Part Four: The Custody War

The home study happened a week later. A social worker named Ms. Brennan came to Nikita’s apartment. It was small, but clean. Filled with Scott’s artwork and toys.

“Tell me about your support system,” Ms. Brennan said.

“I have my sister Ray. My mother Claudette when she can get away from work. Some friends from the neighborhood.”

“What about Scott’s father?”

“John signed away his rights. We have no relationship.”

“And Dr. Allen?”

Nikita hesitated. “He’s—we’re friends. He helped when Scott was sick.”

“He pays your medical bills.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s a good person.”

Ms. Brennan made notes. “Are you in a relationship with him?”

“No. He’s married.”

“But you were involved before?”

“Years ago. It didn’t work out.”

“And now?”

“Now we’re just—we’re figuring it out.”

Ms. Brennan didn’t look convinced.

She also visited John’s apartment. He’d transformed it. New furniture, toys, a nanny on staff for the visit. His parents were there, playing doting grandparents. It was all theater. But it looked impressive.

The report came back weeks later. Not favorable for either side. “Ms. Stokes shows dedication, but limited resources. Mr. Barnes shows preparation, but limited connection to the child. Recommend further evaluation.”

Which meant more time. More uncertainty.

Nikita was falling apart. Finn could see it every time he saw her, which wasn’t often. She was avoiding him.

One night, desperate, he showed up at her apartment with food.

“I brought Chinese,” he said when she answered the door. “Scott’s favorite.”

“He’s at Ray’s.”

“Then it’s your favorite. Can I come in?”

Nikita looked like she wanted to say no. But she stepped aside.

They ate in silence at her small table.

“How are you holding up?” Finn asked.

“I’m not.”

“That’s honest.”

“I’m tired of lying.” She set down her chopsticks. “I’m terrified. Every day I wake up thinking this is the day they take him. And I can’t breathe.”

“They won’t take him.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know you’re his mother. I know you love him more than anything. That has to count for something.”

“Does it? Vernon Barnes has power. He can make judges see things his way.”

“Then we fight harder.”

“Stop saying ‘we.'” Nikita stood up. “There is no ‘we.’ You’re going home to your wife after this. I’m going to bed alone, terrified I’m losing my son. We are not in this together.”

Finn stood, too. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“For now. Until it gets too hard. Until Hope needs you. Until your year is up and you realize I’m too much work.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“You don’t know that.” She was crying. “You left me once, Finn. You chose your hospitals and your family legacy over us. What makes you think you won’t do it again?”

“Because I know what losing you cost me.”

“And what did it cost you, really? You got to keep your empire. Your respect. Your perfect little life with Hope. What did you lose?”

“Everything that mattered.”

“That’s a nice speech. But speeches don’t change history.”

They stared at each other across her tiny kitchen.

“I don’t know how to prove this to you,” Finn said quietly.

“You can’t. Not while you’re still married to her.”

“So what do I do? Break my agreement with Hope, destroy what’s left of my hospitals, lose everything just to prove a point?”

“I’m not asking you to do any of that.”

“Then what are you asking?”

“Nothing.” Nikita wiped her eyes. “I’m asking for nothing, Finn. That’s the problem. I don’t want to need you. I don’t want to be another responsibility you have to manage.”

“You’re not a responsibility.”

“Aren’t you? You pay my bills. You save my son. You swoop in whenever there’s a crisis. That’s what you do. You fix things. But I don’t want to be fixed.”

“I’m trying to help.”

“I know. And that’s what makes this so hard.”

She moved to the door. Opened it.

“Thank you for dinner. But you should go.”

“Nikita, please.”

Finn left again. In his car, he called Mira.

“I’m making everything worse,” he said.

“What happened?”

He told her about the fight.

“She’s right, you know,” Mira said when he finished. “About what?”

“You do try to fix everything. It’s your default. Someone has a problem, you throw money or solutions at it.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, if they ask for it. But Nikita didn’t ask. You just assumed she needed saving.”

“She does need help.”

“She needs a partner. Someone who treats her like an equal. Not someone who treats her like a problem to be solved.”

Finn was quiet.

“And,” Mira continued gently, “she’s right that you’re still choosing Hope every day. Even if it’s for good reasons.”

“I made a deal.”

“I know. And you’re honoring it. That’s admirable. But from Nikita’s perspective, you’re choosing another woman over her. Again. Can you understand why that’s hard for her?”

He could. God, he could.

“So what do I do?”

“You have two choices. You break your agreement with Hope, face whatever consequences come, and choose Nikita now. Or you honor your agreement and accept that Nikita might not wait for you.”

“Those are both terrible options.”

“Welcome to being in love. It’s terrible.”

Finn laughed despite himself.

“For what it’s worth,” Mira said, “I think Nikita loves you, too. She’s just protecting herself. And can you blame her?”

“No.”

“So be patient. Be honest. And stop trying to fix her. Just be there. That’s all she really needs.”

Finn thought about that. The next day, he stopped by Nikita’s apartment. She looked surprised to see him.

“I’m not here to fix anything,” he said. “I’m just here. If you want me to leave, I will. But if you want company, I can stay.”

Nikita studied him. “Scott’s at preschool for another hour,” she said finally.

“Okay.”

“I’m just folding laundry.”

“Okay.”

“It’s boring.”

“I don’t care.”

She let him in.

They didn’t talk much. He helped fold tiny shirts. She didn’t send him away. It was something.

And slowly, carefully, they started building something that looked like trust.

👉 [Tap here for the Next Part ] 👈