The Fall - Book 2

253. ...spun around for dramatic effect.

DECEMBER 18, 2020 — THE BARNES HOUSE — BUCKY

When we arrive back home, Réa feeds Conall, then puts him down for a nap. Taking the baby monitor with us, we head downstairs to the den, cuddling on the couch in our usual position while we watch Twister.

"Sometimes I feel like that cow," my wife remarks. "Being sucked up into the tornado of life and spun around for dramatic effect."

"I know what you mean."

We finish the movie, making it to the beginning of the end credits before hearing a peep from Conall. When his small, quiet cry carries over the monitor, Réa bolts up and practically sprints from the room.

'Let down,' I think, before rising from the couch and heading into the kitchen to start on lunch.

I take the food Wanda dropped off yesterday—chicken paprikash and nokedli—out of the fridge, emptying both containers into pans and placing them on the stovetop to heat.

After about twenty minutes, Réa returns, Conall in her arms. "Thank you for fixing lunch," she says, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek before she carries our son into the den and gets him situated in his swing.

"You're welcome, doll."

I fix our plates and bring them into the den, handing them to Réa while I set up two of the tray tables. As soon as she's set my plate on my table, she digs into her food, and—in true Réa fashion—does a little happy dance while she eats.

After lunch, she and I clean up the kitchen—with me giving a silent cheer for dishwasher-safe pots and pans—then return to the den, taking Conall out of his swing for some tummy time. I get him settled on my chest, and he lifts his head and grins at me...right before he drools all over the front of my shirt.

"Thanks, buddy," I deadpan as Réa bursts into laughter.

"Sorry, sorry...let me grab a towel." She darts out of the den; when she returns several moments later, she's still giggling softly. "Here," she hands me one of the hand towels from the half-bath.

"Thank you," I say, my tone sincere this time.

"Of course." She leans down and gives me a brief kiss. "I'm going to take a little nap, if you don't min—"

"Go on, doll," I grin up at her. "Ár Mac Tíre Beag and I can hold down the fort."

Once I hear her footsteps upstairs, I pull my phone from my pocket and text Pepper, firming up the time for this evening before I text Nat and Wanda, asking for their help. With all of the planning dealt with, I tuck my phone back into my pocket and look at Conall.

"You're going to have a sleepover with your grandparents and your aunt, Morgan, tonight. What do you think about that?"

"Ba," he coos, blowing a very wet raspberry in my face.

"Again...thanks, buddy."

----------------------------------------

"Alright, Conall's fed and ready to go," Réa says, carrying our son into the foyer. "Hear that, Little Wolf?" she asks. "It's time for your sleepover with Grandma Pepper, Grandpa Tony, and Aunt Morgan!"

"Do you want to ride over with us?" I ask.

"I do...and I can admit that, if I go with you, we'll just wind up staying over there, because I won't want to leave him. So I should probably stay here."

"Fair enough."

'I'll have to let Nat and Wanda know that the plan has changed,' I think. 'That's okay. I can roll with it.'