Trey's head snapped around to look at me in shock and disbelief. I put my hand up to cover my mouth in embarrassment lowering my gaze from Trey.
I felt him leave our pew to approach the bench. I looked up and saw Judge Tylar studying me. I looked at him feeling my cheeks redden with the embarrassment. What if he instructed the bailiff to remove the 'giggling idiot' from the court room? He continued to stare at me but his stern expression had softened somewhat.
The bailiff read Trey's case number and the parties involved. It was noted that opposing counsel had waived appearance for oral argument but had filed papers stating their opposing position.
Trey was instructed that he could use the full twenty minutes for his argument if he chose.
"If it pleases the court, I won't take the full twenty minutes in light of the over-run on the last argument," Trey said to the panel.
Several of the judges smiled at him including Judge Tylar.
"The court appreciates your sensitivity Mr. Sinclair," Judge Tylar responded. "You may begin your argument now to the issue."
I listened intently as Trey argued the merits of his Motion to the panel in his smooth and silky voice. He briefly summarized the fine points covered in his Memorandum in support of his Motion to consolidate the case to the 11th District Court for the purposes of pre-trial management.
My eyes were glued on him as he spoke to the panel and made his argument interesting and factual citing a couple of case references. I continued to notice that Judge Tylar glanced at me several times throughout the ten minutes that Trey was on the floor. He wrapped it up and the next case was called to the floor.
He took his seat next to me and I didn't dare look at him acting as if I was totally enthralled with the next case up. I felt his hand on mine and looked over. He wasn't angry with me. I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes as he squeezed my hand in his.
At the conclusion of the last oral argument the bailiff announced that the panel would break for lunch and oral arguments would resume at 12:30 p.m. Everyone was instructed to rise as the seven judges filed out the side door.
"Let's go 'Chuckles," Trey said as he took my arm and guided me out into the aisle.
Once we got into the large hallway I turned to him.
"Trey I am so sorry," I said apologetically. "I don't know what got into me in there."
He continued to stare at me and I couldn't tell if he was angry with me or not.
"I think it was the way Judge Tylar was talking to that windbag attorney and his name being 'Louderdick' and all it just struck me funny all of a sudden and it was out before I realized - "
"Tylar hush," Trey said softly leaning down to give me a kiss.
"It's okay."
"So you're not mad at me?"
"No I am not mad at you. I found it kind of comical as well. I have to admit that it was a first for me."
"You mean an attorney being escorted out by the bailiff?"
"No - the first time that somebody laughed out loud in a hushed courtroom with seven federal judges in attendance."
I smiled back at him giving him a hug.
"So when will you find out how the panel rules on your case?"
"It usually takes about six or eight weeks for them to rule."
"What now?" I asked.
"Well how about you and I go and get some lunch and then head back to our hotel for a nice nap before we have to check out and get to the airport?"
"I like the way you think counselor," I answered him smiling.
"I need to use the restroom first though."
I found the ladies restroom in the courthouse and Trey said he was going to find the men's room and to meet him back near the staircase. The hallways in this old courthouse seemed to wind around like a maze.
After I had finished up in the restroom I headed back down the hallway; when I turned the corner to where the hallway opened up to the area outside the courtrooms on the third floor, I realized that it was not the same hallway as before. I had taken the wrong turn somewhere.
I turned around and headed back the other way. As I approached the corner of the hall where it turned to go back to where the restrooms were, I collided with a man coming around the corner from the opposite direction.
"I'm sorry," I said looking up at him.
He wasn't wearing his robes but I recognized Judge Tylar immediately.
"Are you alright?" he asked studying my face.
I nodded affirmatively. He had the same amber colored eyes that I did.
His eyes dropped to my earrings and then to my necklace.
"Marley?" he said, his gaze locking with mine.
"Pardon?" I asked.
"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head.
"I thought for a moment you were someone that I had known a long time ago which is quite impossible. Please excuse me."
He walked past me down the long corridor his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.
Trey was waiting for me by the stairwell. He must have been worried because I saw a hint of relief on his face when he spotted me.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Trey," I said, "You aren't going to believe me but I know that in some way I am related to Judge Tylar."
After I verbalized what I had felt from the first time I had seen the man's name in print at the firm, to the collision that had just taken place in the hall, the tears rolled down my cheeks.
CHAPTER 28
Trey and I arrived back at the apartment by 9:30 that night. Jean said that Preston had been perfect for her. She had put her to bed about forty-five minutes prior to our getting home. Trey was going to drive Jean home since it was so late.
After they left I went to the bedroom and changed into a pair of my silk pajamas. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I then went into the nursery and pulled Preston out of her crib. She yawned and stretched in my arms before her eyes fluttered opened and she saw me. I was immediately rewarded with a dimpled grin.
"Hi sweetie," I cooed to her hugging her close.
I took her into our bedroom and pulled the covers back on our bed climbing into it. I grabbed the remote turning the flat screen on and settled in with the pillows propped behind me. I unbuttoned my pajama top and nestled her against me. She didn't latch on to my breast quickly like she used to do. I finally got her to take my nipple and she started nursing gently.
I knew that it was just a matter of time when my milk supply in the only boob I had that produced would dry up because she was nearly weaned. The thought made me sad.
My Blackberry chimed from the nightstand. I reached over and grabbed it. It was Gina.
"Hey girlfriend where are you?" she asked.
I could tell by the background noise that she was at the club.
"We just got in a little while ago. Trey is taking Jean home. I'm nursing Preston."
"Preston is still up this late?"
"Well - I kind of woke her up to nurse."
"You did? Why?"
"It's hard to explain Gina. I felt my eyes tearing up for the second time today. "Just trust me on this okay?"
"Sure Ty," she replied.
"So how did things go down there?"
"Gina I am so positive that Judge Tylar is related to me in some way - it is possible he could be my father."
I provided her the details of the day in court and then literally running in to him in the hallway and what he had called me.
"Wow," she said, "What now?"
"I think it's time I pay Maggie a visit in jail."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes Gina, I am. I need some answers. She has nothing to lose by giving them to me now."
"If you trust a sociopath I suppose," she replied.
"Hey not to change the subject but Tristan called today and he will be back in Atlanta for Thanksgiving."
"Really?"
"Yep. He liked what he saw on the financials I guess."
"Apparently so," I replied, silently smirking.
"Was Preston a good girl for Aunt Gina?"
"Except for the green shit explosion she was great."
"The what?"
I sat up straighter in bed, disturbing Preston who was still nursing.
I manipulated the nipple back into her mouth waiting for Gina's explanation.
"I think it was all those pureed green beans Ty. She may not be ready for that particular vegetable just yet."
"Gina! You fed her a whole flippin' jar of them at one sitting."
"Got to go Ty; my break is over. See you tomorrow at work."
Gina clicked her phone off not wanting to deal with me. I knew how she rolled.
I gazed down at my beautiful daughter wondering if the judge that I had seen today knew that he was a grandpa. I didn't care if Trey was skeptical about the connection. It was similar to what Nigel had told Tess; the heart knows what the heart knows. In my heart I knew that Judge Preston James Tylar was my father.
_______________________________
When Trey got back both Preston and I had fallen asleep in the bed. I felt him lift her from me.
"Let her stay Trey, please? I haven't seen her in nearly two days."
"Tylar we are not starting that habit again. Besides I have some plans for this bed tonight that no one under the age of eighteen is permitted to witness."
He cuddled her to him and carried her back to the nursery. He was showered and in bed within ten minutes. He pulled me to him, gently taking my pajama top off and lowering the silk pants. I hadn't put panties on once I had changed so he had a clear field.
"Is your diaphragm in baby?" he asked.
"No Trey it isn't."
"Do you want to rectify that situation now?"
"I don't know why I should. My period is two weeks late as it is."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I think I just did Trey."
"Tylar for Chrissake are you pregnant for sure? Why are you being so cavalier about it?"
"Trey I don't know anything
for sure
. I know that when a woman breast feeds her cycles can be irregular. I know that for some odd reason my milk supply is drying up. I also know that I haven't had enough of it just being 'Preston Only' time before we bring another baby into the mix and that's not fair."
"What do you mean sweetie?"
"I mean that I want to enjoy Preston's firsts without having another baby on the horizon. Her first words, her first steps."
"Her first date?" Trey asked.
"That's not fair Trey and you know it. I want more children. I just wanted them spaced apart so that we could enjoy the individuality of each of them."
"Sweetie," he said, pulling me into his arms and kissing my hair and my face, "If you are pregnant that doesn't take away from any of Preston's firsts."
"I just love her so much Trey. I don't think that I could ever love another child like I do her."
"I think all mothers probably think like that Tylar. I mean I can't say for sure but maybe it's something you could ask Mom about?"
I looked up at him and his beautiful caring face. Of course he was right. I could see how much Susan loved all of her boys. Nigel and Tristan were barely two years apart and I couldn't see any partiality with the way she treated them.
He lowered his face to mine, kissing me sweetly and lovingly. I laced my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me, loving the feel of his naked body against mine.
I pushed him back against the mattress suddenly hungry for the feel and taste of him. I straddled him with my nakedness and began a slow, sensual path with my tongue on his lips. We kissed gently at first allowing the passion to build up. My breasts rested against his chest and I felt his hands massaging and capturing my nipples in a pleasurable and painful grip. My sex was wet for him and only him.
I raised myself up and lowered myself down onto his engorged penis, loving how it felt within me. Trey placed his hands on each of my hips and gently raised me up and then lowered me down on his shaft over and over again.
He moaned with pleasure each time I fully possessed his manhood within me. I gyrated my hips in a circular motion as Trey continued the rhythmic up and down lifting of me onto his shaft.
"Baby you feel so good," he moaned with pleasure, increasing the rhythm a bit.
I could feel the swelling of my G-Spot; my contractions were squeezing his manhood into sweet release. I leaned over allowing my breasts to brush against his face. His hand reached out and captured one. He placed his mouth on the rosy peak and he suckled hard from it drawing pleasurable moans from me. I rocked harder and faster back and forth on him.
"God baby, I can't hold it - I need to come!"