Bound By Legacy

A Day In The Life

Before I open my eyes I can hear the chirping of the birds. As I roll over I can feel the warmth from the morning sun across my face. I reach out a hand expecting to feel the solid back of my husband. When I don't my eyes shoot open and I find the space vacant. I sit up quickly, my immediate thoughts turning negative. Looking around I see that his suitcase is open and his running shoes are gone. I sink back into the pillows. He's just on a morning run. Relieved I shut my eyes and let my heart rate normalize. 

Sliding off the side of the bed my bare feet patter across the wooden floor to my own suitcase. Reaching down I grab a pair of jeans, a cute shirt and some accessories. Crossing into the tiled bathroom I ready myself for the day. A normal day on the town. Just a few months ago I didn't believe I would ever say a sentence like that. Looking back up at the mirror there's a glow about me that I hadn't had yesterday. I smile thinking I just might be genuinely happy. 

I pull off Bucky's shirt overhead and then test the shower water. It warms quickly. Letting the heat rush over me I wash away the night before and rinse soap from my hair. I feel the closing of the front door reverberate through the wall. I take two more seconds in the warmth and then turn back to the cold. Grabbing a towel I dry myself off quickly and pull on my clothes. Next I bundle my hair utop my head in a bun and wrap a hair tie around it, keeping it upright. I spread the toothpaste over my toothbrush and open the bathroom door. As I begin to brush Bucky comes into our room. He smiles at me as he sits on a chair, untying his shoes. I spit, rinse, and then turn to him. "How was it?" I ask drying the droplets that have accumulated at the base of hairline. 

He nods. "It's a nice day." I nod my head back and turn. I could've guessed he'd say something as brief as that.

Leaving the bathroom I move to my side of the bed where I collect the clothes I'd discarded in the night. My phone falls from the pile. I freeze. I can feel James' eyes on me as I try to quickly check my phone. I breathe a sigh of relief when there's no messages or calls to alert me to trouble. "Trouble?" He asks reading my mind.

I shake my head and slip my phone away. "No." I say with a smile. He's moved from his chair and now stands within arms length. He lifts a finger under my chin and lifts it gently. I close my eyes as he leans in and we melt together with a kiss. I drop the clothes in my arms and step to him. I wrap my arms around him half expecting to us move to the bed again, but he stops. "What?" I ask, still breathing in a trance.

He brushes my cheek, "If we keep going we'll never get out and on with our day." I sigh and fall back on my heels.

I bite my lip and slowly ease my grip on him. "I suppose you're right." I step back as he turns to his suitcase and then to the shower. "If I'd known you were getting back so quickly I would've waited to take a shower." He turns perplexed by my dirty insinuation. I smirk at him and shoo him along. I finish getting ready, I do my makeup and blow dry my hair. The things a normal woman does to get ready for a day with her husband has never been on my list, especially in this time, but I think I can pull it off.

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Bucky insisted on driving. Honestly I'm okay with it. I love watching the sun dance between the branches and leaves on the trees over the road. I love watching my husband even moreso. He'd been so giddy when he saw the '67 Mustang sitting in a garage with half a dozen old sports cars. Even now he drives with his right hand on the wheel and the left half out the window. Perhaps we would have owned one of these in our retirement days had things gone as planned. I can't help but smile as I turn to look back out the window.

"What?" He asks. I turn to him confused.

"What?" I ask with a laugh.

"You're smiling." He says glancing from me to the road.