Baby Love (Baby #2)(92)
"I love you too, baby. Now close your eyes. I'll sit here with you until you fall asleep."
I wasn't sure how much later it was when I awoke. Someone was on the bed with me. Someone that was fussing and saying, "num-num" over and over again.
Trey was sitting on the edge of the bed and Preston was crawling towards me.
"Sorry baby," he said smiling. "I was trying to feed her some pureed carrots but she wants num-num."
"That's okay," I said pulling the covers back to let her in, "She's just what I need at the moment."
I pulled my sweater off and rolled onto my side making myself available to Preston. She quickly latched on and started nursing.
"What time is it Trey?"
"It's nearly noon. Are you getting hungry?"
"A little bit. Have you eaten?"
"Not yet. How about if I make some tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches?"
"That's my favorite comfort food," I said smiling up at him.
Trey was also just what I needed.
"OK then lunch will be ready as soon as Preston finishes," he said on his way to the kitchen.
I thought about what Maggie had said the other day when Trey and I saw her the first time about Preston vomiting every time she finished nursing from Maggie.
I recalled how resistant and reluctant Preston had been when we got her back to nurse from me. Suddenly I was filled with fear at the possibility that if Maggie was being poisoned Preston may have ingested some of whatever poison it was through Maggie's breast milk.
I needed to stay calm at the moment. I would discuss this with Trey as soon as Preston finished to see if he thought she should have blood testing done. The problem was we didn't know what we would be looking for as far as a specific poison.
Trey returned to our room a little while later lifting a sleeping Preston from my arms to put her in her crib. I pulled my sweater on and went out to the kitchen. Trey joined me momentarily.
Over lunch I discussed my concern about having Preston tested in case Maggie had been poisoned during the period of time that Preston was with her.
"Christ," he said shaking his head, "How in the hell do we explain that to her pediatrician? I suppose it's worth putting a call in to see if anything can be done when nothing is conclusive on Maggie's assertion at this point."
He looked over at my worried face and took my hand into his.
"I really think the baby is fine though, sweetie."
"I know Trey but it would put my mind at ease knowing that some slow-acting poison hasn't infiltrated one of her organs."
"I suppose you want me to make the call to the doctor right?"
"Please Trey? I'm too embarrassed. Apparently there's some bayou trash amongst my mother's siblings it would seem. I'm too emotionally drained at the moment."
"Alright Tylar," he said, "But there is a call that I think you need to make yourself."
"What call?"
"The call to Judge Tylar. I happen to have his cell phone number. He left all of his contact information when he phoned me at my office last week."
I was reluctant to make that call. What would I say? What if he didn’t like the message? What if he rejected me like a lot of others had in the course of my life? I couldn't take a rejection like that. What if he didn't believe me?
"Tylar," Trey said, watching me toss around the 'what ifs' in my mind.
"I know Trey. I know that it is my call to make. What do I say to him?"
"How about: Congratulations Your Honor; it's a girl?"
CHAPTER 35
It was 7:30 p.m. Monday evening. I had cleaned the kitchen up after dinner; bathed and dressed Preston for bed; showered and put on clean pajamas. Trey was playing with Preston in the living room before Monday night football. I had no reason to put off making the phone call to Judge Tylar.
I took my Blackberry to our bedroom and sat down on the bed. I took a deep breath and pressed the keys for the cell phone number that Judge Tylar had given Trey. I recognized his voice when he answered his phone.
"Judge Tylar - this is Trey Sinclair's wife. We ran into each other at the courthouse last week in Baton Rouge?"
"Yes Mrs. Sinclair I remember. What can I do for you?"
(Holy shit, here goes nothing.)
"Your Honor I recently learned that my birth name was Tylar Jamie Renaud. I was raised as Tylar Jamie Preston around Louisville, Kentucky. I was born in Louisiana on July 14, 1991. My mother's name was Marla Renaud. I was told by my aunt who just passed away that you are my father."
There was dead silence on the other end of the phone for several moments. I had probably shocked the hell out of him.
"Hello? Judge are you still there?"
"I knew it. I knew it the moment I saw you that you were Marley's daughter. My God, you are the picture of her. Every bit as beautiful as my sweet Marley," he said. The emotion was evident in his voice.
"I do have the same amber colored eyes as you though," I said, putting it out there.
"I was told that my mother had green eyes."
"What do you mean 'you were told'? Where is your mother? Where is Marley?"
(Oh God. He had no clue about any of this.)
"I don't remember my mother Judge; she died before I was a year old."