Baby Love (Baby #2)(118)

"I don't know," I replied. "I guess I believe in destiny. I mean I think that you and I were destined to be together. I don't want to think that the tragedy with my mother was the only way that we would have found each other."

"I like the way you think Mrs. Sinclair."



CHAPTER 47



As the Christmas holidays approached Trey and I had decided to stay in Atlanta. We hadn't heard anything definitive since we had left Baton Rouge the week before. My dad had stayed in touch but he would know more the following week when the Grand Jury convened. The toxicology report on my mother's autopsy was due the first part of January. Dad had invited us to Baton Rouge for Christmas but I told him we felt like we needed to stay in Atlanta for Preston's first Christmas. He had understood.

Gina and Tristan had been working night and day preparing the club for its official grand opening on Christmas Eve as 'Tristan's Shady Lady Saloon and Restaurant. The contractor had made most of the minor changes; the health inspectors had approved the kitchen for food preparation; an area had been walled in as the restaurant and the wine cellar was completed.

Tristan had discussed with Trey taking over his lease on the apartment when we moved. Trey had met with the manager and the president of the tenant's association and submitted Tristan's application for approval. It had been approved within a day so both Tristan and Gina would be staying on after we moved.

Trey and I had decorated the apartment for Christmas. We had bought a live tree and spent the whole Saturday before Christmas decorating it. Preston wouldn't leave it alone; we had to watch her constantly as she crawled over to it wanting to snatch a bulb or ornament. Gina had given one of her gifts to her early. It was her "Ho-Ho-Ho" plush Santa Claus.

"Jesus Christ," Trey had complained after he heard the "Ho-Ho-Ho" several hundred times as Preston played with it.

"I just got rid of that damn ghost. Leave it to Gina to provide another irritating toy for the holidays!"

"Ah-ha! I knew you did something with that ghost! Where is it?"

Trey had grinned sheepishly then finally admitted he had put it in one of the Goodwill boxes that I had filled when cleaning out the closets.

"Shame on you," I admonished him gently.

"She loved that ghost."

"She never knew it was gone. Babies have the attention span of - well of Gina," he said laughing.

"Well I warn you Trey Michael. You won't be pulling that shit with Santa Claus."

We had sent our Christmas presents on to Bristol. We planned on going there right after Christmas to ring the New Year in with the Sinclair family. Even Tristan and Gina were planning on going. Tristan had hired an assistant manager for the club in an effort to free up some of Gina's time. It was evident that they were totally in love.

Gina and I had spent some BFF time together after my return from Baton Rouge. I had told her everything.

"Oh Ty," she had sobbed as I described seeing my mother in her open coffin, "I can't imagine how that must have felt for you."

"It was almost like looking at me Gina. It was bizarre. It was like me but at the same time, it was someone I didn't remember."

"I just have to tell you that I really think your dad is awesome."

I had shared with her my feelings of anger and resentment for not finding my mother and declaring his everlasting love for her before his marriage. Gina had told me that I was too much of a romantic and not enough of a realist.

"Speaking of which," I stated, taking the opportunity of segueing into the subject.

"It appears to me that you and Tristan both have been bitten by the 'love bug."



"Girlfriend - we are taking it just one day at a time. We still fight like crazy but hey, the making up is f*cking fantastic."

"So any talk of you two getting engaged or anything?"

"Seriously Tylar? I am just freshly divorced; Tristan is just freshly off of a broken engagement. We are simply enjoying each other. It's not that serious I keep telling you."

"Whatever Gina," I commented shaking my head.

Jean was coming over Christmas Eve to stay with Preston while Trey and I attended the grand opening of Tristan and Gina's club.

I had just enjoyed a luxurious bubble bath while Preston napped. Trey was finishing up some work in his study where the baby slept.

I got into a clean pair of pj's and went down the hall to check on Preston and Trey. The baby was sleeping soundly her Santa Claus clutched in one hand, her other hand was up to her face where she had fallen asleep sucking on her thumb. I tucked her blanket around her.

Trey was busy on his laptop typing something back on an email. I went behind his chair and leaned over embracing him from behind.

"Whatcha doing Trey?"

"Hey sweetie," he said turning to give me a peck on the cheek.

"I'm almost done for the night. How about you and meeting in our bed in about thirty?"

"What can I say Mr. Sinclair? You are so f*cking romantic," I teased.

I went back to our room and climbed into bed enjoying the feel of the freshly changed sheets. I switched the flat screen on and before I knew it I had dozed off.

I was awakened some time later when Trey crawled into bed next to me, drawing me into his warm embrace.