“And the family keeps growing.” Anna hugs Evelyn and Violet.
My phone pings in my hand, and I look at it to see Cooper’s name on the screen.
Cooper:You look stunning tonight.
Me:Thank you. You look handsome as always.
Cooper:When do I get to see you again?
Me:I’m here now.
Cooper:I mean all to myself. You and Lily. I’d like to take you both out to dinner. Or I can get us a sitter. Ma would happily babysit.
Me:Maybe next weekend for a sitter? But only if Lily is okay with it. I can ask Aggie.
Cooper:You handle Lily, I’ll handle the sitters. >
Me:That is some real dirty talk there, mister.
Cooper:I know how to please.
Damn, does he.And I haven’t even gotten a taste of the real thing with him yet.
Cooper:Are you guys eating all the cookies?
Me:> No.
The kitchen door is thrown open and Cooper stands in the middle of the doorway.
“I heard there was a Cookie Monster around here. Anyone seen her? She’s in a yellow dress and stealing all my chocolate chip cookies.” Cooper asks us, as if he doesn’t see Lily. “I need to catch her so she doesn’t eat all the desserts.”
“Not me, Coopa! I no Tootie Monsta!”
“Oh I think you are!” He runs at her, wiggling his fingers like he’s going to tickle her, and she takes off through the office door giggling, Cooper hot on her tail.
“God, it’s so nice to see my boy smile again.” Anna says, looking longingly at the door he just ran through.
“I think between the positive response to the blog and Lily, he’s happier than he’s ever been. You guys are good for him, Aubrey.” Emma hugs my shoulders.
“I don’t think you should give us any credit. He’s just a really good guy.” I don’t miss the eyebrow raise, and smiles between Anna and Aggie.
“While I agree my boy is one of the best, that old job of his took his spark and his smile and in the last few weeks here, I’ve seen it return in full force.” Anna smiles at me. “And I attribute that in part to you and that little girl comin’ into his life. Don’t discredit yourself, pretty girl.” She rubs my shoulder before walking away to pull a ham out of the oven.
Before I can respond, Violet is yelling out into the living room. “Boys, come serve yourselves, dinner is ready!”
Then the kitchen is descended upon in more chaos than before as everyone moves around the room making their plates and finding seats at the dining room tables.
Dinner was quite the affair. Loud voices, dishes clanging, and laughter filled the space. It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced before, and Lily, well, she ate. It. Up.
She loved every minute of being with this loud, boisterous family. Being glued to Cooper’s side could have something to do with it. He has quickly become her favorite person and hasn’t warranted me a second glance tonight, deferring to him foranything and everything. It makes my ovaries burst and at the same time cause me to pause.
What happens if I let things progress and it doesn’t work out? She’ll be crushed beyond repair. Already her relationship with Cooper is stronger than it ever was with her father.
Part of it could be how young she is, the other part could be that her father was choosing drugs over her on a daily basis.
“Mommy, walt wit me and Coopa?” Speak of the Devil. She tugs on the bottom of my dress while I wash up dishes.
“You want to go for a walk with Cooper?” I ask. While I can mostly decipher her speech, I like to repeat it properly for her.