Baby Love(45)

"Gina - you know you are not supposed to be buying her stuff. You bring her something every time you come over. You are spoiling her."

"So what if I am girlfriend? She's my god-daughter to spoil and by the way, when is the baptism ever going to take place?"

Gina had a point. The purpose of a god-parent was to stand up to ensure that if anything happened to the parents they would see to it that the child was raised in the faith. Trey and I had discussed our religious backgrounds which for me consisted of going to Bible schools at various area churches in the summer because it was free and Maggie didn't have to pay a sitter for those weeks when Bible school was held. Trey had been provided a more solid religious upbringing as a Lutheran.

"I know Gina. Trey and I need to decide on a church."

"You mean a religion don't you girlfriend?"

"I suppose, what do you recommend?"

"Hey Ty, religion is a very personal choice. I don't preach it. I happen to be Catholic so when and if I am ever blessed with a little one that is my religion of choice. I suggest you and the Hot Nazi visit a few area churches and see what feels right. Now where is my baby girl?"

Gina lifted Preston out of her playpen gushing over how big she had gotten since she last saw her and how pretty she was. She got a dimpled smile from her as usual.

She had bought her some wind-up toys that were guaranteed to drive adults crazy; and a stuffed ghost for Halloween that screeched a loud "Boo!" when pressed in the middle. Preston squealed with delight when she learned how to make it screech 'Boo.'

"So Ty," she said, sitting down on the couch with Preston on her lap, "Fill me in."

I relayed to Gina everything that Trey had conveyed to me. Maggie had shown up at the bus station as scheduled. She was not carrying the baby when she located Daniel. She was dressed like a guy complete with bib overalls and her hair tucked up in a ball cap. She had a heavy Carhart jacket on that pretty much hid her build from the average glance. She had a backpack strapped on as well.

"Where the hell was the baby?" Gina asked.

"It seems she had convinced a male passenger on the bus that she was escaping with her baby from a very abusive relationship. She convinced this passenger to hold onto the baby until she assessed the situation in the terminal. Once she saw that Daniel was there and that he was alone she gave a signal for the guy that everything was okay. He brought Preston over to her. Then the feds closed in."

"Oh my God," Gina said, "What the hell was that bitch thinking?"

"You know Gina, I'm not really sure. I truly think that losing that baby somehow triggered more craziness out of her. I don't think it was about money. For some reason, she wanted to punish me and at the same time, she wanted to make up for losing the baby that she was having with Daniel."

"What happens now?"

"Well she is fighting extradition from West Virginia back to Georgia so her arraignment is delayed until that process is worked out in the courts. Trey said she is looking at some major time in prison. Additional charges will be filed against her for felony child abuse, endangerment and several other misdemeanors."

"Tell me the truth Ty, how does all of this really make you feel."

"I guess I feel like I may never know the truth about my mother or father. She has those answers but the selfish sociopath that she is will continue to hold the

truth from me. That's what really sucks."

"Did anything happen to Daniel?"

"No - well except he got the reward money that the family had put up. I thought he may have been involved but as it turns out, Daniel was just another one of her victims too. I guess that $100,000 will put him through college and hopefully he can put his past with her behind him."

Gina and I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up. Her divorce proceedings were dragging a bit on account of the Sanctuary and their condo. Gina wanted to keep the business and give up her share of the condo. The problem was that it would not be an even split. Gina would have to buy out a portion of Ian's interest in the club if she wanted to keep it in her name only.

After she left I had fed Preston and then put her down for a nap. Susan called and we chatted on the phone for nearly an hour. She was planning a 40th birthday party for Tristan the following weekend. She wanted Trey, Preston and I to make the trip up. I told her it sounded like a plan and promised to call her later after Trey got home.

I had dinner in the oven and was changing Preston's diaper on the living room couch when Trey came through the door.

"How are my girls?" he asked, coming up behind me and nuzzling the back of my neck.

"We've had a great day together," I replied smiling at my baby as I snapped her overalls back up.

Preston was watching Trey and started squirming holding her arms up so that he would pick her up. He leaned down, scooping her up in his arms, kissing her cheeks.

I picked up her soiled diaper to dispose of it while Trey spent some quality time with his daughter. He had been teaching her how to 'patty-cake' and she loved it.

At dinner I mentioned Tristan's party to Trey.

"Let's do it," he said. "We can fly out Friday afternoon and come back on Monday. We'll make a long weekend out of it."

I phoned Susan later and told her we would be there. She said that Nigel and Tess were coming; and that Landon and Caroline would be there as well.