"Do you have any proof of her drug use? Text messages, photos, police reports?"
Tyler shakes his head. "Nothing documented. Just what I witnessed today."
"That's going to be a problem." Ms. Chen sets down her pen. "Without documented proof of her substance abuse, it becomes he-said-she-said. And biological mothers do have significant rights, even when they've abandoned their children."
My stomach drops.
"But she left Harper," I say. "For six months. That has to count for something."
"It does. But she could claim postpartum depression, financial hardship, or any number of mitigating factors." Ms. Chen looks at Tyler seriously. "The fact that there was never official custody established works against you. In the eyes of the court, Jessica still has parental rights unless they've been legally terminated."
"So what do we do?" Tyler's voice is tight.
"We file for emergency custody immediately. Document everything from today: times, statements, and her condition.Install security cameras so that if she shows up again, we have footage. And we prepare for her to file her own custody petition."
"How long does this take?"
"Depends. An emergency custody hearing could be within a week. Full custody battle could take months." Ms. Chen looks between us. "I need to ask. What's your relationship with Ms. Collins here?"
The question hangs in the air, heavy and dangerous.
Tyler doesn't hesitate. "She's Harper's nanny. Has been since the beginning. She lives with us and helps me take care of Harper. She's essential to Harper's stability."
"Just the nanny?" Ms. Chen's eyes are sharp.
I feel Tyler tense beside me.
"She's family," he says carefully. "Harper's attached to her. Removing Nora from the home would be traumatic for Harper."
Ms. Chen makes a note. "I'll need the rest. Mr. West, I read about you in Puck Daily. The team's statement. The relationship is public, so the opposing counsel will know within an hour of being retained. So let's not pretend when we’re in here."
Tyler exhales slowly. "She's my partner. We've been together since January."
"Living together since August."
"Yes."
"Sleeping in the same room?"
A pause. "Not consistently. Mostly separate rooms. We'd been keeping it that way intentionally for Harper's sake, for exactly this kind of scrutiny."
Ms. Chen makes another note. Doesn't comment. Then she sets down her pen and looks at both of us, and her expression has softened a fraction. Not warm, but something less sharp.
"The court will scrutinize your living arrangement," she says. "A single father living with his attractive young nanny who became his girlfriend. You should prepare for that to be ugly." She turns to me. "Ms. Collins, I'm going to ask you something Ihaveto ask. Have you considered that your presence in the home, inthis configuration, complicates Mr. West's case? That stepping back or moving out, and returning to a strictly professional arrangement—possibly even suspending the relationship publicly—might give him a cleaner argument in court?"
The words hit me exactly the way she intends them to. They've been there since Jessica was in our living room. They've been there since the practice facility’s no-trespass notice. They've been there, honestly, since the first time someone in a coffee shop assumed we were a family and I didn't correct them. I've just been refusing to let myself look directly at them.
Tyler's hand finds mine under the table, gripping tight.
"No," he says firmly. "Nora's not going anywhere."
"Mr. West?—"
"She's been Harper's primary caregiver for six months. Harper knows her, trusts her, loves her. Taking that away would be cruel and stupid." Tyler's voice is rising now. "And frankly, Harper having a stable, loving caregiver should help my case, not hurt it."
"In theory, yes. But?—"
"There's no but." Tyler stands up, pulling me up with him. "We came here for legal advice on how to protect my daughter from her unstable biological mother, not to be told that the woman who's helped me raise Harper should leave. If that's your advice, we'll find another lawyer."