Shadows and Dreams (Dream Series Book 2)

by Braxton Hicks

  “I love you so much, baby. You're my angel,” he gasped. I leaned over and found his mouth with mine as my orgasm was winding down.

  “I love you, Trey.”

  Chapter 29

  When I got up the next morning to use the bathroom, I discovered I'd gotten my period. How strange. I immediately burst into tears. Trey knocked on the bathroom door, having heard me.

  “What?” I asked sobbing.

  “Baby, are you okay?” he asked. “Can I come in?”

  “Yes,” I wailed between sobs.

  When Trey came in, he saw me sitting on the toilet.

  “What happened?” he asked, his face going pale.

  “I got my period,” I sobbed.

  “Well, honey,” he said. “I mean, isn’t that a good thing? I know you didn’t want a baby this soon after Preston, so everything's good, right?”

  “Maybe I somehow caused it. I mean, I was two weeks late and then I bitched about it and the next day I started. Maybe God caused me to not be pregnant anymore.”

  “Sweetheart, that's not how it works.”

  “How do you know? Look at Tess and Nigel, so much wanting to have a baby, and they can’t. Then here I am, thinking I’m Fertile Myrtle and maybe I’m really not.”

  “Honey,” he said, smiling and capturing my face within his hands and kissing me softly. “I personally guarantee you that you will carry all of the children I can possibly give you. You were born to be a mother, amongst other things.”

  He was smiling at me and I knew that Trey knew me better than myself, at times.

  “Oh Honey," I sobbed, “you totally get me. I love you.”

  “I adore you, baby. So let’s not freak out about this, okay? Just think about how happy we can be going forward, that Preston won’t be over-shadowed on her ‘firsts’.”

  I finished up in the bathroom so Trey could shower before work. He'd been working out at the gym after work lately, so he could sleep in with me. He was dressed, shaved, and looking impeccable in his newest Armani suit when he came out to the kitchen carrying Preston.

  “Look who was standing up in her bed chanting, 'da-da-da' when I went into her room to check on her.”

  “No, she didn’t!” I said, putting a waffle on his plate.

  Preston was grinning, sporting her two emerging bottom teeth. I went over to her, holding my hands out for her. She reached for me and I took her into my arms.

  “Say ‘Ma-Ma’ for me, Preston.”

  Trey chuckled and sat down to his breakfast; I took Preston into the living room, continuing to repeat ‘Ma-Ma’ to her as I settled down on the sofa with her, preparing to nurse.

  Trey kissed us both before he left for work. He said he was going to work out and would be home around seven.

  “I’ll be at the club this evening, remember?”

  “Oh, that’s right. Well, maybe I’ll stop by after the gym to see you before going home, how’s that?”

  “I’d like that, provided you don’t assault any more patrons.”

  “Very funny, Mrs. Sinclair,” he said, leaning down to give me another kiss.

  Preston and I got our baths and got dressed for our day together. I dressed her in dark green leggings with a matching sweater and put the new ‘One eye Monster’ UGG knit boots and hat set on her that I'd bought for her at the airport in Baton Rouge.

  Trey had made a comment about the cost of the baby couture, but then suggested a different color than the one I'd selected for her. I started a crock pot dinner so that Jean would have something to eat and wouldn’t have to worry about making Trey’s dinner. Since I was going out to the new house in the morning, Jean was staying overnight.

  I had to meet with the decorator and select colors for the rooms and window treatments. The flooring in the downstairs was completed. I still had to make my selections for the second floor carpeting and light fixtures.

  Trey and I had discussed a full-time arrangement with Jean. There was plenty of room if she was amenable to being a live-in. Once the horses arrived, they'd be my responsibility. Trey wanted me to finish college, so I needed to see about getting my credits transferred to a local university. I'd be a part-time student and, hopefully, could take a good portion of the remaining classes online.

  I'd suggested to Trey that I'd like to give riding lessons since we had the horses and the land; possibly offer boarding as well, since the stables would accommodate more horses than we intended to move from Bristol. He was amenable to that, especially since it permitted me to spend a lot of time with Preston. I'd every intention of getting her up on a horse’s back just as soon as she was old enough.

  The day seemed to fly by. Too soon, I was putting on my tight little skirt and blouse and killer shoes to head down to the club. I only had to work until eleven tonight because Eddie was closing.

  Gina had scheduled me to work at the main bar with her downstairs. Eddie was training a new bartender upstairs, since it wasn’t quite as busy this time in the evening. The downstairs bars tended to get more of the happy hour crowd until around seven when there was a lull until the band started at nine.

  “So,” I said to Gina as she was filling the ice machine, “what did Tristan want the other day when he called in and you had to cut our call short?”

  Gina got a sly smile on her face at my question. “Being kind of nosy there aren’t you, girlfriend?”

  “Not at all; I just wondered if he was still interested in investing. Trey seemed to think he might be backing out after reading the financials.”

  “No, I don’t think he'll be backing out of anything. I think Tristan has some major interest,” she said giggling. "As a matter of fact, Tristan will be back in town before Thanksgiving. He needs to talk to me about the particulars. I think you'll be having one more for dinner.”

  “Really?”

  I wondered if he'd said anything to Trey about being here over Thanksgiving. “Is he planning on staying at the apartment with us?”

  Gina actually blushed for the first time ever in front of me. She stammered a bit with her answer. “Well, actually I told him that he was more than welcome to crash at my place. I mean it’s closer to the club and all. He wants to talk about making some changes at the club. I’m not sure of the extent he wants to change it, but he’s offered to put in an additional hundred grand in after he buys you out. I’m kind of excited to hear his ideas.”

  I was thoroughly amused and thoroughly happy if things were indeed moving ahead with Gina and Tristan. I still believed that they were perfect for one another.

  “Well, you do have that spare bedroom at your condo, Gina. It makes perfect sense to me that he would stay there.”

  “Very funny, Ty, I know what you’re thinking. You have a dirty mind just like that husband of yours! By the way, please honor our BFF confidentiality here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Please don’t tell the Hot Nazi where Tristan's staying, okay?”

  “You know I won’t if you don’t want me to; what's the big deal?”

  “It’s just I really like Tristan, but we're taking the friendship route."

  “I don’t understand. You’re crushing on him big time! He seems charmed by you, so what's the problem?”

  “I don’t want to be his ‘bridge bitch,’ that’s all.”

  “What the hell is a ‘bridge bitch’?”

  “You know—it’s the chick that gets the guy after his heart's been broken, helps him get through it and then prepares him to meet his next serious relationship which, by the way, ain’t her. She essentially bridges him from his past relationship to his next serious relationship.”

  The bar started filling up, so we didn’t get the opportunity to discuss Tristan any further.

  I was making a couple of skinny martinis for a table of young women, clearly having happy hour after work. I was reaching for the shaker when I heard Gina.

  “Holy shit. This can’t be good.”

  I followed her gaze and saw a very
pissed-off Libby approaching the bar. We didn’t have bouncers at the club this early. It was just a little after six. Libby was dressed in dark purple leather. Leather pants, a leather jacket, and leather boots covered her tall, thin body. She was making fast, angry strides to where Gina was standing at the bar. I moved closer to Gina to let her know I had her back.

  “You bitch!” Libby shouted at Gina, causing the patrons at the bar to look over quickly. “I know you video recorded our conversation the other day and gave it to Tristan. What the hell were you hoping to accomplish?”

  I stepped up to the bar before Gina had a chance to respond.

  “Hey, it was me, Libby. I’m the one who told Gina to send the video to my cell phone so that I could show it to Trey. It was Trey’s decision to share it with Tristan. They're brothers, you know?”

  “Oh, like you give a shit about Tristan’s feelings.”

  I wanted to slap her right then and there because Tristan was my brother-in-law, and a very sweet one at that.

  “You were just pissed, Tylar. You wanted revenge because you were afraid that I'd fuck your husband better than you ever could!”

  Did you seriously just say that to me?

  “Hardly,” I responded calmly to Libby. “The truth is, Trey and I were privy to your nasty goings on in the bedroom next to ours in Bristol. I believe Trey’s exact words were that you're a freak that he wouldn’t take home to his own mama!”

  “Hah! I doubt that very much! It seems that maybe ‘Ken's getting just a little bored with his ‘Housewife Barbie’ these days. Maybe all he really needed and wanted was to take a dive under my fig leaves at Tristan’s birthday party last month.”

  I could hear Gina cuss under her breath, instructing me to bitch slap her. That wasn't my style.

  “Sweetie,” I said, leaning over the bar and smiling at her. “I can guarantee you that whatever you had under those fig leaves held no interest for my man. You see, he actually prefers ‘Housewife Barbie’ to ‘GI Jane’ any day of the week. My only concern is that Tristan had the foresight to properly armor his dick while he was in the clutches of a whore like you. I’d hate for my best friend, Gina, to catch any of your crotch rot.”

  “Why, you uppity little bitch!” she snarled. “Someone needs to put you in your place and maybe I’m just the person to do it!”

  Libby drew her arm back to swing full force into me, just as Gina pushed her way in front of me. Libby’s hand never found its mark because, at that point, Trey had come up right behind her. He grabbed her arm on the upswing, staying it motionless to reach its target.

  She turned immediately to see who had stayed her hand.

  “Libby,” Trey said, “I think it’s time you left and found someone else to torture.”

  She squirmed out of his grip; her face was red with humiliation and anger. Some of the patrons at the bar were looking over at her and snickering. She looked pathetic. She turned on her heel and stomped out, mumbling about how much better she could do than Tristan and she hadn’t wanted to keep his goddamn ring anyway.

  I looked over at Trey and saw a trace of amusement in his eyes.

  “What did she mean about all that with the ring?”

  Trey smiled. “I guess Tristan had the foresight to get the ring from her bedside table where she'd left it before she went to shower that evening. He packed it, along with the rest of his stuff and left her a note. He signed it ‘Lucky Seven.’ He wasn’t about to let her add his ring to her collection.”

  Things calmed down once Libby had left. I wasn’t sure that we'd seen the end of her; she still harbored a lot of anger and ill will towards Gina and me in particular. I didn’t quite get it. It wasn’t like she'd been with Tristan all that long.

  Trey was seated watching me.

  “Yes sir, what can I get you?”

  “Hmm, let’s see; how about a Kiss on the Lips?”

  “Sure thing,” I replied, leaning in and kissing him.

  “Uh, Tylar, I kind of meant that I'd really like to try the drink?”

  “Oh, okay,” I laughed. I fixed Trey his drink and then waited on a couple of other patrons before returning to him. He had a serious look on his face and I knew that there was something he wanted to share with me.

  “Tylar, I had a call today from Judge Tylar.”

  I immediately stopped wiping the counter of the bar to look at him.

  “Judge Tylar? Why was he calling you?”

  “He had my contact information from the case file. He wanted some information on you, since he saw that we were together.”

  ‘Trey,” I breathed, my heart racing, “does he think he’s related to me?”

  “Well, honey, it’s complicated. He saw the extreme resemblance that you apparently have with your mother. He noticed the antique pearl drop earrings and teardrop necklace that he'd given to a girl named Marley who he'd known briefly, years ago. He was wondering if your maiden name was Renaud. Though he hasn’t quite drawn a direct connection, if I had to guess, I'd say that, if he's your father, he had no idea that you even existed.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him your maiden name was ‘Preston,’ and that your heritage was sketchy at best.”

  “It’s time you took me to see Maggie. I'll know the truth, even if I have to beat it out of her.”

  He smiled and put his arm around me. “I’ll make some calls in the morning.”

  Chapter 30

  I'd just gotten home from spending the morning at the salon getting trimmed, highlighted, waxed, and manicured, when Trey phoned from his office. Jean had watched Preston and managed to clean the apartment while she was there.

  “Hi, sweetie,” I said, when I answered the phone. “You won’t recognize your wife when you get home. I spent the morning getting a major overhaul.”

  “Tylar, I have some news for you. I’m not sure if you'll consider this bad news or not.”

  Immediately, my heart dropped to my stomach.

  “I talked to the Deputy D.A.’s office this morning to see what the status was on Maggie’s arraignment. It's been postponed twice and I now know the reason.”

  “What is it, Trey?”

  "Maggie's been in the jail’s infirmary. They moved her this morning to St. Matthew’s. She's in the intensive care unit of the hospital; she’s extremely ill and it is life threatening."

  I didn’t know how I felt about what he'd just shared with me. Part of me wanted to feel happy; to hope that any threat she posed to me and my family was on the verge of being snuffed out like a candle that's burned too long. The other part of me wanted her to linger long enough for me to interrogate her and gain the information she owed me after the years of lying and deceit.

  “Did you hear me, Tylar?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. I was kind of lost in thought there for a moment. What happened?"

  “She had an extremely high fever when she got here from West Virginia. No one's sure how long she'd been ill, but my guess is that since extradition was imminent, the authorities there didn’t seek the necessary medical assistance for her. They probably preferred having it picked up on Georgia’s tab, since she was ultimately coming back here. All I know is that it likely started out being a low grade viral or bacterial infection that affected her internally. They suspect she's been bleeding internally for a while. It's now manifested itself into a major bacterial infection that's gotten into her blood stream. It could be fatal if she goes septic.”

  It sounded to me as if Maggie was on borrowed time. I needed some of that time. I was determined to have it.

  “Is she coherent, Trey?”

  “I don't know. They've started her on intravenous antibiotics. The jail chaplain went with her to the hospital. She said she'd contact me as soon as Maggie's stabilized. Since you're a relative, you'll be permitted in the ICU.”

  “Trey, I need to talk to Maggie and this may be my last chance."

  “I understand, baby. I'll call you just as soon as I hear from the cha
plain. I’m not letting you go up there by yourself, though. Do you have someone to watch Preston?”

  “Jean’s just finishing up here. I’ll see if she can stay over.”

  “Okay then. I'll get back with you as soon as I can."

  I busied myself with getting dinner prepared. Jean had finished the cleaning just as Preston awoke from her nap. She went ahead and changed her while I showered and dressed. Preston was in her playpen playing when I emerged. She scrambled to her legs, holding onto the netting of the playpen as she pulled herself up. She was smiling and gibbering at me.

  “Hi sweetheart,” I gushed at her, going over to where she was. “Did Mommy’s baby have a nice nap?”

  “Da da da da.”

  I looked at her and she was holding her arms up. I scooped her up, nuzzling my face against her soft cheeks, chanting 'ma-ma' over and over again to her. Jean came into the room while I was nursing, asking if I wanted her to puree some of the boiled turkey and sweet potatoes I'd cooked.

  “Thanks Jean, I'd appreciate that. I also want to thank you for all of your help these past few weeks.”

  “I love caring for Preston and for you and Trey too, for that matter,” she said with a smile. “I was telling my daughter Cathy just last week how much I was going to hate it when you moved out to the country in a few weeks.”

  “Jean—Trey and I've been meaning to discuss that with you. I apologize that we haven’t done it sooner. Would you consider moving out there with us? The house is plenty big and you would draw a full-time salary.”

  “Why, Tylar, I don’t know what to say,” she said, starting to get a bit choked up. “I’m so honored that you would ask me. Of course, I'd love that. I love my daughter Cathy—don’t get me wrong, but sharing an apartment with her and her husband Hank these past few weeks hasn’t been the ideal situation.”

  “Fantastic,” I said. “Then its official, and I, for one, couldn’t be happier, Jean.”

  Just then Trey called on the landline. “I’ve been trying to call your cell,” he said.