Baby Love (Baby #2)(35)
"Do you remember what he looked like?"
"He didn't stand out one way or another. He was probably late forties why?"
"He might be my father," I replied.
"I thought you said that Daniel said 'Renaud' could have been Maggie's married name?"
"Yes - but he also said nearly everything that came out of her mouth was a lie. God I don't know what to think Trey. She wove such an intricate web of lies and deceit for all of these years; yet there is always a grain of truth hidden somewhere. It's just picking it out that is so f*cking complicated."
"I know sweetie; but I do think the name is significant. Once we are back home, I'll get the investigator working on it okay?"
"How's your mom?" I asked, suddenly ashamed that I had caused Trey to leave her because he had been compelled to make sure that I was safe.
"Physically she will be fine. Emotionally she's a wreck. She is blaming herself for all of it. My father flew down and he will fly back with her this morning. Tristan will be staying with us for a couple of days and then will fly to Bristol to stay with Mom after dad's surgery."
"Why is Tristan staying with us?"
"Because I have to go back to the firm to get my case load divided up so that I can focus on getting Preston back. I don't want you left alone. Tristan will see to it that you are kept safe when I can't be with you."
The truth was I found it comforting to know that I wouldn't be left in our apartment alone. I hadn't been back there since the last morning that I had held and nursed my baby girl. She had looked so cute with her little 'Pebbles Flintstone' hair style. Tears brimmed in my eyes. I hadn't allowed myself to cry yet. I was afraid that if I allowed myself to cry then it was an admission that she might never be back with us. I couldn't bear the thought of that; I couldn't imagine wanting my life to go on without her in it.
My sobs escaped in a flood of tears. Trey pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned it off. He unfastened my seat belt and pulled me over into his arms. I let it all out not caring how loud or hard I cried. He held me in his arms, stroking my hair.
"I want my baby back!"
I wailed it over and over again.
"Trey I need her back with me."
"I know baby. I know," he choked unable to contain his tears.
"We will get her back I promise you that. The FBI has our phone tapped; they are checking the surveillance videos from the lobby and parking garage. The Georgia State Police have issued 'Levi's Call'. We will have our 'Chubbers' back soon, baby, I promise."
The tears and the emotion had caused a letdown in my breasts. They were so full of milk they hurt. Damn, why hadn't I thought to bring my breast pump? I had to keep my milk flowing or I would dry up. I was not about to let Maggie be the last one to nurse my baby.
"Trey do we have time before our flight back to stop somewhere and buy a breast pump? I need to keep pumping until Preston is back."
"Sure sweetie," he said, kissing my lips gently.
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Our apartment seemed empty and desolate upon our return. Trey had obviously been back there since the incident to get his mom's stuff packed up. She and Clive had already flown out by the time we got in. They were to call Trey later this evening. Tristan would stay in the bed in the nursery where Susan had slept. I couldn't bring myself to go into that room. Trey had kept the door shut since we had arrived back home.
I immediately went to our suite to take a shower. I felt exhausted and drained. I emerged from the bathroom in my warm terrycloth robe, with a towel wrapped around my damp hair. I climbed up on our bed with my breast pump and empty bottles. I was able to fill two of them.
Trey came in just after I had finished pumping.
"Do you want me to put these in the refrigerator?" he asked.
"Yes please but make sure you put one of those stickers I have out there in the kitchen with the day of the week printed on it okay?"
"Sure baby," he said taking leave.
I removed the towel from my hair and combed through the damp locks. My eyes drifted to her white bassinet that was still in our room. She had nearly outgrown it but I still had occasionally put her in it for naps before I had started back to work at the firm.
The firm. Shit! I wondered who was going to handle Leah's responsibilities. Her surgery was scheduled for tomorrow. Something popped up in my mind as I was thinking about the firm. There was something I recalled coming up in the next few weeks in front of a panel of judges. That's right - it was with a federal judge that had a name like mine only backwards. Judge Preston James Tylar. It was scheduled in a court in Baton Rouge as I recalled.
I got off from the bed to find Trey. I had meant to mention this to him before all of this happened. I walked down the hallway and saw that the light was on in his study. I quietly approached the door expecting him to have his Blackberry up to his ear while typing on his laptop but his chair was turned so that his back was to me.
He was leaning back staring over at the corner of the room. It was Preston's empty swing. One of her little rubber squeeze toys was in the tray by the seat. I watched as Trey leaned forward and picked up the little pink rubber clothespin that had a face on it. He squeezed it a couple of times making it squeak the way she did when she chewed on it.