CHAPTER 54
The four of us had returned home to Atlanta after another 'fucked-up' holiday at the Sinclair's. I had told Gina that she needed to get used to it. I was starting to.
Gina and I had talked at length once we were back at the apartment. Trey and Tristan had gone out to the new house. Tristan had agreed to get Derringer and the other two horses Trey had selected transported to our new home. They were going to the feed store in DeKalb County to get the supplies ordered and delivered for the horses.
Gina and I were in the laundry room folding clean clothes and sorting them into piles.
"So Gina tell me; how do you really feel about Tristan's going along with Nigel's request for his 'DNA' for lack of a better term?"
"Truthfully Ty - I guess I don't feel nearly as emotional as you feel about it. Probably because Tristan was never engaged to Tess, but maybe the other reason is that in some way it sort of relieves my guilt for not telling Tristan that there is a miniscule chance that the baby I'm carrying could be Ian's."
I looked at Gina and apparently she read the expression I thought I had hidden.
"Okay I can tell you are disappointed in my decision Tylar; but it is my decision to make."
"I didn't say a word Gina."
"You didn't have to girlfriend. You think that I can't read your silence? I'm sorry if you don't approve but my decision is final."
"You don't owe me an apology," I replied, folding Trey's tee shirt.
"It is your decision to make and as your friend I support whatever you choose to do."
I turned to look at her and saw that she was surprised by my attitude.
She had expected me to press her to change her mind about it. That wasn't how I rolled - at least anymore.
"What has gotten into you these days?" she asked.
"I just had time to think about the things that my father and I discussed on New Year's morning. I guess I learned that everything isn't always black and white. There are shades of grey," I replied.
"Yeah," she giggled, "Like about fifty of them?"
I rolled my eyes at her as we continued with our folding.
"What about you Ty? How are you dealing with Trey's decision to donate to the cause?"
"I guess I put it in perspective. I realized that I could make it a major issue between us; throw out an ultimatum and likely get my way. All that would have done though was put a little bit of distance between us that doesn't exist now. I don't want that for us. I love Trey too much to allow my selfishness to get into the way of that. Plus I would like to think if the tables were turned a relative of mine would come to my aid."
"I think that's a very healthy attitude," Gina replied thoughtfully.
Our landline rang then and I went to the kitchen to grab the phone before the one in Trey's office woke Preston who was napping. It was my father.
"Tylar," he said, his voice had urgency to it not familiar to me.
"What is it Dad?"
"You and Trey need to get to Baton Rouge tomorrow. Matthew Renaud is to be arraigned tomorrow morning. The grand jury has recommended two counts of premeditated murder; one count of attempted murder. If convicted on just one of the murder one charges it is enough for the jury to recommend the death penalty."
"Did the results come back from my mother's autopsy?"
"Yes," he replied, "I am not privy to the details; but apparently it was enough to convince the grand jury."
"I'm glad," I said, "I want him to burn in hell."
"That's why I thought you might like to be present when he is formally charged."
"I will be there, Dad. I'm curious about the 'attempted murder' charge you mentioned. Did Matthew try to murder someone else?"
"Yes though I think that charge was brought about as an offshoot of one of the 'murder one' charges."
"I don't understand," I replied, "Who was the victim on that charge?"
"That would have been you Tylar. The tainted breast milk resulting from the poisoning of your mother I presume. Had she not switched you to formula when she did there was the possibility it could have proven fatal to you. That's how the grand jury sees it at any rate."
"What time is his arraignment Dad?"
"It's at 10 a.m. in the superior court in Baton Rouge. I'm going to arrange for a charter flight for you and Trey. Edie is here to care for Preston if you want to stay over darling."
"Thanks Dad. Call me later when you have made the arrangements. Trey is not home but I will contact him on his Blackberry now to see if he plans on accompanying me tomorrow."
I wasn't sure what Trey's schedule was since he was back to work. I was okay with going by myself. My dad would be there with me.
I got off the phone and immediately called Trey to let him know what my father had told me. He said that he and Tristan were on their way back and he would see me in a few.
I filled Gina in when I located her in Preston's room changing her diaper. She had awakened while I was on the phone with my father.
"Do you want me to stay with Preston tomorrow Ty?"
"That would be great Gina. I don't think Trey and I will stay over since Dad is chartering a flight for us."
"I would love the opportunity of being with my god-daughter all day," she replied pulling her pink sweat pants up.
Preston smiled up at me holding her arms up for me to take her.
'Num-num' time," Gina said, disposing of the dirty diaper. "Can't help her out there."
I took Preston to our room and climbed on top of our bed. I raised my shirt up giving her access as she snuggled up against me. I picked up the remote and turned the flat screen on finding a music station.
Trey came into our room about twenty minutes later. His cheeks were rosy pink from being out in the cold. He looked so handsome.
"Hey baby," he said coming over to sit on the bed.
Preston disengaged herself from me hearing his voice. She crawled over to him saying 'da-da.' He picked her up and kissed her cheeks. He then leaned over giving me a kiss on the lips. Ever since I had rescinded my objection to Trey's decision to help Nigel and Tess, we had been closer than ever.
I had totally stopped using my diaphragm unbeknownst to Trey. I had known that he would have no objection to that but I feared he would see it as me trying to compete to get pregnant before Tess. Maybe that was close to the truth. I had read in a magazine once that having sex too often could lower a man's sperm count. I had been wearing Trey's ass out in bed. That had not gone unnoticed by him however.
"Baby," he had said late one night after I had awoken him for another round, "Why the 'fuckathon every night?"
"Are you complaining Trey?"
"I'm not complaining. I'm just curious."
"Can't I be horny for my husband without him being suspicious of my motives?" I had asked feigning injury.
"I'm sorry baby," he had said, pulling me on top of him.
"I love that you love me like that."
Tristan on the other hand had evidently been privy to the same information as I had found in that magazine. He had taken a hiatus from fucking Gina on a daily basis. She had complained to me about it.
"Is Trey acting like that with you?" she had asked.
"Well he has commented about having sex too often," I had replied.
(That was totally not a lie . . .)
"You see there, Ty? This has probably become a fucking competition between Trey and Tristan to see whose sperm can get to that egg first!"
"Gina - you know how guys are," I had said changing the subject.
"Tylar - did you hear me," Trey was asking, bringing me back to the present.
"I'm sorry honey," I replied, "I guess I was day dreaming. What did you say?"
"I said that I wish I could go with you to Baton Rouge tomorrow but Tristan reminded me on the way home that he and I have - that appointment."
(Oh yes - THAT appointment. The one at the fertility clinic in Atlanta that was handling their end of it.)
"Of course Trey. I totally forgot about that. It's okay. I'm going down and back in one day. I'm just waiting for Dad to call back with the details."
"You know I would be with you baby if it wasn't for that."
"I know Trey. It's fine."
He was watching me now. Trying to figure out whether I was sincere or not. Preston had been crawling around on the bedroom floor. She had found something on the rug and evidently had put it into her mouth. We both heard her choke and gag at the same time.
Trey was over to her in a split second. He snatched her up into his arms. I started freaking out as I saw that she couldn't catch her breath. I started screaming for Trey to get whatever it was out of her mouth. How stupid was that? It had obviously gone down her throat if she was choking on it. I couldn't think straight. My baby was turning blue.
Trey remained calm. He settled Preston on his lap tilting her forward. He placed his closed fist with his thumb closest to her stomach against her bellybutton and drew it in against her firmly; he placed the heel of his other hand behind her and gave her five quick strikes to the middle of her back.
She coughed; whatever she had swallowed popped out of her mouth. She started coughing and rasping. Her breathing started back coming in fast, gulping breaths. She finally had the strength to cry. I grabbed her from Trey, holding her close to my chest and talking to her. Tears were flowing down my cheeks.
Gina and Tristan had come into our room hearing the commotion.
"What the hell happened?" Gina asked with alarm.
Trey's calmness had now been replaced by the fear that had sunk in that we had almost lost our daughter. He raked his hands threw his hair; his eyes teared up.
Preston was calmed. I walked over to Gina and Tristan.
"Preston found something on the floor and put it into her mouth. She choked on it. Trey saved her life," I sputtered.
"Oh Thank God!" Gina said.
"Why don't we take Preston out and get her something in her sippy cup?" Tristan suggested.
"Thanks Tristan," I said, handing the baby over to him.
They left with her and I went to see about Trey.
"Are you okay honey?" I asked, dropping down in front of him where he still sat on the bed.
He had clasped his hands over his face, rubbing his eyes. He looked down at me finally with his eyes still watering. He pulled me up and onto his lap where he wrapped his arms around me tightly.
"I was so fucking scared Tylar," he said.
"I know Trey. I was scared too. You kept it together though; you saved her. I freaked out. How did you know what to do?"
He shook his head back and forth getting a hint of a smile.
"That's just it baby," he said, "I have no clue as to how I knew what to do. It was if something else just took over my mind and I knew what I needed to do."
"Like maybe her guardian angel?" I asked.
"Yeah, exactly," he replied, "And I bet her name is Marley."
Trey and I searched the floor and found the object of Preston's incident. It was a penny that must have fallen from one of our pockets at some point in time. The year of minting was 1990.
My father called later in the afternoon with my flight details. He had arranged for a charter to from a private airfield in Atlanta at 6:30 a.m. the following morning. He would be at the Baton Rouge airport to pick me up. He had booked my return flight on the charter for that afternoon. I filled him in on the scare that we had earlier in the day with Preston. I included the part where we had felt some sort of divine intervention.
"I have no doubt that Marley looks after you all," he replied. "She was an angel in life and remains an angel in heaven."
Preston had been the center of everyone's attention after her ordeal that day. I bathed her after she had eaten her dinner and got her ready for bed. I rocked her while she nursed that evening. I thanked God for her being okay. I tucked her into her crib giving her kisses on her cheeks and forehead.
Gina and Tristan were cleaning up the kitchen and Trey was in the living room when I went back out after putting Preston to bed.
Trey was on the couch with his I-Pad. I went over and sat next to him. I fully intended to schedule a fuckfest with him later. He smiled as I cuddled up to him on the couch.
"Is Preston asleep?" he asked.
"Yep she's all tucked in for the night. I think I'm going to get a shower and get ready for bed since I have that early flight in the morning."
"Okay baby," he said, "I won't be far behind you."
"Good," I said to him, kissing his ear softly, then lightly tracing it with my tongue.
"Don't keep me waiting too long, okay?"
Just then Gina barreled out of the kitchen, through the living room and down the hallway. I heard the door to their room slam.
(Damn! She better not wake the baby!)
Tristan came out of the kitchen wearing a sheepish look as Trey and I both watched him hoping to find out what the hell was going on.
"Is everything okay, bro?" Trey asked him.
"Yeah. Gina's just been a bit put out because of my lack of attention to her lately if you know what I mean."
I knew what he meant but it was clear that Trey didn't have a clue. Tristan could read the fact that Trey was clueless.
"After tomorrow it won't be an issue," Tristan said with a shrug. "Everything will be back to normal between us."
"What in the hell are you talking about Tristan?" Trey blurted out.
(Uh oh.)
Tristan acted halfway embarrassed to explain it to Trey while I was sitting there.
"You know. We have that appointment tomorrow and once that is over with Gina and I can resume our . . . sexual relations."
"Wait a minute. Do you mean that you have been abstaining from sex for this?"
Trey was mortified I could tell; I acted mortified as well, looking at Tristan as if I needed him to clue me in too.
"Not exactly total abstinence but yeah, I've had to cut back on the frequency to keep my swimmers in top notch shape."
"Your swimmers?"
"Oh for Chrissake Trey, didn't you ever take Biology? Frequent sex - ejaculation if you want me to be technical about it lowers the sperm count."
"Really?" I asked feigning surprise.
(I had a feeling I was not going to get lucky tonight.)
I looked over at Trey and saw immediately that he was not fooled. I couldn't tell if he was pissed or not.
"Well listen; I've got to get my shower. See you when I get back Tristan."
"Good night Tylar," he called after me, "Have a safe trip."