CHAPTER 51
Our arrival at Trey's parent's home was met with hugs and kisses; they were ecstatic to see Preston again. Both Clive and Susan commented on how big she was getting.
"I'm sure it won't be long before Preston is gifted with a little baby brother or sister," Susan commented giving me a wink.
I looked over at Trey's amused expression. I had just gotten off my period the day before. I couldn't very well blurt out that she might be blessed with a first cousin much sooner. I even hated keeping that from Trey but a BFF promise given allowed no exceptions.
I asked where Nigel and Tess were.
"Oh they drove over to see Tristan's winery now that it is in full production," Susan answered.
"Tristan hasn't been spending much time there but it does pretty much run itself with the staff he's hired. I expect the nightclub has been keeping him busy in Atlanta."
"That and Gina," Trey piped up.
Susan gave a little smile.
"I remember Gina. That's Becky's niece correct?"
"Yes," I replied, "She was recently divorced and it seems that she and Tristan are perfect for each other."
"Well I am so happy," she beamed.
"Thank God that awful Libby is out of the picture. What was Tristan thinking?"
"I don't think that he was thinking Mom - at least not with his upstairs brain," Trey replied smiling.
"Trey you do have a way with words," his mother admonished.
Just then Preston crawled over to Susan and lifted her arms up to be picked up. Susan scooped her up into her lap. Preston nuzzled against her chanting, "num-num."
Susan looked over at us puzzled.
"She wants something called 'num-num' it would seem."
"That means she wants a sliced up banana Mom," Trey said with a wink.
"It's about her lunch time anyway."
"Well of course sweetheart. Nana will get you a sliced banana."
She took Preston to the kitchen for the banana. I hoped that it would appease her.
"Trey you're insufferable today; what the hell has gotten in to you?"
He gave me a wicked smile. I knew that look.
"Hey Mom," he called out to Susan in the kitchen, "Can you watch Preston while Tylar and I take a nap?"
(Oh my God - I was going to kill him!)
"Well of course darling," she replied, "Nana wants to spend some quality time with her grand-daughter."
Trey gave me his impish grin taking my hand and pulling me behind him up the staircase.
"Trey," I implored once we had reached our suite, "Don't you think that may have been a bit obvious?"
"She's fine with it," he replied, his hands raising my sweater up over my head.
"You heard her baby - she thinks Preston needs a brother or sister. Besides, it's been like four days."
Trey and I spent a delicious hour on our "nap."
Afterward we both showered and changed. I was reapplying my make-up when he came in to blow dry his hair.
"Seriously Tylar," he said, "I really would like to consider starting to expand our family I mean if you think it is the right time."
"I thought we agreed to start trying this summer Trey?"
"I know we did baby; it's just that I don't want our next child to be that far behind Preston. I remember what it felt like with Nigel and Tristan being so close in age and then years later, I came along. They both thought of me as a royal pain in the ass."
"I think they still do," I said smiling at his reflection in the mirror.
Trey grabbed me from behind lifting me up in his arms and twirling me around.
"You have one smart mouth on you don't you wife," he said in faux admonishment.
"Okay, okay," I said giggling. "I will agree to not use birth control after we move into our home. How about that?"
"Sounds good to me baby," he replied, capturing my lips in a lingering kiss.
"I love you Tylar."
"I love you Trey."
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I finally got a chance to catch up with Tess at dinner. She seemed radiant for some reason. It was obvious that her marriage to Nigel agreed with her. She went on about how much Preston had grown; I filled her in on what had happened with my father and that we were still trying to get some proof on what had happened with my mother.
"Tylar," she said her eyes wide, "You have such strength and tenacity. I truly hope in my heart that all of this leads to justice for you. That was such a tragedy to lose your mother to circumstances such as you described. I am so glad for you that out of all of the tragedy you were blessed with finding your father."
"I know," I replied, "It felt really strange at first but now he is just my dad, you know?"
She leaned over and hugged me.
"I want only the best for you," she said.
Trey and I bathed Preston and got her in her pajamas. Susan had moved the crib into their suite and asked if Preston could bunk in their room for the night. Trey had no issue with it naturally.
I nursed Preston on our bed while Trey visited downstairs with his family. I hadn't had much alone time with my baby girl today. I watched as she nursed, talking to her.
She smiled releasing my nipple and pointing to a recent portrait of Trey's mother and father that was on the wall in the suite.
"Na-na, Papaw," she said.
"Yes Preston," I replied excited about her extended vocabulary.
She seemed to pick up new words and names on a daily basis.
Once she had fallen asleep I carried her down to their suite and tucked her into her crib.
I was tired for the day and got changed into my pajamas and reclined on our bed falling asleep before Trey had come to our suite.
Tristan and Gina arrived at the manor just a bit after ten o'clock the following morning. I could tell something was up the minute they came into the foyer. Gina greeted Susan and Clive warmly and then gave me her eye signal that said she needed to see me alone. I nodded looking over to where Trey was sitting in the living room engaged in a conversation with Nigel. Tess was over on the other couch playing with Preston. It was clear to make my exit.
When I got to our suite, Gina was already there stretched out across our bed on her stomach. She looked miserable.
"Gina what is it? What's wrong?"
"Tristan knows that I'm pregnant," she replied with obvious irritation.
"Hey, I did not say a word. I swear."
I sat down next to her on the bed.
"Yeah I know that you didn't. It is totally my own damn fault."
She clasped her hands behind her head, ruffling her spiky blond hair.
"What the hell happened?"
"Stupid me tossed that EPT stick into the trash can in our bathroom. I forgot what a total neat freak Tristan is. He was emptying our bathroom and bedroom trash cans to take down to the dumpster before we left to come here and happened to spot it."
"Holy shit. What did he say?"
"Oh - he is ecstatic! He wanted to know when I had planned on telling him the good news."
"What did you say?"
"I told him that he had ruined my New Year's surprise and acted all injured about it."
"So you are not going to tell Tristan there is a possibility that the baby is not his?"
Gina propped her hands up under chin and looked over at me.
"Would that make me a horrible person Ty? I mean come on it isn't as if the baby is going to be born with a British accent or anything? Besides the chances are only slim that Ian might be the father."
"Oh Gina I don't know. I think you owe it to Tristan to be honest about what happened. I mean it's not like you slept with Ian after you had already started a relationship with Tristan, right? I really think that he will understand."
"You are probably right Ty. But the thing is now he is going to wonder why I waited to tell him something this significant. It makes me look not only slutty but sleazy, too."
She started crying and I understood that she was struggling with this decision.
"Do you want me to talk to him Gina?"
"Oh God no, Ty. He can't know that you know."
"Why? He knows we are BFF's."
"Tristan is funny about some things. He is all pumped about making the announcement to the family."
"He's not going to do that this holiday?" I asked.
"I asked him to wait until after I saw my OB/GYN. I am so emotional; I don't know what I would do if Tristan walked out on me. I really love him Ty."
"Gina just relax and not stress out about it right now, okay? Now is not the time or the place for you to approach him on this anyway."
Secretly I so much wanted for just one of the Sinclair family holidays to not be interrupted by some sort of fucked-up drama.
"Okay," she sniffed; "I will wait until we get back to Atlanta."
"Okay good. Just put this out of your mind and enjoy being with Tristan and his family for the next couple of days."
"I would like to go over and visit Aunt Becky; I do want to share this with her."
"I think that might be a good thing," I stated.
I knew her Aunt Becky would help her gain some perspective on this and console her in a motherly way. That was what Gina needed at the moment.