Trey was seated watching me.
"Yes sir, what can I get you?"
"Hmm, let's see. How about a "Kiss on the Lips?"
"Sure thing," I replied leaning in and kissing him.
"Uh, Tylar, I kind of meant that I would really like to try the drink?"
"Oh, okay," I laughed.
I fixed Trey his drink and then waited on a couple of other patrons before returning to him.
He had a serious look on his face and I knew that there was something he wanted to share with me.
"Tylar I had a call today from Judge Tylar."
I immediately stopped wiping the counter of the bar to look at him.
"Judge Tylar? Why was he calling you?"
"He had my contact information from the case file. It seems he wanted some information on you since he obviously saw that we were together."
'Trey," I breathed, my heart racing, "Does he think he's related to me?"
"Well honey, it's complicated. He saw the extreme resemblance that you apparently have with your mother. He noticed the antique pearl drop earrings and teardrop necklace that he had given to a girl named 'Marley' that he had known briefly years ago. He was wondering if your maiden name was 'Renaud,' though he hasn't quite drawn a direct connection to you and him. If I had to guess, I would say that if he is your father he had no idea that you even existed."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him that your maiden name was 'Preston,' and that your heritage was sketchy at best."
"Trey it's time you took me to see Maggie. I will know the truth even if I have to beat it out of her."
"That might be difficult if she has had legal representation assigned or retained. I'm sure the guards would take issue with your beating her but maybe not."
He smiled and put his arm around me.
"I'll make some calls in the morning."
CHAPTER 30
I had just gotten home from spending the morning at the salon getting trimmed, highlighted, waxed, and manicured when Trey phoned from his office. Jean had watched Preston while I was out and managed to clean the apartment while she was there.
"Hi sweetie," I said when I answered the phone.
"You won't recognize your wife when you get home. I spent the morning getting a major overhaul."
"Tylar I have some news for you. With all that has happened recently I'm not sure if you will consider this bad news or not."
Immediately my heart dropped to my stomach. What could it possibly be now? I sat down on the couch waiting for Trey to continue.
"I talked to the Deputy D.A.'s office this morning to see what the status was on Maggie's arraignment. It has been postponed twice. I found out the reason."
"What is it Trey?"
(Did I even want to know this?)
I was afraid that he was going to tell me that she had escaped from the jail; or perhaps she had gotten bonded out because of some administrative error. With Maggie just about anything was possible.
"Maggie has been in the jail's infirmary. They moved her this morning to St. Matthew's. She is in the intensive care unit of the hospital. She is extremely ill and it is life threatening."
I didn't know how I felt about what Trey had just shared with me. Part of me wanted to feel happy; to hope that any threat she posed to me or my family was on the verge of being snuffed out like a candle that has burned too long. The very selfish part of me wanted her to linger long enough for me to interrogate her and gain the information that she owed me after the years of lying and deceit.
"Did you hear me Tylar?"
"Yes. I'm sorry Trey. I was kind of lost in thought there for the moment; trying to absorb all of this. Do you know the particulars of her illness?"
"Apparently she had an extremely high fever when she got here from West Virginia. No one is sure how long she had been ill but my guess is that since extradition was imminent, the authorities there didn't seek the necessary medical assistance for her. They probably preferred having it picked up on Georgia's tab since she was coming back here ultimately. The information I was given was that it likely started out being a low grade viral or bacterial infection that affected her internally. It may be somehow connected to that unassisted stillbirth. They just don't know for certain. They suspect she has been bleeding internally for awhile. It has now manifested itself into a major bacterial infection that has gotten into her blood stream. It could be fatal if she goes septic."
I didn't pretend to understand the medical terminology. It sounded to me as if Maggie could be on borrowed time. I needed some of that time. I was determined to have it.
"Is she coherent Trey?"
"I don't know about that. They started her on intravenous antibiotics at the infirmary. The jail chaplain went with her to the hospital and she is to contact me as soon as Maggie is stabilized. She understands that you are a relative so it is possible you will be permitted in on the ICU."
"Trey sweetie - please do your best. I have to talk to Maggie. This may be my last opportunity."
"I understand baby. I will call you just as soon as I hear from the chaplain. I'm not letting you go up there by yourself though. Do you have someone to watch Preston?"
"Jean's just finishing up here. I'll see if she can stay over."
"Okay sweetie; make those arrangements and wait to hear back from me. I love you Tylar."
"I love you Trey."
I busied myself with getting dinner prepared. I had gone online to a great website called, 'Pinterest' and found all kinds of great tips for cooking. I was all into making crock pot stuff so I found a recipe for roasted chicken and dressing that could be made in the crock pot. I prepared it according to instructions and went about my usual business.
Jean had finished the cleaning just as Preston awoke from her nap. She went ahead and changed her while I showered and dressed. Preston was in her playpen playing when I emerged, Jean had dressed her so cute in blue jeans and an Atlanta Falcon's sweatshirt. Trey had purchased the sweatshirt for her awhile back. Jean had piled her baby hair into another 'Pebbles' ponytail.
She scrambled to her legs holding onto the netting of the playpen as she pulled herself up. She was smiling and gibbering at me.
"Hi sweetheart," I gushed at her going over to where she was. "Did mommy's baby have a nice nap?"
"Maamaa"
I looked at her and she was holding her arms up.
"You just called me 'mama' Preston. What a good girl," I crooned scooping her up.
We settled back on the sofa. I switched the television on and channel surfed for something other than any of the multiple ESPN channels Trey subscribed. Preston was tugging at my blouse with her little fingers. I unfastened the buttons, and unhooked my bra giving her access. She eagerly cuddled up against me and began nursing.
Jean came into the room and asked if I wanted her to puree some of the boiled turkey and sweet potatoes that I had cooked.
"Yes Jean I would appreciate that. I also want to thank you for all of your help these past few weeks."
"I love caring for Preston and for you and Trey too for that matter," she said with a smile.
"I was telling my daughter Cathy just last week how much I was going to hate it when you moved out to the county in a few weeks."
"Jean - Trey and I have been meaning to discuss that with you. I apologize that we haven't done it sooner. Would you consider moving out there with us? The house is plenty big and you would draw a full-time salary."
"Why Tylar I don't know what to say," she said, starting to get a bit choked up.
"I'm so honored that you would ask me. Of course I would love that. I love my daughter Cathy - don’t get me wrong but sharing an apartment with her and her husband Hank these past few weeks hasn't been the ideal situation."
"Fantastic," I said. "Then its official and I for one couldn't be happier Jean."
I finished nursing Preston and got her settled in her playpen. I was showing her how to put a ten piece wooden puzzle together when Trey called on the landline.
"I've been trying to call your cell," he said.
"Sorry Trey - I must've have left in the bedroom after my shower."
"Good you're ready then. I'm on my way to the apartment. I should be there in five minutes so walk out front and I will pick you up there. We're on our way to the hospital. Maggie is lucid and this might be the best opportunity you will have to talk to her."
I made haste to let Jean know that I was leaving. She had been perfectly willing to stay as late as I needed her to stay. I had filled her in a little bit on the details. She was a compassionate person.
I grabbed my jacket and gave Preston a kiss and was out the door. Once on the elevator I had a few moments to reflect on all that was happening.
I realized that I had no clue how I would react when I saw Maggie again after all of this time. I had no idea what emotions would rise to the surface. I hadn't seen her for more than a year though it appears she had never been far from me at times. There was a possibility she would not give me the information I wanted knowing the depths of her hatred. Trey had just pulled his Mercedes up to the curb when the doorman opened the door for me and I stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"Hi baby," he said as I got in and fastened my seat belt. "Are you ready for this?"
"I've been ready for this for a long time Trey. I'm scared and anxious. I'm not sure what to expect."
"That's natural sweetie," he said.
"Let me fill you in as far as what I know. The chaplain said that Maggie is resting comfortably. She is still on IV antibiotics and some pain meds as well. If they can eradicate the infection from her blood before it kills off her organs she will survive."
"What are the odds of that Trey?"
It was a question that had to be asked.
"Not in her favor from what the doctor conveyed to Sandy Meyers, the chaplain."
I looked over at my husband knowing that he was waiting for me to say something.
"I don't feel anything at all. I mean I don't hate her as a person. I hate the things that she has done but I don't harbor any hate for her as a human being. I think I pity her and the wasted life that she's led."
"I suppose under the circumstances you are more compassionate than I would be," he replied, taking my hand into his and squeezing it gently.
"I'm glad that you will be with me there Trey."
CHAPTER 31
The ICU at St. Matthews allowed for each patient to have a private glass-walled room. There was a large triage in the center where nurses constantly monitored the screens overhead for the various patients' vital signs.
Sandy Meyers, the jail chaplain that had accompanied Maggie to the hospital met us in the waiting area just outside of the ICU. She introduced herself to me still referring to Maggie as my mother. I decided not to press the truth at the moment because I needed my ticket inside. Sandy told us which room she was in and said that my 'mother' was anxious to see me.
Trey held my hand as we went to Maggie's room. I went into the room first. Seeing her lying in the hospital bed looking frail and small, hooked up to IV's and monitors was surreal for me. She looked over as Trey and I got closer to her bed.
"Well now look at you Tylar. All grown up and married to such a fine looking man."
Maggie looked as if she had aged ten years since I had last seen her. I tried to fake a smile but it wasn't coming off very well.
"Hello Mom," I said.
"Oh I expect you know by this time that I am not your mother," she said with a slight twinge of a smile on her dry, cracked lips.