Chapter 3 #3
“Trin is still getting ready. She’s had a shitty day.
” He asked what had happened. “You know Pete Jacobson? He’s making threats to her about leading his son on about marrying him.
I don’t know why he’d think that was something that she’d done or not, but Peter, the son, is making sure everyone knows that Trin is an out-of-shape woman who just gave birth to her sister’s husband’s baby.
I look for it to be in the papers next week as much as he’s making a fuss about things.
Just so you know, she’s been thinking about canceling all day. It’s been a lot for her.”
“We could stay here.” He nodded and said he’d suggested that as well. “I don’t mind if she’d rather stay in. I’m sure that she has a cook that wouldn’t mind whipping us up something to eat. Or we can order in. I’m easy.”
“You should talk to her. She’s been upset all day.
” They both looked up the stairs when they heard something.
Trinity was coming down the stairs with a baby in her arms and wearing about what he was wearing.
Jeans and a T-shirt, as well as big fluffy slippers on her feet.
“I was just suggesting to Audon here that you two should eat here. That way nothing from Pete will come back around to you.”
“I figured that he’s called the newspaper.” Audon took the baby from Trin and held her while she was adjusting her slippers. “You did that very smoothly. Thanks. I was wondering how I was going to manage.”
Taking the bundle back from him, he ended up following her toward what appeared to be the kitchen.
After putting the baby in a crib that was just inside the dining room, she asked him if he minded eating in tonight.
After telling her what he’d said to Bruno, she looked like she was having the weight of the world taken off her shoulders.
He could also see a few tears as they fell down her cheeks.
Every part of him wanted to comfort her, pull her into his arms and hold her.
“I’ve had a terrible day. First thing was the doctor called and said that Lizzy’s blood is elevated and I needed to take her to her physician.
Of course I can’t get into the office until Tuesday.
Nor would they explain to me what that meant.
I think it’s going to be really bad now, and I’m beside myself with worry.
Then my computer shut down for no reason.
I have to get it back up and running before tomorrow so that I can work.
Then this thing with the Jacobsons. Pete is telling everyone that I lured his son into a relationship and now have a baby to show for it.
If he knew what it meant for me to get ready for this thing to have a baby for my sister, he’d back the fuck off.
” Audon pulled out his cell phone and told her he was calling in help.
“I don’t know what you can do, but I’d appreciate anything I can get. ”
The first call he made was to Stamos to ask him if he had anyone saying anything about Trinity Banton. When it was relayed to him that Jacobson was making waves, he told him that it wasn’t true. None of it was.
“I have no intentions of running anything he’s telling me until I have proof.
I don’t believe for a minute that anyone would lure his dumbass son into anything.
I’m going to be investigating things tomorrow.
” Handing the phone to Trinity, she listened for a moment before she started talking about what really happened.
And that she had proof that it was Robert’s child.
Whatever Stamos said to her made her cry, and he found that he wanted to pound his brother’s head in.
Before he could say anything, Trinity was saying thank you and that she’d see him tomorrow.
Giving him back his phone, Stamos said that she was going to give him an interview to clear things up.
He felt like the hero in her world just then.
The next call was made to his brother Gilman.
He knew he was home tonight; they’d talked about how he was going to be ordering in pizza and pigging out.
Telling him what was going on with her computer, he said he’d be right out.
Trinity told him that he was making her life better just by being himself.
“It’s my pleasure. I have one more call to make.
Do you have the results of your daughter’s blood work handy?
I’m calling Kahana to have you talk to him about the elevated blood work.
He’ll be able to answer your questions right away.
” After explaining to Kahana what was going on, he handed the phone to her.
She walked away, leaving him with Bruno, who was laughing right then.
“You fixed it.” He said that he didn’t know that he fixed anything.
All he did was call his family. “She’ll love you for it even if they tell her the same thing.
That the computer needs more power than that’s in the dining room and that she should be using the office.
I hope so anyway. She could use some good news about now. ”
After Gilman showed up and got to work on the computer in the dining room, he asked if he could order pizzas.
It would be a good way to pay his brothers off, and he was starving.
Bruno said that he was too and that more than likely with everything going on, Trin had skipped both breakfast and lunch in order to deal with things.
“You order, and I’ll pay. That way we can get what she wants.
My brothers will eat a meat pizza over anything else so long as they have something to drink to go with it.
” He said they have domestic beer in the kitchen.
“Perfect. Like I said, you order, and I’ll pick up the tab. Anything to make her in a better mood.”
He didn’t know what Kahana had said to Trinity, but she was smiling.
Of course her tears were there as well, but she said he’d given her all she needed to know.
As soon as he had his phone back, he called Penrod and asked him if he’d heard anything about the Jacobsons and, if he had, what he was doing about it.
“Nothing so far.” He explained what was happening. “She could press charges if she wanted, though I don’t think that’s the way to go. It will make the headlines that she did that, and people will wonder what she had to hide. People always want to make someone the bad guy and in this, it’ll be her.”
“Then we’ll hold on that until later.” Penrod asked him where he was.
“We had a date tonight, and I came over to find out she’d been dealt some really shitty blows.
Not only did her doctor blow her off about the baby, but she’s having computer problems as well.
I could get it all fixed up in no time. I just hope that she appreciates me butting in and doesn’t want to see me anymore. This is our first date.”
“Good luck. Shall I be making sure my tux is cleaned up? You know how quickly we fall in love when we meet the right person.” He said they were just on their first date. “I knew that I loved Lori the first time I saw her. It’ll be no different for you, I don’t think.”
“I’m just dating her. I hope.” He saw her coming down the hallway that he didn’t know about and told his brother he had to go. “I’ll call you tomorrow to see what kind of things she can do to protect herself.”
“She’ll be fine. I heard that Jacobson has been trying to marry his son off for years and to no avail.
She’ll do well in keeping them at arm’s length, but for now I’m betting she’s plotting things so that she can get back at them.
That’s what I would do.” The two of them laughed, and he told his brother he had to go.
As soon as he hung up the phone, Trinity kissed him on the cheek.
“Not that I mind, but what was that for?” She told him that he was her hero. “I just made a couple of calls to family, and that’s all. I hope Kahana had good news for you.”
“He did. He said that there could be any number of things going on with elevated blood work, and it could be nothing at all. He was going to call his friend who was a pediatrician that could answer any questions that I might have. I think I’m going to go to him from now on instead of Doctor Henry.
I had faith in her because Milly chose her, but I’m beginning to think that I need someone that I’m comfortable with instead of just relying on a woman old enough to be my great-grandmother.
” He laughed with her, and she seemed to be surprised by it.
“I think we’ll have a good time, and I’ll get to know your family.
Thank you for doing this for me. You’ve no idea how stressed I’ve been all day.
I nearly canceled several times because I was so stressed out. ”
“I’m glad that you didn’t.” About the time Gilman was finished setting up her computer in the office, the pizzas had arrived.
He had invited his brothers over, and they said they’d be there.
He was both nervous and excited for this new relationship with someone and hoped that his family approved.
Not that it mattered, he supposed, but having them there was just what the two of them needed.