sat at Grandma's kitchen table, staring at the blue backpack Dad had bought me.
It was new.
The zipper worked.
The straps didn't hurt my shoulders.
But I couldn't enjoy it.
Not yet.
Because I kept thinking about Tasha.
What else had she taken?
And why?
***
Detective Brooks spoke with Dad and Grandma for almost two hours.
When she left, Dad looked exhausted.
He sat beside me.
"Isaiah, we need to talk."
I swallowed.
"Am I in trouble?"
His expression changed immediately.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Then why does the police lady keep asking about me?"
He took my hand.
"Because some grown-ups may have done things they weren't allowed to do with your information."
I frowned.
"Like my school password?"
He almost smiled.
"Something like that, but more serious."
"Can they fix it?"
"We're going to work very hard to fix it."
I studied his face.
"Will Tasha go to jail?"
Dad took a breath.
"I don't know yet."
I looked down.
"Jordan and Ava will be sad."
He nodded.
"Yes. They might be."
I twisted my fingers together.
"Did I make this happen?"
Dad's eyes filled.
"No, Isaiah."
He pulled me close.
"You didn't make any of this happen."
***
Two days later, Grandma finally brought home the gray box.
The police had documented its contents and released the personal keepsakes after confirming they belonged to me.
I stood in the living room while she placed it on the rug.
Dad sat beside me.
Grandma lifted the red lid.
And there it was.
The little blue music box.
The silver moon on top was scratched.
One corner was chipped.
But it was still beautiful.
I picked it up carefully.
My hands trembled.
"Mommy gave me this."
Dad nodded.
"She did."
I opened the lid.
A soft melody filled the room.
For a moment, I wasn't in Grandma's house anymore.
I was four years old again.
Mom sat beside my bed.
Her hand rested on my hair.
She was humming.
I remembered her voice so clearly that it hurt.
Tears dropped onto the music box.
Dad moved closer.
"Buddy?"
I couldn't answer.
He wrapped an arm around me.
I leaned against him.
"I miss her."
His voice broke.
"So do I."
Grandma wiped her eyes.
Then she pulled out the other things.
Photographs.
Birthday cards.
A baby blanket.
Three small journals.
And a yellow sweater Mom had knitted before she became ill.
Everything smelled faintly of old paper.
I touched each item carefully.
Then I found a photograph of Mom standing beside Dad.
She was laughing.
He was looking at her like she was the most wonderful person in the world.
I stared at it.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you love Mommy?"
His face crumpled.
"Very much."
"Then why did you marry Tasha?"
He took a long breath.
"Because I was lonely. And because I thought she would help me make a good home for you."
I looked down.
"She didn't."
He nodded.
"No. She didn't."
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"And I didn't do enough to see what was happening."
I looked up.
He wasn't making excuses.
He wasn't blaming work.
He wasn't saying Tasha had tricked him and nothing was his responsibility.
He was admitting that he had failed me.
I didn't know what to say.
So I hugged him.
***
Later that afternoon, Dad received a call from Monica Reed.
I heard him speaking quietly in the hallway.
His voice became tense.
Then angry.
Then very quiet.
When he returned, Grandma looked up.
"What is it?"
Dad sat down.
"The bank found two credit applications connected to Isaiah's Social Security number."
Grandma covered her mouth.
"Dear God."
Dad continued.
"Both applications appear to contain false information."
My stomach tightened.
I didn't understand everything.
But I understood that Dad was scared again.
Monica had arranged for the applications to be disputed and for protective steps to be taken with the credit reporting agencies.
Investigators were reviewing who submitted the information.
Dad explained that those actions were intended to stop further misuse.
Then Grandma asked:
"How much money?"
Dad shook his head.
"We don't know what was actually borrowed yet."
She closed her eyes.
"And Tasha?"
"She denies everything."
I looked toward the stairs.
For some reason, I suddenly remembered something.
A night several months earlier.
Tasha had been sitting at the kitchen table.
There were papers everywhere.
She called me over.
"Isaiah, come here."
I remembered her asking me to write my full name on a blank sheet of paper.
She said it was for school.
I told Dad.
His face changed.
"What?"
I swallowed.
"Tasha made me practice my signature."
Grandma leaned forward.
"When?"
"A long time ago."
Dad's voice shook.
"Did she say why?"
I nodded.
"She said I needed to learn how to sign important things."
The room became very quiet.
Then Dad reached for his phone.
He called Monica.
And told her everything.
***
That evening, Jordan called me.
I hadn't spoken to him since leaving the house.
His face appeared on Grandma's tablet.
He looked nervous.
"Hey, Isaiah."
"Hi."
He looked behind him.
Then lowered his voice.
"Mom's really mad."
I swallowed.
"At me?"
"At everybody."
I didn't know what to say.
Jordan rubbed his forehead.
"She says you're trying to ruin our family."
My heart sank.
"I'm not."
"I know."
I looked up.
He continued.
"I told Grandma about the box because I saw Mom hiding your stuff."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Thank you."
Jordan nodded.
Then he said something that surprised me.
"I'm sorry I laughed when she made you wear those old shoes."
I stared at him.
He looked down.
"I knew it was mean."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered:
"It's okay."
He shook his head.
"No. It wasn't."
That was the first time Jordan had ever apologized to me.
And I believed him.
Then he leaned closer to the screen.
"Isaiah, I need to tell you something."
My heart started pounding.
"What?"
"Mom has been packing bags."
I sat straighter.
"Why?"
May you like
He swallowed.
"She said we're going somewhere nobody can find us."
