CHAPTER 52
After lunch I bundled Preston up and took her out to the horse barn to visit Derringer. I had brought some cut carrots with me. I held her on my hip and showed her how Derringer would eat the carrots from my hand. He chomped them noisily and then would nuzzle my closed hand when he wanted more. She was delighted watching me with Derringer. I brushed him one-handedly and she leaned in to pat him on his silky mane.
I kept repeating the word 'horsey' to her to see if she caught on to that word as quickly as she had to the others. So far, she had not rewarded me with her rendition of it. I wanted to walk up the trail to where the cottages were for some reason. Even though I had lived in one of them a little less than two years ago, it seemed like a different era to me.
I carried her with me up the trail pointing out the different cottages and who they belonged to as if she would know these people. Nothing had changed much. As I came up to the first cottage I had occupied I saw the door open and Mark came barreling out.
(Oh My God - Mark was still here!)
"Tylar?" he hollered loudly, hurrying up to me on the path.
"Damn I thought that was you when I looked out my window. Same sexy little saunter as always."
"Same flirtatious Mark I see," I teased.
"And who might this beautiful little angel be?"
"This is our daughter, "Preston Michaela Sinclair," I announced proudly.
Preston had her fingers in her mouth but when Mark looked down at her and smiled, she gave him a big dimpled grin.
"Look at those little teeth coming in," he said with a grin. "I bet she has some bite to her just like her mama."
"Yeah, right," I laughed.
"Seriously Tylar, she is the picture of you."
"Are you serious Mark? I think she is a female version of Trey truthfully."
He studied her for a moment.
"Well she has his eyes and coloring; but the rest is all you babe."
"Hey, not to change the subject," he started, "But I understand Derringer will be leaving here in a few weeks."
"Yes - our house is nearly finished complete with a horse barn and riding arena. We hope to board horses and I've decided to teach dressage."
"Well good for you," he replied.
"What are your plans Mark?"
"Well I've been put in charge of the track and breeding stock. It's all worked out pretty well."
"Do you ever see any of the others?"
"The crew that was with you last year all graduated this past spring; with the exception of Jenna who finished grad school and is teaching in Fairfax. Clint graduated but still works over at 'the Belle; Rodney moved to Houston taking a job there; Luke moved to Fairfax around the same time as Jenna. I'll let you connect those dots."
I laughed.
"It seems like a million years ago," I reflected.
"I'm really glad that things worked out for you and Trey, Tylar - speaking of which, I think your man has come to look for you as we speak."
I turned to look in the direction of the path leading up to the cottages and sure enough Trey was on his way.
Mark gave me a pat on the shoulder and took off walking the path towards the 'Belle. I turned returning back down the way that I came and caught up with him.
"I wondered where you had gone off to," he said, pulling Preston from me and circling his free arm around my waist.
We walked back down the path towards the horse barn.
"I wanted to see Derringer and introduce Preston to him. She was enamored of course."
"Horssey." Preston squealed as we walked through the barn and she spotted Derringer again.
Trey laughed hugging her closely.
"I see we have yet another equestrian in the making," he commented.
"I think she gets that from me," I replied grinning.
When we got back to the house I changed Preston's diaper, nursed her and then put her down for her afternoon nap. The New Year's Eve festivities were at the Sinclair's estate this year since they alternated that holiday with the Andrews as well.
I had pumped a couple of bottles of breast milk earlier and put them in the fridge. I was going to party this New Year's Eve. I remembered quite well the fiasco of last year's which made me all that much more determined to make this year's better.
Trey gave me a cat whistle when he came into our suite later in the evening and saw me putting the finishing touches on my hair and make-up.
"I shouldn't let you out of our room dressed like that baby," he said perusing me from top to bottom.
I was wearing a tight black dress that fell to mid-calf with a slit up each side that went mid-thigh. The dress was strapless with a built-in underwire push up bra. I wore four inch black pumps on with dark thigh high stockings.
I accessorized with sparkly red jewelry; dangling earrings with shiny stars and a matching necklace.
"Oh Trey," I said, "I just look festive tonight."
"Just remember baby - the festivities take place later tonight. You and me in that bed right there."
He drew me to him tightly and his lips found mine in a warm and sensuous kiss. I felt him harden against me.
"Later baby," I laughed pushing away. "I don't want you mussing my hair and make-up."
"By the way Preston will be staying in Mom and Dad's suite right?" he asked pulling his shirt off getting ready for his shower.
"Trey did you ever stop to think that perhaps your parents have plans in their bed tonight?"
"Don't worry," he said with a wink and a smile, "They won't wake her."
___________________________________________
Susan had bathed Preston and dressed her in her pajamas. She said she would keep the crib in their suite again tonight so that Trey and I could sleep in tomorrow morning.
(Yeah, right….)
Gina popped over to our suite while Trey was in the shower.
"You look great," she said eying my outfit.
"Right back at you Gina," I said.
Gina was wearing a short royal blue spandex dress that had black sequins in a diamond-shaped pattern on the front and back.
"Listen to this girlfriend," she said in an almost whisper, "Tristan wants us to get engaged and then announce it tonight."
"No he doesn't," I said louder than I had intended.
"Shhh," she whispered loudly, waving her hand at me.
"Don't worry - I talked him out of it. I told him first of all I wasn't ready to jump back into marriage again and even if I was, I had no intention of him being tacky about announcing it like he had done two months ago on his birthday with that whore Libby."
"But Gina you do love Tristan don't you?"
"Of course I do Ty! What the hell kind of question is that?"
"Then why don't you want to get married?"
"I didn't say ever! Besides, I prefer to play it like you did."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I don't intend to be a knocked up bride either."
"Gina - you have such a way with words."
We both giggled. We heard the shower stop in the bathroom.
"Hey I better scoot. I wouldn't want to see the Hot Nazi coming out here in his birthday suit," she said scooting off the bed and heading out the door.
Had Gina stayed thirty seconds longer that is exactly what she would have seen. I was still sitting on the bed when Trey came out of the bathroom au natural and headed to his closet. I never tired of looking at his body; he caught me doing so as he came back out of his closet with his evening garb. He cocked an eyebrow at me his mouth curving into a sexy smile.
"No Trey. I'm all ready and I'm not getting mussed up this close to the start of the guests arriving for the party. I really mean it honey,” I pleaded as he sauntered over to the bed naked.
Thirty minutes later I was re-doing my hair and make-up in the bathroom. I caught myself humming some random tune by the Rolling Stones that had popped into my head. It was something about not always getting what you want; but if you try sometimes you might just find that you get what you need.
(Hmmm . . .interesting )
The party was in full swing with nearly all of the guests present by the time Trey and I got downstairs. A DJ was spinning records in the large family room which had been expanded to include the deck right off of it. The fire pit was going to keep everyone that had ventured outside to dance warm.
Trey went over to talk to Nigel and I made a quick path to the bar and ordered an 'Adios Mother Fucker' having to recite the recipe to the bartender.
Gina’s Aunt Becky was there; I hadn’t seen her in awhile. She was watching Tristan closely; observing the way that he and Gina interacted I suspected. She spotted me watching her watch them and waved me over. She gave me a hug.
“I saw you checking the situation out with Gina,” I said to her laughing.
“I’m just looking out for my sister’s daughter. Of course all of us were shell-shocked with what Ian pulled.”
“Yeah no one saw that coming,” I agreed.
“Did Gina mention that Ian was trying to get back together with her a couple of weeks ago?”
“Are you shitting me?”
Becky looked totally blown away by Ian's audacity.
“I was there,” I said. “She blew him off. She is all about Tristan.”
“That is apparent,” she said nodding her head.
“Just so you know Aunt Becky – he is all about her as well.”
“He damn well better be,” Becky replied, “Gina’s almost like one of my own.”
Our conversation was interrupted when we both saw Landon and Caroline come in through the main hallway.
“Well I see the entertainment has arrived,” Becky said wryly. “I think I need another beer.”
Caroline spotted me standing there and gave me a wave. She came across the dance floor noticing Gina and Tristan slow dancing to the music. She did a double take on her way over. She had her signature glass of red wine in her hand. She looked as if it was not her first of the evening.
“Hey Tylar,” she said in her semi-slurred voice, “What happened to Tristan’s bitch with the flapping fig leaves?”
“He traded up Caroline, can’t you tell?”
“I know that’s right,” she giggled signaling for Landon to bring her a full glass of wine.
"So what's this big news that Nigel and Tess brought with them from California?" she asked, taking a healthy swig of her wine.
I truthfully had no clue as to what she was talking about. Apparently that was evidenced on my face.
"Really Tylar - are you always the last one to the party?"
"Apparently so, Caroline. I've heard nothing about any news they have. Wouldn't Landon know since he is her brother?"
"You bet your perky ass he knows," she slurred. "He's keeping it from me. He says I don't know when to keep my mouth shut. Do you believe that horseshit?"
I gave her a look of disbelief. It was actually disbelief that Caroline hadn't figured that out already about herself with her numerous drunken tirades.
"I know right," she nodded misunderstanding my look as being in agreement with her.
"But," she continued on as if I was even interested, "I will tell you this. Landon is way stricter with me than Nigel had ever been. Tell you the truth - it's kind of sexy."
She started giggling about that time and swayed. I wasn't particularly anxious to be wearing her red wine on me despite the fact that I was wearing a dark color.
"Here comes your man Tylar," she said letting out a drunken version of a tiger roar, "TTYL."
She staggered on her way most likely trying to find Landon and her full glass of Merlot.
"What's 'TTYL'?" Trey asked coming up to me.
"Talk to you later," I said.
"Well excuse me; what the fuck did I do to piss you off?"
"No Trey," I started laughing. My alcohol consumption was giving me a very nice buzz.
"TTYL are the first letter initials for the phrase: Talk To You Later."
I asked Trey to get me another ‘Adios Mother Fucker’ at the bar.
"Tylar you aren't going to get shit-faced tonight are you?"
Trey - it's New Years Eve. When was the last time I really, really got to cut loose and party? So to answer your question: yes, I plan to get totally shit-faced tonight and party till I puke."
Trey grudgingly brought my drink to me. I sipped on it; about twenty minutes later I ordered another.
Trey and I danced to a couple of songs. He noticed that Gina was not drinking.
“What’s up with Gina tonight?”
“What do you mean?”
“It looks like she’s on the wagon for some reason.”
“Oh I don’t know. I think she promised Tristan she wouldn’t get wasted tonight. I think she’s just pacing herself,” I lied.
Nigel had come over after we had finished dancing. He asked if he could borrow Trey for a few minutes to discuss a matter. I decided to get my drink freshened up. When I came back into the main room, Gina was sitting talking to Tess on the sofa. I joined them.
“Did all of our men dessert us?” I asked sitting down with them.
“It appears so,” Tess replied sheepishly.
I wasn’t sure what that was about. Tess was abstaining from alcohol as well.
“Are you feeling okay Tess?” I asked.
“Oh yes, I’m fine,” she replied. “I was just getting to know Gina. I’m delighted that Tristan found his mind again.”
I burst out laughing and both Tess and Gina looked over at me.
I straightened up in my seat and looked over at Tess.
“So how is everything in California, Tess?”
“Everything is great. This will be our last trip back east for awhile. Nigel and I will be busy the next few months trying to realize our dream.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant; I had enough alcohol in me to not care about being nosey.
“Are you going to share your dream with us?”
"Ty," Gina said in a rather admonishing tone.
"No Gina - that's quite alright. We've already told both sets of parents and Tylar is family; Gina I suspect you will be soon as well so I would love to share this good news with both of you."
My curiosity was definitely piqued now.
"Gina, I'm not sure that you know this but an accident some years back made it impossible for me to carry a baby. I can conceive, but would never be able to carry a baby after the first trimester. Unfortunately when Nigel and I married we learned that he was sterile for all intents and purposes. We recently have explored surrogate options. I've had several of my eggs harvested and stored. We are going to have my eggs artificially inseminated and have located a surrogate through the agency who will have the fertilized eggs implanted into her where hopefully they will attach to the uterine wall and she will carry the baby to term."
"Oh Tess!" Gina and I both said in unison.
"That is great Tess," I said hugging her.
"You go for it Tess," Gina encouraged, "I really wish you and Nigel the best with this."
"Thank you," Tess replied smiling.
Even in my extremely buzzed state I felt as if Tess was holding something back. It was probably my imagination as I tossed down the rest of my drink and went back to the bar. Trey was still nowhere to be found and I wanted so much to dance.
Just then I saw Trey, Tristan and Nigel come back into the room. I scurried over to him, pulling him by the hand onto the dance floor as the DJ announced the next tune by saying, "It's electric!"
Trey was clearly at a loss trying to follow the steps of the electric slide. I was having a blast other than knocking into the couple next to us several times.
When that song ended, the DJ asked for requests. I shouted out "Disco Inferno." It happened to be a dance I had seen Maggie do a million times growing up. I had no clue as to what I was thinking.
The song started and I was going through the same moves that I had seen her do many times. Again Trey was not in his comfort zone with this. Then some random guy that was with the DJ saw me out there on the floor with a partner that totally hadn't a clue as to how this dance worked. He was in front of me in a second and we danced to the song as if we were Travolta and Gorney from "Saturday Night Fever."
Trey gave me a dirty look as he sauntered off the floor. The dance finished and I realized that as I left the floor I was still spinning. The DJ was starting the next tune which was a classic ACDC tune called "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap."
(Oh Sweet Jesus - the 'Adios Mother Fuckers were kicking my ass!)
I made a hasty exit to the deck; I stumbled down the two steps that led out into the yard. I traipsed quickly over to the side of the house where no one could see me from the deck. I felt my stomach start to heave.
Luckily I made it over to the line of oleander bushes that were dried up for the winter and tossed my cookies over them unceremoniously.
It had only been a figure of speech when I had told Trey earlier that I had planned on partying until I puked. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I wasn’t sure that I was done tossing just yet.
"What the hell!"
I heard Caroline's shrill, drunken voice from the ground on the other side of the bushes.
"Oh shit! Landon I think someone just puked on me!"
My glazed eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see Caroline's body sitting atop Landon in the grass, both of them half-naked.
(Holy shit!)
I quickly staggered away not wanting to be recognized. As I stumbled back across the yard toward the house I met Trey who had obviously been searching for me outside. Just as he reached me, I spewed all over the front of him.
"Jesus Christ," he hissed. "Are you happy with yourself Tylar?"
He pulled me behind him and took me around through the front entrance of the house; he halfway carried me up to our suite. Once there he planted my ass in front of the toilet where I continued to heave. I heard him running the shower to get it warmed up.
Trey somehow managed to peel my clothing off along with his and pulled me into the shower with him where he proceeded to try and get me sober. Afterwards he dried me off and dressed me in my pajamas.
The last thing I remembered before I passed out on our bed was Trey wishing me a 'Very Fucking Happy New Year.'