CHAPTER 40
I helped Gina get settled in to our apartment on Saturday. Tristan had ended up flying in to help her move though Gina said that nothing had changed between them. She was still in stand-off mode with him about changing the club's name.
Tristan had definitely extended the olive branch to Gina by offering to pay for professional movers.
Gina had pooh-poohed his offer by saying that she had too much pride to accept his "fucking charity." She had rented a truck fully expecting that she and I could haul her stuff out of the condo and into the truck.
Trey had put his foot down on that idea.
(Thank God!).
He and Tristan were adamant that they would load it up and take it over to her storage unit. It took them three trips to get it all moved. In the meantime, Gina and I busied ourselves at the apartment getting her clothes unpacked and put away.
Preston was playing in her crib while we worked in the nursery getting Gina settled in.
"Do you believe that Tristan flew in just to help you move?"
I was trying my best to get her spirits up.
"Oh don't let that fool you Ty. He has an appointment Monday with the health inspector to approve the kitchen for the upgraded food license for expanding our food service. Plus he is interviewing chefs this coming week. You know he plans to stay here don't you? I mean you are the one that extended that invitation."
"Well of course he is welcomed here Gina. He's Trey's brother and my brother-in-law."
"Just so you don't expect him to crash in here with me then."
"Of course not Gina," I said as if the thought had never occurred to me.
"Tristan can bunk out on the living room sofa. He would probably prefer that anyway with the big flat screen out there."
Just then we both turned as we heard Preston grunt extremely loudly. Her little cheeks were beet red.
"Uh oh," Gina laughed, watching her grunt.
"I guess since I'm bunking in here with her I've got diaper duty."
"I've got it Gina," I said grabbing a clean disposable diaper.
"No you don't Ty, this is my god-daughter and we are official roomies so I got it."
Gina scooped Preston from her crib taking the diaper from me and getting the baby wipes. I watched as she changed my baby girl, talking to her and cleaning her up thoroughly. Preston giggled at Gina's antics and kicked her chubby legs as Gina played with her. Gina was going to make one helluva a mom. I truly hoped that it would be with Tristan.
Once Tristan and Trey got back to the apartment Gina had settled Preston on a blanket in the living room and had an assortment of toys that they were playing with together.
I had dinner going. I could tell Trey and Tristan needed showers before dinner. Tristan's suitcase was in the entry hall. To avoid a scene later, I figured that I had better bring Trey into the fold as to what had transpired. I lip synced Trey indicating that I needed to speak to him privately. I left the room going down the hall to our suite. Tristan had gone into the bathroom off of the nursery to shower.
"What is it?" Trey asked as I shut the door behind us in our room.
"Trey there is major tension between Tristan and Gina."
"So?" he asked.
"Sooo," I said. "What exactly do you think the sleeping arrangements are going to be while both of them are here?"
"The same as if they weren't fighting," he answered immediately.
"One of them can bunk on the couch; the other one can bunk in the bed in the nursery."
He saw the confused expression on my face.
"Tylar," he said patiently, "It doesn't matter to me whether they are fighting or not. I was not about to let them cohabitate in my daughter's room for Chrissake!"
"What?" I asked puzzled.
"Do you think for one moment I'm going to expose my baby girl to their sexual shenanigans?"
(I guess I had not considered that.)
"Okay sweetie. I agree. So I guess you will let Tristan know that we will make up the couch for him to sleep on?"
"You got it babe," he said kissing me sweetly.
Trey went to take his shower and I fed Preston her pureed chicken and cauliflower. Gina took over after that getting Preston changed and dressed for bed. I went in to nurse her and asked Gina if she would go ahead and put our dinner on the table. Tristan had finished his shower and was out in the living room watching television.
"Sure thing Ty; got it covered."
I settled into our rocker and unbuttoned my shirt giving my baby girl access to her "num-num." She latched on fisting my breast which she hadn’t done in so long. I watched her as she gently sucked my breast with her big blue eyes studying my face.
I knew that her grandpa would love her to pieces. What was not to love about my wonderful baby girl? I had learned so much in the last few days about my own mother. I felt a bond with her which was so strange.
I had the feeling that my mom had loved me every bit as much as I loved my Preston. My mom and I had both loved men that hadn't realized they were soon to be fathers to daughters.
I had loved Trey from the moment he had held me by the pool after rescuing me and resuscitating me, calling me 'baby.' I think that my father had started loving my mother as soon as they had met. The fact that he had taken her virginity thinking she was a prostitute followed by her cussing him into oblivion had only sweetened the deal.
My dad and Trey both loved spirited women.
Preston was asleep now having released my nipple from her grip. I leaned over and kissed her cheeks and then tucked her into her crib for the night.
Trey had just come out of the shower in his sweats and tee shirt, his hair still damp from his shower.
"Preston?" he asked.
"She is fed and down for the night. Hungry baby?"
"For a couple of things," he replied smacking my behind playfully.
When we got out to the living room it was obvious that Tristan and Gina had called a truce at the very least. They were on the couch all over each other kissing and feeling each other up.
"Oh for Chrissake," Trey commented rolling his eyes.
"Are you even hungry at this point?"
"Not really," I said, going to the kitchen to shut off the lights and make sure all burners were off.
"I'm clearly exhausted and ready for my shower."
"Go for it babe," he replied.
"I'll get everything put away here and join you shortly."
Within ten minutes I was showered and in my nightgown for the night. Trey was in our suite shortly thereafter saying that we needed to move Preston's crib.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Tristan and Gina have apparently made up and that couch is not big enough to accommodate the fuckfest I know is coming."
"But Trey," I whined, "How are we going to get the crib moved without waking the baby?"
"Christ Tylar, It isn't as if we have to take it apart and re-assemble it. There are caster wheels on it you know? I just want her out of that room."
"Okay. You're right the doorways here are plenty wide enough. Let's just roll it down the hall into our room."
Trey didn't follow me out into the hall.
"What now?" I asked.
"Well - I really don't want her in here seeing our sexual shenanigans either," he replied sheepishly.
"That's a not a problem sweetie; there aren't going to be any 'haps' in our room tonight. Let's go get her."
Trey and I rolled Preston's crib into our room not disturbing her sleep whatsoever. I climbed into the bed exhausted; Trey was right behind. We snuggled together and fell asleep in each other's arms within minutes.
Sometime during the night both Trey and I were awakened by strange high-pitched sounds. I got up quietly and approached Preston's crib. She was sleeping soundly her thumb in her mouth.
"Is she okay?" Trey whispered from our bed.
"Sound asleep," I answered making my way back to bed.
Just then we heard the high-pitched wailing again.
"It sounds like a cat in heat outside the building," Trey whispered.
"How in the hell can that sound drift all the way up to this floor?" I asked.
Our answer came shortly after when we heard the headboard on the bed in the nursery banging against the wall in a steady rhythm.
The "cat" screeches continued. We then heard loud male groaning; the banging had increased in rhythm and loudness.
"Jesus Christ," Trey mumbled loudly, "Déjà vu all fucking over again."
We both rolled our pillows up placing them around our heads to cover our ears.
CHAPTER 41
Trey and I both awakened to the sound of Preston babbling, "num-num, num-num Maamaa."
"I think that means you honey," Trey said rolling over and nudging me.
I was extremely groggy from our restless night due to the goings-on down the hall. Preston had managed to sleep right through it. Trey had said it was because she was used to those sounds. I had elbowed him in the ribs on that one.
"I do not sound like
that
," I had snapped at him.
"And you better never either," he had replied laughing, "Or I will put a pillow over your head."
Trey nudged me again.
"Look at her Tylar, isn't she cute?"
I rose up and saw Preston standing up in her crib. She was bouncing up and down grinning from ear to ear. Her eye teeth were all the way through now. Her sleep tousled hair was standing up in places making it look like she had a couple of horns.
"I think little 'Vampira' vould like to suck your teat," Trey said trying to sound like Bella Lugosi's Dracula.
"Shut up Trey," I laughed scooting out of bed.
"I hope that is not your latest nickname for her. She will be in therapy with Karla before you know it."
I picked her up and smoothed her hair down before climbing back into bed with her. She nestled down against me finding my nipple and I fell back asleep.
Trey must have gotten up and got dressed while I slept. I woke up again when he lifted Preston from me.
"Hey Tristan and Gina are up. Do you want me to give Preston her bath and get her dressed?"
"Thank you baby. I love you."
"Right back at you Mrs. Sinclair."
I got up and dressed in jeans and a sweater. I put my make-up on and brushed my hair up into a ponytail. I didn't feel like flat-ironing it this morning.
When I got out to the living room I could smell all kinds of breakfast aromas. Both Gina and Tristan were in the kitchen talking and laughing as they cooked.
"Good morning Ty," Gina greeted me cheerily as she brought a platter of warm biscuits and cooked sausage patties out and placed it on the dining room table.
"Are you hungry for one of my special Sunday breakfasts?"
I wasn't aware that Gina had 'special Sunday breakfasts,' but I was famished at any rate.
"It looks and smells great Gina."
"Take a seat then; Tristan is finishing up the omelets."
Trey came out just then with the baby all bathed and dressed and got her settled into her playpen with her toys.
"Look at this," I said nodding toward the dining room.
"Tristan and Gina have been busy."
Trey and I took our seats at the dining room table which had been set with glasses of orange juice and ice water.
Tristan appeared then with a platter of omelets, Gina followed behind with the coffee carafe filling everyone's coffee cups.
We all dug in ravenous from doing without dinner the night before.
"So," I said finally breaking the silence, "Is everything okay with you two now?"
I felt Trey's foot bump mine underneath the table.
(So? I wanted to know.)