Things with Susan have also calmed down over the weeks. She’s called a few times but usually only when she is drunk out of her mind. Mom and I think she will eventually forget that Cohen exists and just leave us alone.
One thing we don’t have to worry about is Mandy. That is another promise that Greg kept. The next day, he drove me to the police station and helped me fill out the necessary reports to have a restraining order against her. Although he assures me that it won’t ever be needed, he still feels better knowing it’s there. He didn’t tell me until later that week that he had a ‘come to Jesus’ (as my mom calls it) with Mandy. I don’t care what happens to the bitch, but according to him, she is back on her meds and seeking help. ‘Back on the meds’ should have been clue enough that she really is a psycho bitch. Maybe next time, she will keep up with those damn pills. All that matters is he says that she won’t be a problem, and I believe him.
About two weeks ago, I started to bring Cohen around. If there was any doubt left in my mind that Greg was the perfect man, watching him with my nephew squashed it. It is clear that he is meant to have children in his life but when he started asking me about my plans for the future when it came to Cohen, I start to worry a little that maybe kids aren’t something he wants. I can’t help my fears; it all just seems so perfect that I keep waiting for ‘it’ to happen and all of this to just blow up in my face.
So, I told him the truth. I wanted Cohen. My mom wants me to have Cohen. He is a crazy-as-hell three-year-old boy who needs someone that can keep up with him. He smiled and told me that was a great plan, and then continued to sit there with me for hours and plan our future with Cohen in it.
That was also the night that I realized I had fallen in love with him.
*
We are closing in on autumn and the weather is still nice enough to enjoy being outside for long periods. So here I am, in Greg’s kitchen, making lunch for the two most important men in my life. Greg and Cohen are spending some time doing what Cohen calls ‘man fluff, no hips,’ which, when translated by a hysterical Greg, means ‘man stuff babe, no chicks allowed.’ They left a few hours ago to do whatever it is that boys do. My mom has graciously taken me up on my offer to start having Cohen spend some weekends with me. Now that I have somewhere I feel safe enough to take him, we are finally spending some quality time together.
I have just cut up the last sandwich when I hear the front door open and little feet pound down the hall.
“Melwee! Melwee, look what I got!” And like a flash, in comes Cohen with a bright red cape flapping behind him. “Greg said this would help me fight ninjas. He said that all ninjas are scared of superheroes. He said that if I have a cape I have MAGIC! Magic powers that ninjas can’t fight because they aren’t SUPERheroes! Melwee! Do you see? Can you see it?” The whole time he is giving this speech, he doesn’t once take a breath. By the time he’s finished, he has to take a few deep ones just to stay on his feet. I look over and see Greg leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his thick chest and a huge grin on his face. I give him one of my own before turning my attention back to Cohen, who is now spinning in circles and kicking his feet out every few seconds. My guess, he’s fighting ninjas now and completely forgotten about us.
“Come here and let me see your powers, little man. I can already tell that the ninjas are going to be so scared of you! I bet they don’t even come near Nana’s house anymore!”
He stops his weird twirl kicking and jumps into my arms. “Can you feel my power?” he whispers loudly into my face. “Greg said that I have powers against you too,” he says still whispering loudly.
“Oh he does, does he?” I ask and look over at Greg, watching as his silent laughter shakes his body.
“Co, my man, not something you’re supposed to tell the ladies.” Greg laughs in response to Cohen and walks over to ruffles his hair.
“Alright, tell me, little guy, what kind of powers do you have against me?”
“I can make you love me!” He laughs and looks over at Greg nodding his little head, “Greg said that I can make you love me and all I have to do is smile! He told me it worked on him, so it has to be magic powers, Melwee! He told me. He said all I have to do is smile and everyone falls in love with me because I’m special like that.”
Well. Shit. My throat has closed up now and I can feel my eyes prickling. I am going to cry. “He did?” I croak.
“Melwee, what’s wrong with your face? You look funny. Like that time you dropped something on your foot and yelled that really bad word; your face looks like that.” He takes both my cheeks in his small hands and moves my head around, studying every inch. “Yeah, you look funny.” Then he wiggles to get down and takes off running through the house, yelling for the ninjas to watch out because he’s going to hunt them down.
“You should probably go make sure he doesn’t destroy the house,” I whisper to Greg, who is now pulling me into his arms.