"January."
"While she was living in your home as your employee?"
"Yes."
"Isn't that inappropriate? Pursuing a romantic relationship with someone you have power over?"
Ms. Chen objects. "Relevance, Your Honor. Mr. West's relationship with Ms. Collins is not on trial here."
"It speaks to his judgment," Jessica's lawyer argues.
"I'll allow it. Mr. West, please answer."
Tyler looks directly at the lawyer. "Nora and I fell in love while co-parenting Harper. It wasn't planned, it wasn't inappropriate, and it's made Harper's life better, not worse. She has two people who love her instead of one. That's a good thing."
The cross-examination continues, but Tyler holds steady. Bythe time he's dismissed at ten twenty-three, I'm so proud of him I could burst.
After a short break, Jessica takes the stand.
She's emotional immediately, tears forming as she talks about Harper's birth, about how scared she was as a new mother, and the overwhelming darkness of postpartum depression.
"I didn't want to leave her," she says, her voice breaking. "But I was sick. I thought—I thought Tyler would take care of her temporarily while I got help. I didn't know he'd keep her from me for months."
"Did you attempt to contact Mr. West during those nine months?"
"I was in treatment. I wasn't allowed phone access for the first three months. By the time I could reach out, I was terrified he'd taken her away permanently."
It's such a smooth lie, delivered with perfect emotion.
Ms. Chen's cross-examination is brutal.
"Ms. Torres, where are you currently employed?"
"I'm between jobs right now?—"
"So unemployed?"
"I'm looking for work."
"Where are you living?"
"With a friend. Temporarily."
"So no permanent housing?"
"I'm working on finding a place."
"Do you have a support system? Family nearby who could help with childcare?"
"My parents live in California?—"
"So, no local support system. What about your sobriety? When was your last drug test?"
"Two weeks ago. Clean."
"And before that?"
Jessica hesitates. "Six weeks prior."