Baby Love (Baby Series)

by ANDREA SMITH

  Thank God! Only thirty seconds more of this wind-bag I thought to myself. The case totally sucked anyway. Opposing counsel on his case had waived appearance on oral argument; he or she probably figured they wouldn't have gotten a word in edgewise.

  The light flashed to red and the attorney was still going strong. I looked over at Trey who was poised to rise from his seat as soon as the windbag had finished. He looked over at me shrugging his shoulders. Finally Judge Tylar used his gavel to rap on the bench. It did no good.

  "Mr. Louderdick you have exceeded the maximum time allotted. This isn't a filibuster," Judge Tylar said firmly.

  "If the court permits," Louderdick said unruffled, "There is much more to consider in my oral argument today then what time would allow your honor."

  The judge was obviously not happy glaring at the attorney.

  "I ask the court's indulgence in allowing me a bit more time to outline the particular complexities on this matter which very well might set legal precedent if remanded to the 9th District--"

  "Bailiff," Judge Tylar called out, "Please remove Mr. Louderdick from this court room immediately."

  (Oh my God! This was so cool.)

  Mr. Louderdick was still not getting the message even when approached by the bailiff that he needed to shut the hell up.

  "Your honor, all that I am asking ---"

  I saw the disbelief on Judge Tylar's face as he bellowed out to Louderdick once again.

  "One more word counselor and you will be found in contempt of this court!"

  He slammed his gavel down and the courtroom was immediately hushed with total silence with the exception of the very loud, unfortunate giggle that escaped from me.

  (Holy shit!)

  Trey's head snapped around to look at me in shock and disbelief. I put my hand up to cover my mouth in embarrassment lowering my gaze from Trey.

  I felt him leave our pew to approach the bench. I looked up and saw Judge Tylar studying me. I looked at him feeling my cheeks redden with the embarrassment. What if he instructed the bailiff to remove the 'giggling idiot' from the court room? He continued to stare at me but his stern expression had softened somewhat.

  The bailiff read Trey's case number and the parties involved. It was noted that opposing counsel had waived appearance for oral argument but had filed papers stating their opposing position.

  Trey was instructed that he could use the full twenty minutes for his argument if he chose.

  "If it pleases the court, I won't take the full twenty minutes in light of the over-run on the last argument," Trey said to the panel.

  Several of the judges smiled at him including Judge Tylar.

  "The court appreciates your sensitivity Mr. Sinclair," Judge Tylar responded. "You may begin your argument now to the issue."

  I listened intently as Trey argued the merits of his Motion to the panel in his smooth and silky voice. He briefly summarized the fine points covered in his Memorandum in support of his Motion to consolidate the case to the 11th District Court for the purposes of pre-trial management.

  My eyes were glued on him as he spoke to the panel and made his argument interesting and factual citing a couple of case references. I continued to notice that Judge Tylar glanced at me several times throughout the ten minutes that Trey was on the floor. He wrapped it up and the next case was called to the floor.

  He took his seat next to me and I didn't dare look at him acting as if I was totally enthralled with the next case up. I felt his hand on mine and looked over. He wasn't angry with me. I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes as he squeezed my hand in his.

  At the conclusion of the last oral argument the bailiff announced that the panel would break for lunch and oral arguments would resume at 12:30 p.m. Everyone was instructed to rise as the seven judges filed out the side door.

  "Let's go 'Chuckles," Trey said as he took my arm and guided me out into the aisle.

  Once we got into the large hallway I turned to him.

  "Trey I am so sorry," I said apologetically. "I don't know what got into me in there."

  He continued to stare at me and I couldn't tell if he was angry with me or not.

  "I think it was the way Judge Tylar was talking to that windbag attorney and his name being 'Louderdick' and all it just struck me funny all of a sudden and it was out before I realized - "

  "Tylar hush," Trey said softly leaning down to give me a kiss.

  "It's okay."

  "So you're not mad at me?"

  "No I am not mad at you. I found it kind of comical as well. I have to admit that it was a first for me."

  "You mean an attorney being escorted out by the bailiff?"

  "No - the first time that somebody laughed out loud in a hushed courtroom with seven federal judges in attendance."

  I smiled back at him giving him a hug.

  "So when will you find out how the panel rules on your case?"

  "It usually takes about six or eight weeks for them to rule."

  "What now?" I asked.

  "Well how about you and I go and get some lunch and then head back to our hotel for a nice nap before we have to check out and get to the airport?"

  "I like the way you think counselor," I answered him smiling.

  "I need to use the restroom first though."

  I found the ladies restroom in the courthouse and Trey said he was going to find the men's room and to meet him back near the staircase. The hallways in this old courthouse seemed to wind around like a maze.

  After I had finished up in the restroom I headed back down the hallway; when I turned the corner to where the hallway opened up to the area outside the courtrooms on the third floor, I realized that it was not the same hallway as before. I had taken the wrong turn somewhere.

  I turned around and headed back the other way. As I approached the corner of the hall where it turned to go back to where the restrooms were, I collided with a man coming around the corner from the opposite direction.

  "I'm sorry," I said looking up at him.

  He wasn't wearing his robes but I recognized Judge Tylar immediately.

  "Are you alright?" he asked studying my face.

  I nodded affirmatively. He had the same amber colored eyes that I did.

  His eyes dropped to my earrings and then to my necklace.

  "Marley?" he said, his gaze locking with mine.

  "Pardon?" I asked.

  "I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head.

  "I thought for a moment you were someone that I had known a long time ago which is quite impossible. Please excuse me."

  He walked past me down the long corridor his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.

  Trey was waiting for me by the stairwell. He must have been worried because I saw a hint of relief on his face when he spotted me.

  "Ready?" he asked.

  "Trey," I said, "You aren't going to believe me but I know that in some way I am related to Judge Tylar."

  After I verbalized what I had felt from the first time I had seen the man's name in print at the firm, to the collision that had just taken place in the hall, the tears rolled down my cheeks.

  CHAPTER 28

  Trey and I arrived back at the apartment by 9:30 that night. Jean said that Preston had been perfect for her. She had put her to bed about forty-five minutes prior to our getting home. Trey was going to drive Jean home since it was so late.

  After they left I went to the bedroom and changed into a pair of my silk pajamas. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I then went into the nursery and pulled Preston out of her crib. She yawned and stretched in my arms before her eyes fluttered opened and she saw me. I was immediately rewarded with a dimpled grin.

  "Hi sweetie," I cooed to her hugging her close.

  I took her into our bedroom and pulled the covers back on our bed climbing into it. I grabbed the remote turning the flat screen on and settled in with the pillows propped behind me. I unbuttoned my pajama top and nestled her against me. She didn't latch on to my breas
t quickly like she used to do. I finally got her to take my nipple and she started nursing gently.

  I knew that it was just a matter of time when my milk supply in the only boob I had that produced would dry up because she was nearly weaned. The thought made me sad.

  My Blackberry chimed from the nightstand. I reached over and grabbed it. It was Gina.

  "Hey girlfriend where are you?" she asked.

  I could tell by the background noise that she was at the club.

  "We just got in a little while ago. Trey is taking Jean home. I'm nursing Preston."

  "Preston is still up this late?"

  "Well - I kind of woke her up to nurse."

  "You did? Why?"

  "It's hard to explain Gina. I felt my eyes tearing up for the second time today. "Just trust me on this okay?"

  "Sure Ty," she replied.

  "So how did things go down there?"

  "Gina I am so positive that Judge Tylar is related to me in some way - it is possible he could be my father."

  I provided her the details of the day in court and then literally running in to him in the hallway and what he had called me.

  "Wow," she said, "What now?"

  "I think it's time I pay Maggie a visit in jail."

  "Are you serious?"

  "Yes Gina, I am. I need some answers. She has nothing to lose by giving them to me now."

  "If you trust a sociopath I suppose," she replied.

  "Hey not to change the subject but Tristan called today and he will be back in Atlanta for Thanksgiving."

  "Really?"

  "Yep. He liked what he saw on the financials I guess."

  "Apparently so," I replied, silently smirking.

  "Was Preston a good girl for Aunt Gina?"

  "Except for the green shit explosion she was great."

  "The what?"

  I sat up straighter in bed, disturbing Preston who was still nursing.

  I manipulated the nipple back into her mouth waiting for Gina's explanation.

  "I think it was all those pureed green beans Ty. She may not be ready for that particular vegetable just yet."

  "Gina! You fed her a whole flippin' jar of them at one sitting."

  "Got to go Ty; my break is over. See you tomorrow at work."

  Gina clicked her phone off not wanting to deal with me. I knew how she rolled.

  I gazed down at my beautiful daughter wondering if the judge that I had seen today knew that he was a grandpa. I didn't care if Trey was skeptical about the connection. It was similar to what Nigel had told Tess; the heart knows what the heart knows. In my heart I knew that Judge Preston James Tylar was my father.

  _______________________________

  When Trey got back both Preston and I had fallen asleep in the bed. I felt him lift her from me.

  "Let her stay Trey, please? I haven't seen her in nearly two days."

  "Tylar we are not starting that habit again. Besides I have some plans for this bed tonight that no one under the age of eighteen is permitted to witness."

  He cuddled her to him and carried her back to the nursery. He was showered and in bed within ten minutes. He pulled me to him, gently taking my pajama top off and lowering the silk pants. I hadn't put panties on once I had changed so he had a clear field.

  "Is your diaphragm in baby?" he asked.

  "No Trey it isn't."

  "Do you want to rectify that situation now?"

  "I don't know why I should. My period is two weeks late as it is."

  "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

  "I think I just did Trey."

  "Tylar for Chrissake are you pregnant for sure? Why are you being so cavalier about it?"

  "Trey I don't know anything for sure. I know that when a woman breast feeds her cycles can be irregular. I know that for some odd reason my milk supply is drying up. I also know that I haven't had enough of it just being 'Preston Only' time before we bring another baby into the mix and that's not fair."

  "What do you mean sweetie?"

  "I mean that I want to enjoy Preston's firsts without having another baby on the horizon. Her first words, her first steps."

  "Her first date?" Trey asked.

  "That's not fair Trey and you know it. I want more children. I just wanted them spaced apart so that we could enjoy the individuality of each of them."

  "Sweetie," he said, pulling me into his arms and kissing my hair and my face, "If you are pregnant that doesn't take away from any of Preston's firsts."

  "I just love her so much Trey. I don't think that I could ever love another child like I do her."

  "I think all mothers probably think like that Tylar. I mean I can't say for sure but maybe it's something you could ask Mom about?"

  I looked up at him and his beautiful caring face. Of course he was right. I could see how much Susan loved all of her boys. Nigel and Tristan were barely two years apart and I couldn't see any partiality with the way she treated them.

  He lowered his face to mine, kissing me sweetly and lovingly. I laced my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me, loving the feel of his naked body against mine.

  I pushed him back against the mattress suddenly hungry for the feel and taste of him. I straddled him with my nakedness and began a slow, sensual path with my tongue on his lips. We kissed gently at first allowing the passion to build up. My breasts rested against his chest and I felt his hands massaging and capturing my nipples in a pleasurable and painful grip. My sex was wet for him and only him.

  I raised myself up and lowered myself down onto his engorged penis, loving how it felt within me. Trey placed his hands on each of my hips and gently raised me up and then lowered me down on his shaft over and over again.

  He moaned with pleasure each time I fully possessed his manhood within me. I gyrated my hips in a circular motion as Trey continued the rhythmic up and down lifting of me onto his shaft.

  "Baby you feel so good," he moaned with pleasure, increasing the rhythm a bit.

  I could feel the swelling of my G-Spot; my contractions were squeezing his manhood into sweet release. I leaned over allowing my breasts to brush against his face. His hand reached out and captured one. He placed his mouth on the rosy peak and he suckled hard from it drawing pleasurable moans from me. I rocked harder and faster back and forth on him.

  "God baby, I can't hold it - I need to come!"

  I felt Trey tense up and I knew to stop my movements as I felt his manhood pulsate within me; his thumb found my clitoris and lightly rolled it back and forth drawing my orgasm out to its full potential. I moaned in pleasure as both of my orgasms unfolded at once.

  "I love you so much Tylar. You are my angel," he gasped.

  I leaned over and found his mouth with mine as my orgasm was winding down.

  "I love you Trey."

  CHAPTER 29

  When I got up the next morning at 6 a.m. and went to the bathroom I discovered that I had gotten my period. How strange. I immediately burst into tears. Trey knocked on the bathroom door having heard me.

  "What?" I asked sobbing.

  "Baby are you okay?" he asked.

  "Can I come in?"

  "Yes," I wailed between sobs.

  When Trey came in he saw me sitting on the toilet.

  "Tylar what happened?" he asked his face going pale.

  "I got my period," I sobbed.

  "Well honey," he said. "I mean isn't that a good thing? I know you didn't want a baby this soon after Preston so everything is good right?"

  "Maybe I somehow caused it. I mean I was two weeks late on my period and then I bitched about it and the next day I started. Maybe God caused me to not be pregnant anymore."

  "Sweetheart that is not how it works."

  "How do you know Trey? Look at Tess and Nigel so much wanting to have a baby and they can't. Then here I am thinking I'm Fertile Myrtle and maybe I'm really not."

  "Honey," he said smiling and capturing my face within his hands and kissing me softly.

  "I pers
onally guarantee you that you will carry all of the children that I can possibly give you. You were born to be a mother amongst other things."

  He was smiling at me and I knew that Trey knew me better than myself at times.

  "Oh Trey," I sobbed, "You totally get me. I love you!"

  "I adore you baby. So let's not freak out about this okay? Just think about how happy going forward we are that Preston won't be over-shadowed on her 'firsts' okay?"

  I almost felt guilty about the way that I had worried so much about our babies being born too close together that I would have been upset had I turned up pregnant.

  I finished up in the bathroom so Trey could shower before work. He had been working out at the gym after work lately so he could sleep in with me.

  He was dressed, shaved and looking impeccable in his newest Armani suit when he came out to the kitchen carrying Preston.

  "Look who was standing up in her bed saying, 'Dadda' when I went into her room to check on her."

  "No she didn't!" I said, putting a waffle on his plate.

  Preston was grinning sporting her two emerging bottom teeth. I went over to her holding my hands out for her. She reached for me and I took her into my arms.

  "Say 'ma-ma' for me Preston."

  Trey chuckled and sat down to his breakfast; I took Preston into the living room continuing to repeat 'ma-ma' to her as I settled down on the sofa with her preparing to nurse.

  Trey kissed us both before he left for work. He said he was going to work out and would be home around seven.

  "I'll be at the club this evening, remember?"

  "Oh that's right. Well maybe I'll stop by after the gym to see you before going home how's that?"

  "I'd like that Trey; provided you don't assault any more patrons."

  "Very funny Mrs. Sinclair," he said, leaning down to give me another kiss.

  Preston and I got our baths and dressed for our day together. I dressed her in dark green leggings with a matching sweater and put the new 'One eye Monster' Ugg knit boots and hat set on her that I had bought for her at the airport in Baton Rouge. Trey had made a comment about the cost of the baby couture but then suggested a different color than the one I had selected for her.