I was reeling in disbelief. After the wonderful and magical evening that Trey and I had spent together how could he possibly have just walked out like that without telling me?
I was devastated and disappointed. I could understand if he wanted to console his brother; but why not let me know he was going out? Why had he put me into the middle of this?
Gina was still sobbing which I knew was not good for her condition. I needed to make her my first priority.
"Gina, I am going to make you some herbal tea and then we are going to get you into bed to rest okay?"
"Okay," she whimpered, still sobbing.
She was so vulnerable which was not Gina. I knew now that she was truly in love with Tristan and a mess over all of this.
I made her some herbal tea which seemed to relax her. I helped her change into her jammies and tucked her into bed convincing her that Trey and Tristan would talk and everything would be put into perspective. I bet her that Tristan would be back in her bed by the time she awoke the next morning. I think I succeeded in putting her mind at ease.
I crawled back into my bed. The bed where just a couple of hours earlier Trey and I had made love like we never had before; where we had declared our love and commitment to each other over and over again.
I buried my face into Trey's pillow smelling his scent and feeling my own tears as they burned a path down my cheeks.
EPILOGUE
North Bay Hospital, July 31, 2013.
I was pacing back and forth in front of Gina's hospital bed. I had my Blackberry up to my ear talking to Gina's Aunt Becky. Gina's mother was supposed to be here but since Gina was two week's early her mother had to make last minute arrangements at her job in New Jersey in order to get away.
"She is still at four centimeters Becky," I said. "When is her mom planning on getting in here?"
Just then Gina screamed out in pain.
"I gotta go Becky. She is having another contraction."
I hurried over to Gina's side and began coaching her just like she had coached me over a year ago.
"That's it Gina," I said soothingly, "He-he-he, again, he-he-he, that's right. You are doing great."
"Fuck this shit Ty! I need some meds!"
"Gina you have had all of the meds that they can give you at the moment. You will get your epidural once you reach five centimeters which hopefully will be really, really soon."
"I know that I've been a pain in the ass today to you Ty," she said. "It's just that we weren't expecting little junior this soon, you know?"
"I know Gina. It's fine. I've been there remember?"
"Yeah, I know you have Ty. Could I please have some more ice chips? They really seem to help."
"Of course Gina," I replied, grabbing the cup. "I will be right back with your ice chips."
I left her room and went out to the hallway heading down to where the ice machine was located. I decided to phone Jean to check up on Preston. She answered the phone quickly.
"Hi Jean, it's me. How is my baby girl doing?"
"Well she is perfect as always. Do you want to talk to her?"
"Yes please. Put her on the phone."
"Mommy," I heard Preston's sweet voice over the phone.
"Hi Preston," I said. "Aunt Gina is getting ready to have her baby. Isn't that exciting?"
"Baabyy!" she squealed laughing.
"Are you being good for Jean?" I asked her.
She said something I was not able to make out but she finished with a giggle so it must all be good I thought.
Preston was delighted with feeling my blossoming tummy that held her baby brother or sister. She was constantly laying her head across my belly trying to hear the baby as she called it.
"Mommy loves you now please give the phone to Jean," I instructed.
"Bye Mommy."
"Bye sweet girl."
Jean got back on the phone.
"Don't worry about anything here Tylar," Jean assured me, "We are doing just fine. You stay with Gina and help her through this. I've got everything under control here. Just take care of yourself okay?"
"I will. Thanks Jean."
I got Gina's ice chips and hurried back to her room. She was likely to bitch at me for taking so long to get back. When I got there her nurse was examining her under the sheet tent.
She pushed back from Gina's bent legs, peeling off her Latex gloves and announced that she was at five centimeters.
"Did she say Lucky 5?" Gina asked.
"Yep, you are there."
"Thank God. Give me my fucking epidural now."
The nurse scurried away to do Gina's bidding. She was not what one would consider a model patient. But then, I never figured that she would have been.
"Did you bring my ice chips?" she demanded.
"Yes Gina, they are right here," I replied setting them on the tray table next to her hospital bed. She immediately grabbed a handful and started shoveling them into her mouth.
"Oh that is better," she breathed.
"Really?" I asked.
"Those ice chips never did that much for me."
"It's like they make my teeth hurt so much that I forget about the fucking pain between my legs," she gasped crunching on the ice.
That had to be a 'Ginaism'. That is what I had started calling her particular quotes and sayings that she seemed to always be coming up with. I got a damp washcloth and wiped her forehead with it.
"Ty," she said, "I just want to thank you for being here with me. Who else would come to my rescue like you have?"
"Really Gina? I know of one person that would."
"Who?"
"You," I laughed. "You have always been there for me girlfriend," I said imitating her New Jersey accent.
"Hey I called your Aunt Becky while I was out getting your ice chips. She said your mom is trying like crazy to rearrange her work schedule to fly down. She wasn't expecting an early arrival. No one was apparently," I laughed.
"That's me," she conceded, "Never a dull moment I guess."
"That is what makes you special Gina," I said to her, taking her hand.
"Listen to me. I want to tell you something that you told me awhile back. You are my best friend and you are like my sister. I am here for you always. Got it?"
"I got it girlfriend," she said smiling.
The nurse came in just then bringing the long needle that would administer Gina's epidural. I was about as relieved as Gina was that she was finally getting it. My one ear had gone slightly deaf with the screaming and cussing. The nurse gave her the shot and Gina relaxed back against her pillows.
I watched as she laid back and totally relaxed. Hopefully she would be able to dose off until it was time to push which shouldn't be all that far off. It seemed as if we had been going at this for hours.
I felt the baby kick inside of me. It felt like he or she was doing somersaults inside my belly. This baby was quite a bit more active than Preston had been in the womb. My due date was October 17th; Tess's due date was November 15th. I didn’t know the sex of this baby. I wanted to be surprised just as I had been with Preston.
I rubbed my rounded belly with the palm of my hand. This pregnancy had been so much different than my pregnancy with Preston. I had suffered bouts of morning sickness for months. The thought of sex had repulsed me. My only hope was that I delivered a boy. Somehow that would make it all worth it. I didn't want any more children after this baby. A girl and a boy would make this family complete. I hadn't shared my decision with Trey yet. I needed to get back to my plan for the future. The plan that had dissipated once I had become pregnant with Preston.
Just then Gina woke from her momentary doze. Something was wrong. I saw the look of alarm in her eyes. I immediately went closer to her bed.
The epidural should have kicked in; she should have been feeling no pain. She writhed in agony. It was then that I looked down and saw the blood stain spreading across her bottom sheet. Her body started convulsing. I pressed the buzzer for the nurse. I heard the screams then; they were coming from me not Gina.
"Somebody get down here freaking stat!"
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