Baby Come Back(32)
I loved Tristan’s mother. She was so laid back and Southern. I saw where Tristan got it. We settled on the couch in the living room, sipping our tea. I had a feeling Susan was on a mission for information. I didn’t have to wait long for confirmation.
“Gina, does Tylar seem alright to you?”
“Well, I know this pregnancy has been difficult on her, but actually she looks better than she has. She hasn’t complained about anything specific to me lately.”
“I just worry, I guess. I was a bit taken aback when I saw her. It’s been awhile and she just seems so pale and listless. I hope Trey is making sure that she doesn’t over-do it.”
“I’m sure she will be fine. Have you heard any news recently on Nigel and Tess’s surrogate?”
Susan flashed a smile and grabbed her purse. She rifled through it until she found the ultrasound photo that Tess had sent to her. We had a couple of those around here as well. This one was in 3D. I could make out the little face. Mine were not so high tech. I stared and stared at them trying to make out what was what. Tristan had to point it out for me.
“Do they know the sex of the baby?” I asked.
“They want to be surprised,” Susan answered, beaming. “Of course, Clive and I are tickled that we will be welcoming our first grandson here shortly. Have you and Tristan decided on any names yet?”
“Well, I like ‘Tristan James II,’ but Tristan has said ‘no way.’ I thought we could call him ‘TJ’ - but he’s not giving in on that one. We both kind of like the name ‘Reese.”
“Oh, I love it,” Susan squealed happily. “What about a middle name?”
“I like ‘Joseph’ and Tristan likes ‘Patrick,’ so I guess it will probably be ‘Patrick.”
Susan laughed. “Stand your ground with him, Gina. Don’t let him always have his way.”
“Trust me, Susan, I don’t”
By the time Tristan got home, Susan had already left to go back to Trey and Tylar’s house.
“You missed your mother by about three hours,” I said to him.
“Oh sorry, babe. Things were crazy at the club.”
“You know Tristan, your hours seem to be getting right back to where they were before you hired the night manager. If I was the suspicious type - “
He came over and gave me a hug, silencing my whining with his lips.
“Is the baby napping?” he asked
“Yeah, I think so. He’s been fairly quiet today.”
“How about you and I go into the bedroom and wake him up?”
I couldn’t resist Tristan or his lovemaking. We spent the next hour in bed playing and loving. I curled up next to him afterwards, running my fingers through the damp hair on his chest.
“Tristan?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Your mom showed me one of those 3D ultrasound pictures today of Nigel and Tess’s baby. You could see its little face and everything.”
“You mean they don’t know whether it’s a girl or a boy?”
“They don’t want to know. I think it’s a boy, though.”
“And how were you able to determine that?”
“Cause his little face looks like yours.”
“Gina,” his tone had that slight warning sound in it. “We’ve been over this before. That child is nothing more to me or to Trey than a niece or a nephew. Period. Got it?”
“Yes, Tristan,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
I lay there for a few more minutes thinking about what he had said. I wondered if it was really so easy for he and Trey to view it from that perspective. Women felt different attachments than men perhaps. That is what Tylar had told me. I knew it bugged the hell out of her though. That was one reason she had been so hell-bent on getting pregnant before Tess’s surrogate did.
I realized then that Tristan hadn’t eaten any dinner since he came home. I wasn’t sure if he had managed to grab something to eat at the club.
“Tristan - are you hungry?”
Silence.
I looked up at him. He was dozing peacefully, his one arm up over his head resting on the pillow. I loved this man so much.
CHAPTER 18
I had another two weeks until my due date. The heat and humidity was insufferable at the end of July in Atlanta. I hadn’t felt like leaving the cool air-conditioning of the apartment for days. I was on the phone with Tylar, trying to politely but emphatically decline her repeated invitation to drive out to the country for a visit.
“It’s too f*cking hot and humid, Ty.”
“For goodness sakes, Gina, your car is air-conditioned, our home is air-conditioned, so what? You can’t endure the ten steps from the elevator to where your car is parked in the garage?”
“Yes, but it’s a longer walk in the heat once I get to your place,” I whined. “Why don’t you drive in?”
“I told you Gina, Preston is taking a nap and Jean is at the grocery and then has some errands to run. I’m not sure when she will be back. I’m lonely for my BFF.”
Tylar could lay the guilt on with the best of them. I rolled my eyes knowing that she would get her way.
“Okay. Let me get a quick shower and then I’ll drive out.”