Baby Love(89)

"There - all done Preston. Do you want mommy to read you a story?"

She smiled at me again, saying, "num- num."

I wasn't sure what that meant so I pulled a book from the shelf and sat her on my lap in the rocker opening it up to start reading. She squirmed about knocking the book out of my hands and repeated the 'num-num' jargon a few more times definitely starting to fuss now.

(Num-num? Nurse? Nipple?)

I unbuttoned my top and unclasped the front hook on my bra freeing my breasts. That was it. That was 'num-num.'

She immediately leaned into me latching onto my nipple and started nursing curled up against me.

Trey came into the nursery awhile later; I shared with him her latest word. I had noticed that he had showered, shaved and had a clean pair of pajama bottoms on. His hair was still damp from his shower.

"I swept up all of the glass from the entry hall," he said.

"I will keep a better eye on her in the future."

"Good," I replied, looking down at my precious girl nestled so contentedly against me.

Part of me wished that she could stay this age forever. I recalled though how I had thought the same thing with almost every stage she had went through thus far.

I thought about the things that Maggie had told us the other day. In particular, I thought about how she told me that my mother had loved me and never liked being apart from me. It reminded me of the way that I felt about Preston. Perhaps I had more of my mother in me than simply my physical appearance. I decided that I was very proud of that possibility. I needed to find out more about the last thing that Maggie had said before falling into her unconscious sleep. I needed to understand what she meant about my mother being poisoned. Had it been an accident or had it been deliberate?

Trey was watching me with the baby.

"You know Tylar, you are never sexier in my eyes than when I watch you nurse our baby. I can't explain it but it is definitely a turn-on."

I smiled up at him knowing that he was sincere - horny or not.

"Are you going to bed?" I asked.

"I'll be watching the late game in our room. Will you be long?"

I looked down at Preston and her eyes were closed; her long lashes resting against her soft skin. She continued to suck gently, the pauses between them growing longer each time.

"It'll be just a few more minutes Trey. She's almost finished here."

"Okay baby," he said, leaning over and kissing her head.

His lips brushed across mine warmly and sensually.

"I'll be waiting for you. Come and get your 'num-num' baby."





CHAPTER 33



Trey and I were roused out of our sleep a little after 5 a.m. on Monday morning by the landline extension in our room ringing. Trey was closest so he grabbed the phone. I felt him sit up quickly after the person on the other end had identified themselves to him.

"I see," he said, switching the bedside lamp on.

He wanted me awake.

"She'll be there in thirty minutes. Let Maggie know. Thanks Sandy."

I pulled myself up into a sitting position.

"Tylar you need to get to the hospital. Maggie has rallied somewhat from the coma and she has asked for you. It's only temporary her death is imminent so if there is more you need to know or anything you need to say to her this is your last chance."

I threw the bed covers off and went to my closet. I shrugged a pair of jeans on and pulled a sweater on over my head. I grabbed my socks and boots and sat down on the bed to put them on. Trey hadn't moved.

"Aren't you going to get ready?" I asked him.

"Sweetie I have to stay here with Preston."

"Can't we get her up and take her with us?"

"By the time we rouse her, change her, dress her and all of the other things she needs done in the morning it may be too late. You can do this on your own."

I nodded as I zipped the last boot up. I grabbed my phone and purse and was out the door and on the road in no more than ten minutes after Trey had told me the situation.

I ran through the hallway at St. Matthews taking the elevator up to the ICU. As soon as I got off the elevator Sandy was there to greet me.

"Your mother is weak but coherent. She wants to see you about some unfinished business. She won't last much longer Mrs. Sinclair."

"I understand Sandy. Thanks for calling."

I made a hasty entrance into the ICU and to Maggie's room. She looked much worse than she had on Friday. She had oxygen going in through tubes in her nose. Her skin had a mottled look to it almost purplish.

I went to her bedside where she appeared to be dozing.

"Maggie, I'm here. It's Tylar."

Her eyes flickered open and she turned her head slightly so that I was in her line of vision.

"Tylar?" she asked weakly.

"Yes, I'm here Aunt Maggie. Did you have something that you wanted me to know?"

"Promise me something please," she whispered.

"Promise me that you will have the hospital perform an autopsy after I die."

(What a bizarre death bed request - especially from someone like Maggie who hated the thought of not looking her best.)

"Why?" I asked, confused and questioning her lucidity.

I took my Blackberry out and hit the button to record her deathbed wishes. My instincts had kicked in and told me to do so.