Twins!
I don’t let her hand go once on the way to pick up Cohen. When we pull up at his daycare, I run in with a big smile on my face.
“Daddy!” Before I even have the door to his classroom open completely, his small body is barreling towards me. “Daddy, did you see it? Was I right? Is it a girl? Does it have a wiener? What is Mommy going to do if it has a wiener? She can’t look at them. Did you see it?”
I laugh and pull him up into my arms. “Well, hello to you too, C-Man.”
“Hi, Daddy. Do I have a sister? Is she pretty like Mommy? Do you think she can fight ninjas?” When I don’t answer, his small hands grab my cheeks and pull my face towards his. Nose to nose, smile to smile. God, I love this kid. “Was I right?” he asks with all the seriousness a four-year-old can muster.
“Can’t tell you yet. You know that wouldn’t be fair to Mommy. She wants to see your handsome face when we tell you the news.” I kiss his nose and continue out the door, waving to the teachers on the way.
“I know I’m right, Daddy, but I’ll still be happy for Mommy so she thinks she got a secret.” He snickers a few times before waving at Melissa from across the parking lot.
Cohen continues his questions during the whole fifteen-minute ride home. I think I’ve heard the word wiener more times than I knew possible to fit into one conversation. Melissa just continues to smile at him and holds off his questions.
By the time we pull up at the house, he is bouncing in his seat. The second the car shuts off, he takes off running around the driveway. I help Melissa out, and we make our way inside, Cohen still asking a million questions behind us.
“Cohen, baby, calm down.” Melissa laughs, pulling him closer.
“Can’t!” he screams with a big smile. “I gotta know! Was I right? Am I going to have a sister? I have to know so I can practice. I gotta protect my sister!”
I sit down next to Melissa and pull him into my lap. “All right, buddy. You know how we got to use that special camera today to see inside Mommy’s belly? Well, we found out something else today. The doctor said that there isn’t just one, but two babies in there, and you were right. You are getting a sister, only now you’re getting two sisters.”
“What? How did the other sister get in there? Is she magic? Do I have a magic sister?”
I can feel Melissa’s body shaking with silent laughter, and I know there will be no help from her here. “Uh, well…the doctor said she was playing hide and seek.”
Cohen starts smiling and nods his head. “This is good, Daddy. I knew my angels would give me sisters. I asked them.”
Melissa stops laughing and grabs my hand. “What do you mean, baby?” she asks on a whisper.
“I asked Nana, Mommy Fia, and Auntie Grace to give me a sister. I said I wanted a sister more than anything in the world so I can look out for her like Daddy looks out for you.”
“Oh, Cohen. You’re such a special little man.” she says, kissing his cheek.
“I know what I want to name my sisters.” he says, clearly proud of himself for his prediction and making Melissa happy.
“All right, let’s hear it.” I lean back, intertwine my fingers with Melissa’s, and wait. I don’t realize I am holding my breath until his soft voice speaks the names.
“I want my sisters to have my angel’s names. Lillian Sofia for Nana and Mommy Fia, and Lyndsie Grace for Daddy’s mommy and Auntie Grace.”
My breath comes out in a rush, and I can feel Melissa breathing heavily next to me. Cohen just looks at us with his little smile and bright eyes, waiting for the moment when we confirm that he’s allowed to name his sisters.
“Lillian Sofia and Lyndsie Grace? Cohen, I think those are perfect names for your sisters. You’re already such a wonderful big brother.” she whispers.
He gives us a big hug before leaping off my lap and running through the house. We can hear him talking to his ‘angels,’ telling them about his new sisters. I pull Melissa closer, resting my lips against her temple and my hand against her stomach. With all my girls in my arms and a full heart, I enjoy the moment of life coming full circle.
It’s times like this that I remember just how far I’ve come in the last few years. After losing my sister, I questioned my path in life. I questioned every single relationship I had. I wondered if having other people in my life was worth the pain if I was going to lose them. It wasn’t until Melissa and Cohen came into my life, that I realized living in fear is almost the same as slowly dying.
From the day I met her, I knew I would fight every day to be the man worthy of her love.
Hearing my cell ringing from another room, I shake off my daydreams and follow the sound.
I let out a relieved breath when I see Axel’s name across the screen.