Baby Love Lite

by ANDREA SMITH

  I got a smile on my face recognizing one of Trey’s signature responses to me.

  “I mean, do you fucking believe that? Him telling me it’s the end of the conversation? Oh, hell no!”

  “I'm sure everything will work out fine and you and Tristan will reach some compromise when he's back here and you two are . . . “

  “Are what, Ty?”

  “Having a fuckfest,” I said, barely getting the words out before I broke into laughter.

  “Hmmph,” she said haughtily. “It'll be a cold day in hell before he gets inside my knickers again!”

  “Gina, take a bath and relax. It'll be fine, I promise you. Look, I’ve got to go and get Preston ready for bed. I'll talk to you tomorrow and let you know what’s been going on with me today. There've been all kinds of surprises.”

  “Okay, call me,” she ordered before hanging up.

  CHAPTER 40

  I helped Gina get settled in to our apartment on Saturday. Tristan had ended up flying in to help her move, though Gina said that nothing had changed between them. She was still in stand-off mode with him about changing the club’s name.

  Tristan had definitely extended the olive branch to Gina by offering to pay for professional movers. Gina had pooh-poohed his offer by saying that she had too much pride to accept his “fucking charity.” She'd rented a truck fully expecting that she and I could haul her stuff out of the condo and into the truck.

  Trey had put his foot down on that idea.

  Thank God!

  He and Tristan were adamant that they would load it up and take it over to her storage unit. It took them three trips to get it all moved. In the meantime, Gina and I busied ourselves at the apartment getting her clothes unpacked and put away.

  Preston was playing in her crib while we worked in the nursery getting Gina settled in.

  “Do you believe that Tristan flew in just to help you move?” I was trying my best to get her spirits up.

  “Oh, don’t let that fool you! He has an appointment Monday with the health inspector to approve the kitchen for the upgraded food license for expanding our food service."

  "Plus, he's interviewing chefs this coming week. You know he plans to stay here, don’t you? I mean you're the one that extended that invitation.”

  “Well of course he's welcomed here, Gina. He’s Trey’s brother and my brother-in-law.”

  “Just so you don’t expect him to crash in here with me then.”

  “Of course not,” I said as if the thought hadn't occurred to me. “Tristan can bunk out on the living room sofa. He'd probably prefer that anyway, with the big flat screen out there.”

  Just then we both turned as we heard Preston grunt extremely loudly. Her little cheeks were beet red. “Uh oh,” Gina laughed, watching her grunt.

  “I guess since I’m bunking in here with her, I’ve got diaper duty.”

  “I’ve got it,” I said grabbing a clean disposable diaper.

  “No, you don’t! This is my god-daughter and we're official roomies, so I've got it.” Gina scooped Preston from her crib taking the diaper from me and getting the baby wipes. I watched as she changed my baby girl, talking to her and cleaning her up thoroughly. Gina was going to make one helluva a mom. I truly hoped it'd be with Tristan.

  Once Tristan and Trey got back to the apartment, Gina had settled Preston on a blanket in the living room. They had an assortment of toys that they were playing with together.

  I had dinner going. I could tell Trey and Tristan needed showers before dinner. Tristan’s suitcase was in the entry hall. To avoid a scene later, I figured that I'd better bring Trey into the fold as to what had transpired. I lip synced Trey indicating that I needed to speak to him privately. I left the room going down the hall to our suite. Tristan had gone into the bathroom off of the nursery to shower.

  “What is it?” Trey asked as I shut the door behind us in our room.

  “Trey, there's major tension between Tristan and Gina.”

  “So?” he asked.

  “Sooo,” I said. “What exactly do you think the sleeping arrangements are going to be while both of them are here?”

  “The same as if they weren’t fighting,” he answered immediately. “One of them can bunk on the couch; the other one can bunk in the bed in the nursery.”

  He saw the confused expression on my face.

  “Tylar,” he said patiently, “It doesn’t matter to me whether they're fighting or not. I wasn't about to let them cohabitate in my daughter’s room for Chrissake!”

  “Why?” I asked puzzled.

  “Do you think for one moment I’m going to expose my baby girl to their sexual shenanigans?”

  I guess I'd not considered that.

  “Okay, sweetie. I agree. So, I guess you'll let Tristan know that we'll make up the couch for him to sleep on?”

  “You got it, babe,” he said kissing me sweetly.

  Trey went to take his shower and I fed Preston. Gina took over after that getting Preston changed and dressed for bed. I went in to nurse her and asked Gina if she'd go ahead and put our dinner on the table. Tristan had finished his shower and was out in the living room watching television.

  “Sure thing, Ty; got it covered.”

  I settled into our rocker and unbuttoned my shirt giving my baby girl access to her “num-num.” I knew that her grandpa would love her to pieces. What wasn't to love about my wonderful baby girl? I'd learned so much in the last few days about my own mother. I felt a bond with her which was so strange. I had the feeling that my mom had loved me every bit as much as I loved my Preston. My mom and I'd both loved men that hadn’t realized they were soon to be fathers to daughters.

  I'd loved Trey from the moment he'd held me by the pool after rescuing me and resuscitating me. I think that my father had started loving my mother as soon as they'd met. The fact that he'd taken her virginity thinking she was a prostitute followed by her cussing him into oblivion had only sweetened the deal. My dad and Trey both loved spirited women.

  Preston was asleep now having released my nipple from her grip. I leaned over and kissed her cheeks and then tucked her into her crib for the night.

  Trey had just come out of the shower in his sweats and tee shirt, his hair still damp from his shower. “Preston?” he asked.

  “She's fed and down for the night. Hungry, baby?”

  “For a couple of things,” he replied smacking my behind playfully.

  When we got out to the living room, it was obvious that Tristan and Gina had called a truce at the very least. They were on the couch all over each other kissing and feeling each other up.

  “Oh, for Chrissake,” Trey commented rolling his eyes. “Are you even hungry at this point?”

  “Not really,” I said, going to the kitchen to shut off the lights and make sure all burners were off. “I’m clearly exhausted and ready for my shower.”

  “Go for it, babe,” he replied. “I’ll get everything put away here and join you shortly.”

  Within ten minutes I was showered and in my nightgown for the night. Trey was in our suite shortly thereafter saying that we needed to move Preston’s crib.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because Tristan and Gina have apparently made up and that couch isn't big enough to accommodate the fuckfest I know is coming.”

  “But, Trey,” I whined, “How are we going to get the crib moved without waking the baby?”

  “Christ Tylar, It isn’t as if we have to take it apart and re-assemble it. There are caster wheels on it you know? I just want her out of that room.”

  “Okay. You’re right; the doorways here are plenty wide enough. Let’s just roll it down the hall into our room.”

  Trey didn’t follow me out into the hall.

  “What now?” I asked.

  “Well, I really don’t want her in here seeing our sexual shenanigans either,” he replied sheepishly.

  “That’s a not a problem, sweetie; there aren’t going to be any ‘haps’ in our room
tonight. Let’s go get her.”

  Trey and I rolled Preston’s crib into our room not disturbing her sleep whatsoever. I climbed into the bed exhausted; Trey was right behind. We snuggled together and fell asleep in each other’s arms within minutes. Sometime during the night, both Trey and I were awakened by strange high-pitched sounds. I got up quietly and approached Preston’s crib. She was sleeping soundly her thumb in her mouth.

  “Is she okay?” Trey whispered from our bed.

  “Sound asleep,” I answered making my way back to bed.

  Just then we heard the high-pitched wailing again.

  “It sounds like a cat in heat outside the building,” Trey whispered.

  “How in the hell can that sound drift all the way up to this floor?” I asked. Our answer came shortly after when we heard the headboard on the bed in the nursery banging against the wall in a steady rhythm. The “cat” screeches continued. We then heard loud male groaning; the banging had increased in rhythm and loudness.

  “Jesus Christ,” Trey mumbled loudly, “Déjà vu all fucking over again.” We both rolled our pillows up placing them around our heads to cover our ears.

  CHAPTER 41

  Trey and I both awakened to the sound of Preston babbling, “num-num, num-num.”

  “I think that means you, honey,” Trey said rolling over and nudging me. I was extremely groggy from our restless night due to the goings-on down the hall. Preston had managed to sleep right through it. Trey had said it was because she was used to those sounds. I'd elbowed him in the ribs on that one.

  “I don't sound like that,” I'd snapped at him.

  “And you better never, either,” he'd replied laughing, “or I'll put a pillow over your head.”

  Trey nudged me again. “Look at her Tylar, isn’t she cute?”

  I rose up and saw Preston standing up in her crib. She was bouncing up and down grinning from ear to ear. Her eye teeth were all the way through now. Her sleep tousled hair was standing up in places making it look like she had a couple of horns.

  “I think little ‘Vampira’ vould like to suck your teat,” Trey said trying to sound like Bella Lugosi’s Dracula.

  “Shut up, Trey,” I laughed scooting out of bed. “I hope that's not your latest nickname for her. She'll be in therapy with Karla before you know it.”

  I picked her up and smoothed her hair down before climbing back into bed with her. She nestled down against me finding my nipple and I fell back asleep. Trey must've gotten up and dressed while I slept. I woke up again when he lifted Preston from me.

  “Hey, Tristan and Gina are up. Do you want me to give Preston her bath and get her dressed?”

  “Thank you, baby. I love you.”

  “Right back at you, Mrs. Sinclair.”

  I got up and dressed in jeans and a sweater. I put my make-up on and brushed my hair up into a ponytail. I didn’t feel like flat-ironing it this morning. When I got out to the living room I could smell all kinds of breakfast aromas. Both Gina and Tristan were in the kitchen talking and laughing as they cooked.

  “Good morning, Ty,” Gina greeted me cheerily as she brought a platter of warm biscuits and cooked sausage patties out and placed it on the dining room table. “Are you hungry for one of my special Sunday breakfasts?”

  I wasn’t aware that Gina had ‘special Sunday breakfasts,’ but I was famished at any rate.

  “It looks and smells great, Gina.”

  “Take a seat then; Tristan is finishing up the omelets.”

  Trey came out just then with the baby all bathed and dressed and got her settled into her playpen.

  “Look at this,” I said nodding toward the dining room. “Tristan and Gina have been busy.”

  Trey and I took our seats at the dining room table which had been set with glasses of orange juice and ice water. Tristan appeared then with a platter of omelets, Gina followed behind with the coffee carafe filling everyone’s coffee cups. We all dug in, ravenous from doing without dinner the night before.

  “So,” I said finally breaking the silence, “is everything okay with you two now?”

  I felt Trey’s foot bump mine underneath the table.

  So? I want to know.

  Gina and Tristan looked at each other warmly and smiled. “Tristan came up with a great compromise on the name of the club and I love it,” she said beaming.

  “So, are you going to share that with us?” I asked.

  “Well, it’s a combination of what he wanted and what I wanted. He wanted it to be called ‘Tristan’s’ because it sounds more refined and more conducive to appealing to the restaurant crowd we want to have Monday through Thursday. I of course, wanted to call it ‘The Shady Lady’ for more of a party crowd appeal which we like for weekends. So, we agreed to name it ‘Tristan’s Shady Lady Saloon and Restaurant.’ What do you think?”

  They were both looking at Trey and I for our reaction.

  “Truthfully, I really like it,” I said. “It does have dual appeal.”

  “It works for me,” Trey replied, buttering a biscuit.

  “Good, we’re glad you approve,” Tristan said, taking Gina’s hand into his and squeezing it.

  Oh yeah, they're in love or very close to it!

  “So, Tristan, how long will you be staying in town, this time?” Trey asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

  “I’ll be here until the weekend. I’ve got to meet with the health inspector; interview some chef’s and meet with a contractor about putting in the wine cellar.”

  “Do you think perhaps that you could help me rearrange some stuff here at the apartment?”

  Okay, what's all of this about?

  “Sure, no problem. What do you need done?”

  “Well, first off, we need to move that bed in Preston’s room that you two are using away from the wall.”

  “Trey,” I said giving him a dirty look.

  Gina blushed and Tristan got a hint of a grin on his face.

  “Not a problem, bro,” he replied. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah, I’ll need your help rearranging my office so that it can accommodate Preston’s crib and changing table and get those things moved in there.”

  Tristan looked over at me grinning; it was my turn to blush.

  Gina and I cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen while Trey and Tristan were rearranging the furniture.

  “Were we really that loud last night, Ty?”

  “Uh, well yeah,” I answered. “Gina, can I ask you something kind of personal?”

  “Sure. We have no secrets.”

  “What's with the cat screech noises?”

  “The what?” she asked, clearly not understanding the question.

  “You realize that when you're near orgasm you kind of screech like a cat, don’t you?”

  “That wasn’t me,” she said laughing out loud.

  Oh dear God - I hope she's not going to tell me that it was Tristan!

  “Tristan and I thought it was you!”

  “What?”

  She was laughing hysterically now. “Yeah,” she said trying to catch her breath. “We’ll cop to the bed banging against the wall; Tristan gets a bit vocal, but I swear we heard that cat wailing and thought it was you being pleasured by the Hot Nazi.”

  “Oh, my God,” I laughed, feeling my face blush.

  Tristan had sat across from me at breakfast thinking that I'd done all of that wailing during the night.

  “I guess it must've been a cat in heat somewhere in the building then.”

  “You make sure Tristan knows that it wasn't me,” I said to her.

  “I will as long as you let Trey think that it was me,” she snickered.

  “Gina, why do you like to get under his skin like that?” I chided.

  “Because I can girlfriend.”

  My dad called Sunday evening to update me on the progress he'd made.

  “Tylar, I'm pleased to inform you that a federal warrant was served on Matthew Renaud yesterday. He's been taken into
federal custody on conspiracy kidnapping charges; harboring a fugitive and obstructing justice for starters. This will keep him locked up while we dig up further proof of his criminal activities.”

  “So then, evidence was found that he was involved with Maggie in kidnapping Preston?”

  “Yes. There was direct evidence found in his home. Some infant clothing that was taken into evidence as well as information gleaned from his computer and phone records.”

  “What I don’t understand is why was he involved if there was no intention of asking for a ransom?”

  “He may have had every intention of doing just that. Something may have gone wrong with their plans. Hopefully, more light will be shed once the federal agents have thoroughly interrogated him.”

  “You know, Dad, we’ve never discussed your late wife’s involvement in all of this. Are we going to?”

  “Tylar, I'm still trying to sort all of that out here in looking through her papers and bank records. So far there's nothing. She hid her tracks pretty well.”

  “But, are you shocked to think that she'd have participated in hiding the fact that I existed from you?”

  “No, quite frankly that does not shock me. She very much wanted us to be married. She was devastated that she couldn’t have children. She likely felt threatened knowing that I'd sired a child out of wedlock. What would shock me, quite frankly, is to discover she'd played any part in your mother’s death.”

  We talked for a few minutes longer. He told me that he would have a limo for me when my flight arrived Tuesday in Baton Rouge. He'd taken several days off from the bench in order to spend time with Preston and me.

  That night after my shower, I re-read my mother’s notes again. I somehow felt closer to her when I read them. I got my iPhone and replayed Maggie’s last conversation with me the morning she died. She said that my mother had instructed her to give the jewelry boxes to Trinity LaFleur; that it was the only way that she'd be safe. Maggie had said she'd wanted to keep the jewelry for herself. None of that made much sense. How would giving some mid-wife the jewelry keep Maggie safe? But she hadn’t told Maggie to give her the jewelry - she had said the jewelry boxes.