Be My Baby

by ANDREA SMITH

  My father came over and sat down in the chair opposite of us. He clasped his hands together as if he was reluctant to divulge the rest of this story.

  "The investigation uncovered the fact that the boy's mother had been sexually abusing him. After a thorough medical examination was conducted the findings indicated that this had been going on for a long period of time; it had escalated to a larger degree as Matthew got older. The court immediately removed the boy from her home. Ms. Deeny claimed she had no knowledge of who could have been abusing the boy. Eventually, permanent custody was granted to your grandfather. Your grandmother legally adopted him as her son. Ms. Deeny was legally ordered to have no further contact with the boy again, ever."

  "Oh my God," I breathed, trying to comprehend what type of monster she had been and likely still was.

  "But what about the subsequent children she had. She mentioned having grandchildren remember?"

  "All lies," my father replied, "She had no further children, which was a blessing to society, I suppose."

  "No wonder Matthew was so screwed up," I commented.

  "That was no excuse for murder," my father said rather harshly.

  My head snapped up to look at him. He had never spoken harshly to me before. I could tell Trey was taken aback as well.

  "Dad, I'm sorry," I said, "I wasn't excusing Matthew for his crimes at all. I know that he killed my mother - and Maggie."

  "I'm sorry, darling," he said. "I certainly didn't mean to snap at you like that. This all has me reeling."

  "I can certainly understand that," I replied. "Is there more?"

  "Yes, there is. After your grandparents were killed in that automobile crash, Karen Deeny conveniently came back into Matthew's life. By this time she was in the employ of my wife Olivia's family. By all appearances Karen took up where she had left off with Matthew. She tutored him in the ways of making women do what he wanted them to do as was the case with Maggie, and as would have been the case with Marley had she not gotten pregnant with you right off the bat."

  I was sickened by all that he was telling me. I shivered at the thought of the type of monster that Matthew had become. Trey pulled me closer looking down at me.

  "Are you alright, baby?" he asked taking my hand.

  I nodded. "I want to hear all of it," I said.

  "When Marley became pregnant with you Matthew beat a fast path to his mother to bring her the good news. By this time of course, Olivia and I were married and Ms. Deeny was in our employ. The whole set-up with my bachelor party had been choreographed in advance. That was why Matthew had planted hidden cameras in my room. He was going to use the photos to blackmail me so that Olivia would never find out what I had done prior to our marriage. Marley's pregnancy provided a better opportunity for extortion."

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "Karen Deeny had decided that more money was to be gained by taking the picture along with the news of the impending birth of my child to Olivia. She instructed Matthew to do so. Karen knew that Olivia was barren; she also knew that the scandal alone could destroy any chance of my appointment to a federal judgeship. You see, Olivia's family was extremely wealthy in their own right. What was important to Olivia was power and prestige. My judgeship would offer that. Karen convinced Olivia to set up a pay arrangement on behalf of the child. Matthew set

  up the LLC under the direction of Karen to handle the money trail. Olivia did require receipt of periodic photos and reports as to the progress of the child - of you," he said.

  "So Olivia never knew that Karen Deeny was behind all of that?"

  "It appears not," he said. "It would have devastated me had I discovered that she had played a co-conspirator with Ms. Deeny. It is difficult enough for me to try and understand why at some point she didn't divulge the truth to me; perhaps because she had let so much time go by without speaking up. She was under the impression that Maggie was your mother. She knew nothing of Marley's death."

  "How did you find this out, Dad?"

  "My investigator went through court records. Shortly after your mother passed away, Maggie was awarded custody as natural next-of-kin. Maggie petitioned the court for the name change stating that it was necessary in order to avoid her older, mentally ill brother from tracking her and the baby down. She then of course purchased a modified birth certificate for you so that when she and Matthew visited Olivia it all looked on the up and up as far as Maggie being your natural mother. There is no law against changing one's name as long as it is not done for the purpose of defrauding the government or escaping prosecution."

  My father was still explaining the rest of what his private detective had discovered when Margo appeared in the doorway.

  "Judge Tylar," she said interrupting the conversation, "There is a process server at the door."

  "Excuse me," my father said starting to get up.

  "No, Judge," she said, "He is here to serve your daughter."

  Trey accompanied me out into the entry hall where the process server asked me to verify my identity. He then handed me an envelope telling me that I had been served and left.

  I handed it to Trey. He promptly opened it.

  "You are being subpoenaed as a witness for the prosecution," he said reading through the documents. It is next week. They certainly took their time on this," he remarked.

  "Tylar now that you have been subpoenaed you can't observe the proceedings any further," Trey remarked.

  "No problem with that," I replied. "I don't want to be anywhere near that creep Matthew."

  I shivered thinking about him and what he had said. We

  had not had an opportunity to fill my father in on what had happened in court today. I didn't relish the thought of seeing the sick bastard again but if it would help put him in prison for the rest of his life or worse it was worth it.

  We filled Dad in on the rest over dinner. My father was not overly keen on the idea of DNA verification but Trey finally convinced him that the Defense was likely using a strategy that might force the issue at some point anyway.

  "I just don't want Tylar to think that I ever doubted that she was mine."

  "How could I possibly think that Dad? Who else but a blood relative would have put up with me these past couple of weeks?"

  He smiled at me warmly.

  "I'll make the arrangements for tomorrow morning with Dr. Whitlach's office," he said.

  Since I had to return to Baton Rouge the following week to testify, Trey and I decided that we would leave for home the following afternoon. Trey wanted to rearrange his schedule so that he could return when I was scheduled to testify. He indicated that the prosecutor would likely want to conduct an interview with me prior to the court date and suggested I call their office in the morning to let them know how I could be reached.

  Trey and my father were in a lengthy conversation on legal topics; jurisdictions, venues and discussing 'double jeopardy' when I reached over and touched Trey's arm to get his attention.

  "I don't mean to interrupt but I'm going to leave you both to your legal discussions. I'd like to find Preston and spend some time with her."

  "Go right ahead darling," my father said smiling at me. "She's been so entertaining today. Her vocabulary seems to grow daily."

  "Sure thing, sweetie," Trey said, "I'll join you and Preston in a bit."

  "Okay," I said smiling as I headed upstairs.

  Edie had Preston in her nursery changing her out of her big girl panties and getting a pull-up out for night time. Apparently there had been a little accident. Preston brightened up the minute she saw me reaching her arms out and clasping and unclasping her hands.

  "Mommie," she whined. She had tears in her eyes.

  "What's wrong,, baby?" I asked coming closer to her.

  "She is upset for soiling her pants I think," Edie said. "It's probably my fault, Tylar."

  "What do you mean?"

  "She was playing downstairs in the kitchen where I was cleaning up and she came over to me saying 'do
odee.' I wasn't sure what she meant then I saw that she was kind of squeezing her legs together. I figured it out. I didn't know that your father had Margo purchase another potty chair for the downstairs bathroom. So when Preston said she had to 'doodee' I walked her up stairs. She kept pulling against me and pointing back downstairs. By the time we got to the upstairs landing she had soiled her panties and was very upset with herself. I have a feeling this little girl is going to be a perfectionist."

  Just like her daddy I thought to myself.

  "Come on Preston," I said reaching for her.

  I picked her up into my arms and carried her into my room. I sat on the bed with her on my lap.

  I got a pair of pajamas from her room and started changing her out of her clothes and into nightwear.

  "Listen sweetie," I said to her, "Everybody has accidents at times. You are doing very well with your big girl panties. It's okay that sometimes you have an accident. No one is perfect."

  I looked down at her where she was looking up at me with her big blue eyes still watering. I doubted if she comprehended a word that I said but I wanted her to know that people mess up and it's a human thing. She finally smiled up at me her eyes brightening.

  "How about we read a couple of stories before bedtime?"

  "Choo Choo," she said clapping her little hands together happily, "Choo Choo."

  I knew that meant she wanted me to read from her Thomas the Tank Engine book.

  I changed into a nightgown and then grabbed one of her Thomas books from her room. We brushed our teeth in the bathroom and then snuggled down under the covers together. I read half of the book to her before she dozed off. I wasn't far behind her. I pulled the covers up and pulled her warm body against me.

  We dozed off together nestled closely. I wasn't sure how much longer it was before Trey came to bed. He lifted Preston up to take her back to her crib.

  "Sweetie, please let her stay in here with us. I've missed her today."

  He leaned over kissing me gently.

  "Not tonight, Tylar. She needs to be in her room. I was hoping that you and I could make up for some lost time. I'm in the mood."

  I felt my butterflies surge as only Trey could make them. The truth was, I was just as hungry for him as he was for me.

  Trey returned momentarily and climbed under the covers pulling me close to his warm body. I snuggled against him enjoying the warmth of him.

  "I'm glad we're going home tomorrow, Trey."

  "Me too, baby. It's so empty without you and Preston there."

  I raised my face to his and found his lips with my own. He kissed me sensually and passionately. His fingers reached and pulled the straps of my nightgown up and over my head. His hands kneaded my breasts tenderly; his mouth lowered down upon then gently suckling them bringing me pleasure.

  His hands reached downward and I shimmied out of my panties as his fingers expertly plied my sex. He had shed his boxers and my hands reached downward and found his manhood. I gently stroked his shaft bringing it to full erection. I scooted down under the covers taking his manhood into my mouth and swirling my tongue around and around it; my lips gently suckled the end of his penis. Trey drew a sharp breath inward and moaned gently.

  "Ohh baby," he sighed, "I want you on top of me."

  I was ready and willing to accommodate my, Trey. I raised myself up, my legs straddling him as he helped to guide his erect penis into my well-lubricated sex. I lowered myself down onto his shaft feeling the familiar fullness that I loved so much.

  I rocked back and forth on him as his hips raised and swiveled to meet my rhythm. His hands cupped my bottom as he raised me up and down onto his shaft.

  "Mmm," I moaned as I grinded against him in pure pleasure.

  "That's my girl," he cooed as he continued to thrust his pelvis up and down as I rode him back and forth.

  We were both quickening; Trey hands were massaging my breasts as I rode him harder and harder.

  "Oh God baby, that's it," he moaned, "Keep going baby."

  I increased my rhythm going up and down on his shaft. I could feel my uterus contracting around him as I whined in pleasure.

  All of a sudden my concentration was broken by a soft baby voice calling out from beside our bed.

  "Horsey? Mommie pay horsey?"

  (Oh my God! Trey and I heard Preston's voice at the same time.)

  I quickly lifted myself off of Trey and collapsed on the other side of him away from my daughter. I was mortified! I threw my hands over my face and hid from sight. How had Preston gotten out of her crib? Though our room was dark she had clearly witnessed our lovemaking! She thought Trey and I were playing 'horsey'!

  Trey quickly covered himself and turned to her.

  "How did you get out of your bed, sweetie?" Trey asked as if he fully expected her to answer him.

  I felt him reaching under the sheets feeling around for his boxers. He finally found them and shrugged them on beneath the covers.

  "Mommie pay horsey?" she asked innocently.

  (Oh God, Oh God! I had probably scarred my daughter for life.)

  "Right now Mommy is 'playing possum' under the covers, sweetie," Trey told her with a smirk. Preston continued to jabber away about playing 'horsey.'

  Trey lifted her up to take her back to the nursery to her crib.

  "Pee-pee Daddy," she said.

  Trey changed course and took her to the bathroom settling her on her potty chair. I heard him praise her as he helped her get her pajamas bottoms back in place and flush the toilet.

  He took her back to the nursery to her crib.

  "Oh I see what happened," I heard him call out from her room. "I didn't raise the rail back up and lock it into place."

  (Way to go, counselor!)

  I heard him talking to her gently as he tried to get her settled back down in her bed. She immediately started fussing; she wanted to be in our bed with us.

  Trey tried to soothe her fussiness by talking to her calmly. She was having none of it. He finally retreated back to our room letting her fuss and cry.

  "Trey, we can't leave her in there crying," I whispered loudly to him. "Bring her in here with us."

  "Tylar honey we've had this discussion before; she needs to be in her own bed in her own room. Besides, we weren't finished yet baby."

  "But Trey," I whined, "I cannot focus on that while she is crying. Besides what if what she saw freaked her out? I feel horrible."

  "She doesn't know what she saw Tylar. You heard her; she thought we were playing 'horsey'," he chuckled.

  We waited it out for a few more agonizing minutes - which seemed like an eternity to me - before she stopped her fussing and settled down falling asleep.

  "Now where were we, Mrs. Sinclair?" Trey asked with a devilish grin on his face.

  CHAPTER 14

  My father saw us to the airport the following afternoon. I gave him a hug and a kiss, telling him that we would be back next week. He had a particularly difficult time saying good-bye to Preston.

  "She changes almost daily," he said sadly. "I hate to miss any of it since I missed all of it with you. She reminds me of Marley."

  "Dad you know you don't have to wait until we visit you. You are welcome to visit us anytime you choose. Don't you get vacation?"

  "A judge's vacation has to be worked out in advance to accommodate the court docket. And then, of course, you have to find another judge or three that might be willing to handle the additional case load."

  "Why don't you think about retiring, Dad?"

  "Good gracious Tylar, I'm only fifty years old. I think I might have a few good years left on the bench."

  "That's not what I meant, Dad; I meant, you have the financial means to retire and spend more time with the horses and with us."

  He pulled me to him giving me another fatherly hug.

  "I'll see what I can work out okay, daughter?"

  "Okay Dad," I replied, giving him another kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for putting up with me."

>   Preston leaned into him giving him a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek.

  "Trey," my father said, holding his hand out to him, "Take care of both my girls."

  "I will, Sir," Trey replied giving him a smile, "But they can be a handful, just so you know."

  "Understood," my father replied, brushing a tear from the corner of his eye. He turned and hurried out of the terminal with his quick stride. I was reminded of the day we collided in the hallway of the courthouse. He had that same quick stride then as he hurried off.

  Once back home, things seemed to settle back to normal. Jean was ecstatic to see both Preston and me; though she didn't make reference to the reason I had been gone, I suspected she had gotten wind of at least some of it.

  I scheduled an appointment to see Dr. Karla Hunter later in the week. I wanted an individual appointment first to discuss what had transpired. I wasn't sure if Karla did couples therapy. If she didn't, I was certain that she could refer us to a therapist who did.

  Trey, Preston and I went to visit Tristan, Gina and Reese the following evening after our return.

  Tristan's birthday was this coming weekend. Gina asked if Trey and I wanted to join them for dinner at a new club that had recently opened in downtown Atlanta. Gina said it would serve two purposes: celebrate Tristan's birthday and check out the competition of the new club.

  "Who will watch Reese?" I asked as I held him in my arms cooing to him. We were sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen.

  "I found a babysitter through one of the employees at our club," Gina replied bringing a bottle to me so that I could feed him.

  "Aren't you nursing any longer, Gina?"

  "No," she said sounding a little bit sad, "I had to wean him a couple of weeks ago. I just couldn't produce enough milk through pumping and I needed to get back to work."

  Tristan piped up then from the living room where he and Trey had been watching something on the flat screen.