Be My Baby(Book 3 of 'Baby Series') by A. M. Smith
CHAPTER 1
I was pacing back and forth in the visitor's lounge with my Blackberry up to my ear. I was trying like hell to reach Trey. I wanted to let him know what was going on with Gina.
The door opened suddenly and Tristan came in. His face was pale. He was scared. I hadn't pulled any punches when I had finally gotten in touch with him earlier. I had lit into him pretty good. I felt bad afterwards when he told me the reason he hadn't heard his phone before then was because he was busy sanding and staining the cradle he had made for the baby. He had been working on the nursery furniture in his spare time in the basement at the club. It was to be a surprise for Gina.
"How is she?"
"I don't know anything more, Tristan. They took her for an emergency C-Section. It seems like it's taking too long. I'm scared."
Tristan came over and pulled me to him. We both loved Gina.
"How are you feeling, Tylar?"
"I'm holding up okay. This pregnancy is certainly different than with Preston's. I'm just so tired all of the time. When my doctor increased my vitamins then I was nauseated all of the time. I'll get through it."
"Where's Trey? Have you called him?"
"I've tried several times. Tonya said that he and the new junior partner are in depositions and can't be interrupted."
"Oh. Amber, huh?"
"Who else?"
Just then the nurse came out to the lounge and asked who was here for Gina Hatton. Both Tristan and I answered at once.
"Well only one of you can come back. She's in recovery now."
I turned to Tristan.
"Call my cell and let me know as soon as you talk to her doctor or her?"
"I promise," he said, squeezing my hand. He headed out the door, right behind the nurse.
I sat back down on one of the stuffed chairs. I was glad that Gina and Tristan had worked things out. I never doubted that they would. Surprisingly, it was Trey that had talked some sense into Tristan about the situation. That had shocked the hell out of me.
Trey had been furious with me the night all of this had gone down. Ian had presented some lab report to Tristan at the club showing him that he had a normal sperm count of all things. Tristan immediately jumped to the conclusion that Gina had been trying to pull one over on him by not telling Tristan that she and Ian had hooked up one last time right before Gina and Tristan became involved.
It had been a real mess for about a week. Trey had calmed down sooner than Tristan. Gina had simply told Tristan that he could believe what he wanted to believe. She didn't give a shit. She would raise the child with or without him. They eventually worked it out but Gina was better at forgiving than forgetting. She told Tristan she was having the DNA testing done as soon as the baby was born. She also told him once she had the results she was going to personally shove them up his ass.
I giggled as I remembered standing there at the club and watching her as she had lit into him. She had jabbed her finger into his chest to drive the point home. Tristan had simply watched her calmly. When she had finished her tirade, he had pulled her against him and held her tightly. He had told her that it was fine; that he deserved it, and that he loved her.
He had treated Gina well during the rest of her pregnancy. They had moved her furniture into Trey's old apartment once we had moved out. It was their home now. Gina had re-done Preston's nursery preparing for a boy. She had wanted to know the sex of the baby. Both she and Tristan were going to be great parents. I just wished that he would call me. I needed to know they were okay.
My Blackberry chimed just then; it was Tristan.
"Hey," I said.
"She's fine; the baby is fine."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
(Thank God.)
"Apparently there was a separation of the placenta and tearing of something else. I don't know all of the technical terminology involved but her doctor said she will be fine. She needs to stay in the hospital for a few days. Our son weighs six and a half pounds and he is beautiful, Tylar."
"Oh Tristan, I am so happy for you both. Congratulations, Daddy. When can I see them?"
"She can have visitors tomorrow. She's pretty groggy right now. Hey - do you need me to drive you home or anything?"
"No. I'm good. I've got my car here, so no worries. Tell Gina that I love her?"
"I'll do it, Tylar. See you tomorrow."
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Jean had Preston fed and in her pajamas by the time I made it home. I had still not heard from Trey. I filled Jean in on Gina's status. She assured me that those things, while not all that rare, are not all that common, either. I knew that Jean was worried about my pregnancy. She knew how sick and tired I had been. I don't know how I would have managed had it not been for her.
I walked out to the barn to check on Derringer. Marcus was still out in the paddock area when I got there. Derringer had strained a ligament earlier in the week and I wanted to make sure that Marcus was still putting the liniment on it and wrapping it. I hadn't gotten out to the barn yesterday. It had not been one of my good days.
"Hey there, Tylar," he greeted me with a smile. "Are you feeling any better today?"
"A little; thanks. Just wanted to check on Derringer, Marcus."
"Don't trust me to take care of that spoiled horse of yours, huh?"
"You know me," I replied with a wink. I checked on Derringer; he had a fresh wrap on.
"See?"
"Okay, okay. Yes, I am a worrywart about some things. I appreciate your tolerance of that, Marcus."
The truth was, I don’t know what I would have done without Marcus looking after the horses and keeping up with ordering supplies and scheduling stud services. My father had sent two gorgeous Arabians to us shortly after we had moved to the ranch. The stud fees we collected from those were a small fortune alone.
"I'm sorry I haven’t done more around here to help, Marcus."
"Hey now," he said, leading 'Majestic Maverick' out of his stall, "I know you haven't felt well, Tylar. Don't you worry a thing about it, okay? The important thing is to take care of yourself and that baby. We'll manage out here for the time being."
He clicked his tongue and walked the horse out into the arena area for exercise. I liked Marcus regardless of Trey's feelings about him. Trey always seemed to think that any male working with me or around me had some ulterior motives for trying to get into my 'knickers' as he put it. I had hired Marcus several months after we had moved out here. The stud service and boarding had grown significantly. Trey had told me that I needed to financially justify hiring a full-time hand which I easily did. I think even Trey was surprised at how lucrative our facility had become. Still, he had made the occasional comment about how much time I spent with Marcus. He hadn't made those comments in awhile. Probably since my pregnancy had become so obvious.
I could have raised a stink about how much time he spent with Amber these days. Ever since they brought her into the firm as a junior partner several months back, Trey had been tasked with mentoring her. Not that he complained of course. She had been out to the house several times working with Trey on various cases. I didn't like her. I knew she knew that as well.
I walked across the pasture back up into the house. I saw the headlights of Trey's car as he came up the driveway; another car was right behind him. Shit! That was Amber's little two-seater BMW. Of course, I would totally look like shit at the moment. Trey might have shown me the common courtesy of advance notice, but no, he never did where she was concerned.
He had told me I should appreciate the fact that when he has to work late, he does so at home. That part I was used to; I just didn't appreciate him having Amber right next to him working in our home. She wanted him. That was very obvious to me.
I pulled my muddy boots off and dropped them to the floor of the back porch. Hopefully, if I went in through the back I could avoid the prissy bitch. No such luck. She and Trey were in the kitchen getting coffee made.
"Well Tylar, hello," Amber greeted, taking off her coat and putting it on the back of a kitchen chair. "Trey tells me that you've not been feeling well."
"Hi Amber. You know, just the pregnancy stuff I guess."
"Well actually, I wouldn't know about that yet. I've not been blessed but I fully intend to have children some day. Just as many as my man wants."
Amber was perfectly made up and coiffed. Her make-up and nails were always impeccable. I couldn't remember the last time I had indulged in a manicure or pedicure. She had chestnut brown hair that was but just above the shoulders. Her eyes were a dark, chocolate brown. They were very intense.
Trey handed her a mug of coffee and she sat down at the table.
"Trey - do you have a minute?" I asked.
"Sure baby."
I rolled my eyes at him indicating it was of a private nature. (Duh!)
"Oh - excuse me for a moment Amber; you can go ahead and get started marking up the depositions if you want."
"Sure Trey," she gushed, flashing him her signature, flirty-ass smile.
"See you later, Tylar."
"Uh huh," I replied leaving the room.
Trey followed me out of the kitchen and down the hall to the living room where we were out of earshot.
"Trey, I have been trying to reach you all day. I must've left three messages with Tonya."
"I'm sorry, Tylar. We were taking depositions all day at the offices of opposing counsel. I haven't even been back to the office."
"What? You don't check your Blackberry, either?"
"I'm sorry, babe. It's been a crazy day. What can I say? I'm here now. What is it?"
"Gina had the baby today. Emergency C-Section. She nearly bled to death."
(I threw the last part in to make him feel really bad.)
"Oh God, Tylar! Is she okay? What about the baby?"
"Yes - they are both fine. I couldn't reach Tristan for the longest time so he didn’t get there until she was out of surgery. I couldn't get in touch with you at all which I find unacceptable being that I am significantly pregnant right now. What if I can't get in touch with you when it's time?"
"Honey, honey. I think you are going a bit overboard here. You're not even due for a couple of months. Don’t worry. This case should be winding down by then."
"Well don't rush it on my account, Trey," I snapped at him turning away.
He reached for me pulling me back to him.
"Hey, why don't you go up and take a nice, relaxing bath? We should be finished down here in an hour, tops. I'll come up and give you a back rub, okay? Does that sound nice?"
I melted against him just like I always did. The truth was, it sounded like heaven.
"Mmmm," I sighed, "Yes, it does."
"That's my girl. I'll see you in an hour, baby."
"It's a date."
He gave me a quick kiss and headed back to the kitchen. Back to Amber with the full, pouty lips.