CHAPTER 26
“I love you, Trey . . . I love you, Trey.”
Dear God! Is that Tylar’s voice? Why is there such an echo to it? Why can’t I see her at the moment? Where in the hell am I? I freaking feel like I’ve stepped through some looking glass into a tunnel – just like that stupid book I had to read in grade school – what the hell was the name of it? Oh yeah – 'Alice in Wonderland'. Rumor had it that the author was tripping on acid when he wrote it. Is that what’s happening to me at the moment?
Can’t be. I don’t do drugs. This has to be a dream; as far as dreams go, it’s fairly pleasant. I need to find my wife in this dream and then it will be even better. She makes everything better for me. I think about her smile, her sexiness, her scent – all of it is what makes her Tylar, my Tylar. I’m betting she pops into this dream. I just need to go with the flow and catch up to her.
I feel like I’m floating now as this long tunnel is finally opening up to some gigantic ballroom. Up ahead I can see lots of people milling about. Several of them are looking my way and beckoning me to come closer. Everyone sort of looks like they’re floating just like me. I feel enveloped in peace and serenity; this dream is unfolding so differently than all of the ones I’ve had before.
I’m finally at the end of this tunnel and the grand ballroom is magnificent. I am looking around for Tylar in the crowd of people. Suddenly I spot her only she’s different. She looks a little bit younger. She smiles and approaches me with a baby in her arms . . .a very tiny baby – not Preston. Tylar is
wearing a beautiful red sweater dress. It's both familiar and not familiar, if that makes sense. I see that she has fixed her hair a bit differently.
She glides effortlessly over to me, cradling our little bundle of joy next to her.
“Hey baby,” I say to her, “You look great. Where have you been? Whose baby?"
She is quiet as she tilts the baby upward to give me a peek beneath the soft white blanket.
I look down into the little cherub face. It’s Marley! My look of surprise is evident as I look back at Tylar and see her smiling at me with her green eyes twinkling.
Whoa – wait a minute. Tylar’s eyes are tawny brown; I look back at the baby and then at the woman. My God – it’s Marla!
“Marla?” I hear my voice but I don’t recognize it. It has a melodic quality to it that is not familiar to me.
“Yes, Trey, it’s Marla,” she answers in a sweet and melodic voice of her own. “I’m watching over Marley for you and Tylar. She is quite exquisite, isn’t she?”
My eyes drop to my baby daughter - the one that I had never known. She is beautiful. Her eyes flutter open. I had never seen them because she was 'born silent.' That is how the hospital staff had put it. It sounded so much better than 'stillborn.'
Her eyes are tawny brown; just like Tylar's. She smiles up at me displaying a dimple just like mine. I am filled with love for this child but happiness as well. It is a very strange emotion that I am feeling. I am not familiar with it.
"Her eyes," I comment, Marla interrupts.
"Those are the eyes of Preston Tylar," she finishes for me. "They are the most beautiful shade of brown I've ever seen. My Tylar has those eyes; my beautiful Tylar Jamie."
I lower my face to my daughter's and brush a kiss across her soft, baby skin. She grins up at me and I feel as if I will burst with pride and with joy.
"Can I hold her?"
Marla continues to smile down at Marley. She clearly has taken to being a grandmother even though she looks like a teenager.
"I thank you so much for caring for her, Marla, but I really think I need to take her now; I have to take her home to Tylar. She will be so happy to have Marley home with us. Preston will be excited to see her sissy. Our family will be just as we planned it."
Marla doesn't answer me. She continues to cuddle the baby as if she hasn't heard a word that I've said. I certainly do not want to have mother-in-law problems in this otherwise perfect dream, but being Marley's father supersedes her as grandmother. I need to take our baby girl home.
"Marla, I'm sorry, but I really must insist you hand my daughter over to me so that we can get home."
I reach for the baby but my hands seem to go right through her as if she is nothing more than an image. What the hell? I look at Marla and she is slowly fading; the image of her and Marley are fading from my view as are the rest of the people in the grand ballroom. I must be awakening from this very strange but very calming dream. I don't want to wake up until I can bring our baby home. I don't want Tylar sad anymore about not having Marley with us.
I am startled by the tunnel voices again. It is Tylar and Tristan. They seem to be arguing. It is unusual for Tristan to be arguing with anyone - other than me I think to myself chuckling. I can hear their conversation but it's puzzling to me. I need to wake up and find out what the fuck is going on!
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I was jostled awake where I had been sleeping in a hospital chair that doubled as a lazy boy. It was Tristan. The open blinds revealed that it was dark out now.
"What time is it?"
"It's late, Tylar. It's time for you to go back to your hotel and get something to eat and go to bed. I'll stay here tonight with Trey."
"No," I argued, "I am not leaving here until Trey wakes up."
"Tylar," his voice was now taking on the same strict tone that Trey's did when he meant business, "You are not staying here around the clock. Trey would not want that; as his brother, I intend to carry out his wishes while he is temporarily incapacitated. End of discussion."
"Tristan - please? I need to be here with him."
"We will take shifts. Right now this is my shift. I had dinner already and I am relieving you. Your limo is outside waiting. I will see you in the morning, Tylar."
I reluctantly took my leave when I realized that Tristan was not going to budge. I went over and kissed Trey several times. I assured him that I would be back in the morning.
As promised the limo was waiting outside for me. I was driven the short distance to my hotel where I showered and collapsed into bed exhausted. I wanted morning to come quickly so that I could be with Trey again.