Chapter 18

Tasha locked the door as soon as they got home, and then felt her legs go to jelly as the adrenaline faded. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been that angry, but now that anger was quickly being forced back by concern. She looked into the bedroom to see Megan comforting Sophia on the bed, the two of them crying. Tasha felt her own heart break at the sight.

The next few hours were consumed by alternating waves of rage and misery. And lots of pacing. Nocturne emerged from under the couch and head-butted Tasha’s legs briefly before going to the bedroom where her feline comforting skills were most needed.

Tasha fixed lunch for the three of them, delivering sandwiches to the bedroom, and then she collapsed wearily onto the couch. Today had been an emotional roller coaster, and Tasha felt exhausted.

Eventually, Megan emerged red-eyed from the bedroom, carrying two empty plates. She sat down next to Tasha on the couch. Tasha pulled Megan in, holding her the same way Megan had been holding her daughter not long before. Megan burrowed her head under Tasha’s chin and stayed there. After a long time, she asked, “Is Maria as good as she says she is?”

“I mean, I haven’t used her services myself, but I’ve met some of her former clients at various get-togethers. Yeah, I think she’s probably as good as she says she is. Why?”

“I’m going to call Maria and get papers filed. I’m divorcing Brad.”

“About fucking time… Sorry, that’s not my place to say.”

“It’s okay. I probably should have dumped him the first time he cheated on me. I was just scared, though. I was pregnant. Taking him back, forgiving him… It was safe.”

“I get that. Being a single mom sounds scary.”

“Oh, I’m terrified right now!”

“Sorry, I didn’t…”

“It’s still new. I’ll admit, I’m not as scared as I could be, because of you.”

“You mean, free babysitting!”

“No, not that! Although… that sounds good, too.”

They spent the next few minutes in a comfortable silence. Tasha sensed that Megan wasn’t done talking, but she was done for the moment. She waited patiently for Megan to be ready, holding her friend close.

“Brad wasn’t always like this, you know. I think I said before that he went to some bad places during COVID. Now I’m starting to feel that maybe he went further than I knew.”

Tasha grunted in agreement. She’d tolerated Brad back in college only because he was dating Megan. After today, she was more than happy to never see him again.

Megan continued, “I need to help him, Tasha. Not for me, but for Sophia.”

Tasha stiffened as she listened to Megan, who disentangled herself and sat up. Megan looked Tasha in the eyes and said, “I know that you hate him and I don’t blame you. He was a complete asshole today, and I really hate him right now, too. That said, I believe it’s important for Sophia to have a father that isn’t a complete shitbag. And… I need your support. I know that this is a huge ask, and I don’t need you to do anything. I just need to know that you have my back. Does that make sense? Am I crazy?”

“Ride or die, Megan. Ride or die. Yes, you make sense. No, you aren’t crazy. Okay, a bit crazy, but in a good way. Look, I never liked Brad, and, yeah, I hate his guts right now…” Tasha paused, searching for the right words to say. “I’m not sure how to say this, so I hope that it comes out right. You are fucking amazing. After all of this. After today. After all the shit that Brad has put you through. You are willing to somehow try to help him pull his head from deep out of his ass, all for Sophia. And you’re right. He was an over-privileged prick in college, but he wasn’t the complete shithead that we saw today. I’m not sure how you deprogram a White boy who has been spending too much time in the fever swamps, but I will support you.”

“Thank you, Tasha! Yeah, I have no idea how to deprogram him, either. I am going to try to figure out what to do. Of course, divorcing him at the same time isn’t going to make it easier.”

“Ain’t that the truth! Come here.” Tasha opened her arms again, and Megan returned to leaning into Tasha. They spent a long time like that, in thoughtful silence.