The Fall - Book 2

240. I want a stuffed Jonathan!

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020  — THE BARNES HOUSE — BUCKY

I feel like I'm glowing so brightly, I could be seen from the Space Station.

Seeing everyone who showed up to celebrate Conall—as well as me and Réa—fills me with so much joy that I've had a giant smile plastered on my face since the shower began. Seated beside my wife, her hand in mine, I look around at all of our family and friends, and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude.

'I still can't believe this is my life,' the thought flits through my mind, as it often does.

"I know what you mean," Réa's voice is gentle through our link. "I have that thought a lot. And I'm so incredibly happy and thankful that this is my life...your life...our life. Together."

I lean over and place a kiss to her temple. "I am, too, sweetheart," I quietly say before I sit back in my chair.

I let my eyes move over my wife, who's fallen into conversation with Shuri and Peter's girlfriend, MJ; she's wearing a long dress in a golden yellow color that almost perfectly matches the mums she planted in the small beds beside the deck stairs, and I feel my smile turn softer at the memory of that.

"James Buchanan Barnes, if you don't let me plant these flowers, I'll...well, I'm not sure what, but I'll do something!" Réa fixes me with a look.

Both her tone and her expression are stern, and although I know she's serious, she looks so adorable that I can't help the grin that curves my lips.

"God, you're cute."

"I am not cute...I'm...I'm scary, damn it!"

She emphasizes that exclamation by stomping her right foot, and I lose it, a loud laugh escaping me. Réa's brow furrows, and I can tell she's trying to keep that stern expression on her face, but soon she's laughing along with me, her giggles bright and cheerful.

"I think I need to quote you here," I say as my laughter subsides, taking her hands and pulling her close. "'You're very scary...just not to me'." Conall gives a flurry of kicks, as if he's trying to say that Réa's not scary to him, either, and I chuckle softly at his antics. "Seems like someone agrees with me."

My wife lets out a sigh, looking down at her stomach then back up to me. "Fine. Maybe I'm not scary. But I'm still planting my mums."

"I'll make you a deal: if you'll let me carry the plants out, and if you'll sit on the gardening stool while I do all the digging and the backfilling, you can put all the mums in their spots."

She's quiet for several moments as she considers my compromise then finally nods. "Okay. That's fair."

"Alright, everyone, it's almost time to head inside for presents!" Wanda calls, pulling me from the memory. She makes her way over to me and Réa. "We're going to open gifts in the living room, if you two want to go in and get settled."

"Thanks Wanda, we'll do that. Ready, doll?" I ask Réa as I stand and hold my hand out to her.

She nods and takes my hand, letting me help her up before we make our way inside. I help her get settled in one of the wingback armchairs—as much as I'd love to be next to her on one of the sofas, I know that she'll be more comfortable here—before taking a seat in the adjacent one. She looks over at me and gives me a beautiful smile, her face filled with so much love and happiness that it leaves me breathless.

I reach out and cup her cheek, my thumb brushing over her soft skin. "Have I told you how beautiful you look?"

Her eyes go soft, and she turns her head, pressing a kiss to my palm before once again meeting my gaze. "You have...and thank you."