Baby Love (6 page)

              I pulled my robe and slippers on and padded down the hallway towards the master suite.  Thankfully, the door was opened.  Clive had evidently already gone downstairs to start his day.  Susan had Preston on top of their bed, fastening her diaper while talking to her. 

              "Good morning," I greeted them as I walked in.                Preston immediately recognized my voice, turning her head towards me.  Her eyes watched me as I approached the bed; her face lit up with a smile.

              "Well good morning Tylar," Susan answered.  "Did you sleep well?"

              "Yes except for missing Trey and Preston," I replied, scooping my freshly diapered baby up into my arms, holding her closely against me.

              "Well grandma just gave her grandbaby a nice bath and she is ready for the big day ahead," Susan said, smiling.

              I kissed her forehead and cheeks softly.  She nuzzled against me, squirming until I lowered her down against my breasts. She was making no bones about wanting to nurse.

She preferred breastfeeding to the bottled breast milk.  I hated that she would have to suffer through being bottle fed for the next couple of days.

              "Susan, I'm going to take her back to my room to nurse, okay?"

              "Well of course, Tylar.  You go right ahead.  I know using that breast pump has been a pain these last couple of days.  We've got a good supply in the refrigerator going.  You probably will only need to pump another two or three times today and we'll be set while you're gone.  Want me to bring some breakfast to your room?"

              "That would be great if it's no trouble.  Give me a half an hour or so?"

              "Sure thing, sweetie.  You go on and spend time with your daughter.  She misses her mama I can tell."

              I carried Preston back to our room cradled against me as she continued to root for a breast and fuss.  Once there, I switched the television on and climbed back into bed with her.  Within moments, she was latched onto a nipple, nursing contentedly as she watched me with her big blue eyes. 

              I took her tiny hand into mine, kissing her little fingers, massaging them gently.  She looked up at me and smiled dimpling like Trey. Within a moment, she was back to nursing again. I missed Trey.  It felt strange to be in his room without him.

              Any second I expected him to come out from the bathroom, towel draped around his hips with his hair damp from a shower.  He was staying at Ray's.  Tristan and Nigel were staying at Tess's house with the Andrews'.  That had to be somewhat strange for Nigel I would have thought.  Perhaps not.  The two families had seemed to survive the drama at Christmas with no lasting ill effects.

              I laughed out loud when I thought about family holidays at the Andrews' house.  Landon and Caroline? Nigel and Tess?  How weird was that going to be? 

Trey said we would avoid those gatherings at all costs.  He had received no argument from me.

              Lost in thought I hadn't noticed that Preston had stopped nursing.  I looked down to find her watching me intently.  Her sapphire blue eyes once again brought Trey to mind.

              "Do you miss daddy?" I asked her as if I fully expected an answer.

              "Well I miss him, Preston.  But guess what?  We will see him this evening.  Yes we will," I said to her. 

              "And guess what else?  Preston has a brand new dress to wear this evening when mommy and daddy get married.  Everyone's going to be looking at Preston tonight, aren't they?" 

              I was smiling down at her while talking.

              She broke out in a big grin watching me, and then unceremoniously burped.  I snuggled down in the bed with her and both of us promptly fell asleep.

              When I awoke Preston was gone and my breakfast tray was on the nightstand next to the bed.  Susan had taken possession of my daughter once again. I ate some of the fresh fruit and a muffin.

              I was able to use my hands-free breast pump twice before Gina and Denise arrived at 2:00 p.m. to get started on my wedding day toilette.

              I was bathed, shaved, waxed and coifed.  I had been given a manicure and pedicure.  Denise had been nearly as pushy as Gina in preparing me for my walk down the aisle.  Susan had brought Preston to me one more time to be nursed prior to getting her dressed for the ceremony.

              Gina had made sure that I had something old (Trey's grandmother's locket) something new (diamond stud earrings); something borrowed (Trey's grandmother's locket) and the something blue was the

garter, which she insisted, had to be removed by Trey using his mouth and teeth. 

              (
What the??)

              The day had passed in a flurry of activities.  Before I knew it, Gina and Denise were helping me into my wedding gown.  Gina had helped me pick it out in Atlanta.  It was gorgeous.

              My gown was ivory.  It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and a drop asymmetrical waistline.  Below the waist the skirt fell into soft scalloped layers made of taffeta and tulle.  It had a chapel length train.  I was wearing a mantilla bridal veil in ivory with a cut edge in an 88 inch layered length.

              As matron of honor, Gina was wearing a full length, strapless mint green sheath; Denise as my bridesmaid was wearing a matching down in light apricot.  Our bouquets were ivory colored roses and baby's breath.

              Susan knocked on the bedroom door just as Gina and Denise had finished up affixing my veil.  She had our bouquets.

              "Oh my," she said, her eyes welling up, "You girls look so lovely.  Tylar, I have never seen a prettier bride in all of my life."

              She gave me a motherly hug and for the moment I felt a flicker of pain that my own mother had for whatever reason, never felt any love for me. 

              "You look lovely Susan," I replied. 

              She was wearing a summer suit of pale yellow with matching pumps.  Something was missing though.

              "Where's Preston," I asked, suddenly aware that I was not used to seeing Susan now without my baby in her arms.

              "Oh sweetie, Tess has her downstairs.  She was rocking her while I got ready.  Let me go get her before we leave."

              Gina and Denise exited with her as they were going in a separate limo from the one that Ray, Susan, Clive and I would be taking.

              Susan returned momentarily with Preston cradled in her arms.  She had fallen asleep for Tess, sucking her thumb. She was dressed in a pale lavender ruffled dress with matching booties.  Susan had put a matching lavender bonnet on hear head that had silk ribbons tied in a bow under her chin.  She had a lavender receiving blanket to match.

              "She looks precious doesn't she?" I asked.

              I knew there would be no disagreement from the proud grandma.

              "She reminds me so much of Trey as a baby," Susan crooned, rocking her gently in her arms, not taking her eyes off of her.

              "Tylar," Susan started, raising her gaze from the baby to me.

              "In case I haven't told you lately Clive and I love you like one of our own.  We couldn't have picked a better wife for our son; a better mother to our grandbaby; and a better daughter of our own.  It would please us both if you called us 'mom' and 'dad,' but we will both understand if you are not comfortable with that."

              I was filled with emotion.  The truth was, Susan and Clive both already seemed like family and had from the moment Trey had introduced me to them. 

              "Oh Susan - I mean mom - nothing would please me more." 

              I moved towards her, wrapping my arms around her and the baby.  She kissed my forehead raising her hand to brush a tear that had rolled down my cheek.  I was glad that Gina had insisted on waterproof everything.

              Our mother-daughter moment was interrupted when Clive came to the door informing us our limo awaited.  He took the sleeping baby from Susan so that she could assist me by holding my train while we made our exit to the waiting limousine.

CHAPTER 4

              I was facing Trey on the porch of the colonial mansion at Le Vie Belle.  Soft violin music was playing in the background.  Wedding guests were seated on the lawn.  Tristan and Ray stood off to the side of Trey; Gina and Denise stood off to the side of me. 

              At this moment there was only Trey and me.  My hands were placed in his; I stared up into his magnificent blue eyes as he recited the vows he had selected for me in his smooth and silky voice.

             
"I Trey, choose you, Tylar, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children and my wife.  I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before.  I will protect you from all harm; I will trust you and respect you.  I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."

              It was my turn and I swallowed nervously.  Trey had it all over me when it came to public speaking of any kind.  He was a litigator; he was comfortable in the spotlight.  I wasn't.

              I felt him lightly squeeze my fingers and our eyes locked.  He smiled down at me, giving me a slight nod of encouragement before I began.

             
"I, Tylar, take you, Trey to be my friend, my lover, the father of my children and my husband. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want; in times of sickness and in times of health; in times of joy and in times of sorrow. I love you with all of my heart; I promise to cherish and respect you; to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you for all eternity."

              Tristan stepped up to Trey's side, handing him my ring.  Trey gently slid the wedding band onto my ring finger, lifting my hand and brushing it with a kiss when he finished.

              Gina stepped up to my side, handing me Trey's wedding band.  I slid it onto his finger, gazing up into his eyes as he smiled down at me.

              The minister spoke.

              "By the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."

              Trey lowered his face to mine, his hand tilting my chin upward to meet his kiss.  I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as we kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

              The minister interrupted our kiss with the introduction.

              "Ladies and gentleman, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Trey Sinclair."

              There was applause and shouting; I heard a champagne cork pop in the distance.  We were immediately surrounded by family and friends, giving us congratulatory hugs and kisses.

              Hand in hand, Trey and I made our way to the horse drawn carriage that would take us over to the reception area on the other side of the plantation.  Susan handed Preston over to Trey once he had settled me into the carriage.  He climbed in next to me, cradling the baby against his chest.  He looked magnificent in his tan tuxedo. 

              Preston was ready to nurse right then and there.  I looked over at Trey as her fussiness escalated into full-fledged wailing.  Trey leaned up and directed the driver to take us to the reception hall.  Once we got moving, I quickly pulled one side of the bodice of my gown down far enough so that she could latch onto a nipple and nurse. Within moments she had quieted down and was content once again. I looked up at Trey.  He was watching us his eyes full of love and warmth.

              "I love you, Trey."

              "I love you Mrs. Sinclair," he replied, pulling me closer against him.

              We had a sit down dinner followed by a reception complete with live music and dancing.  Susan had taken full responsibility for Preston once she had finished nursing after the wedding ceremony.