Bella took a sip of her Cosmo (she was feeling very Sex & the City tonight), and replied casually, “The commander of the mission was kinda cute, in that all American Navy guy look.”
“HA! I KNEW IT.”
“Jackie, he’s cute, he’s a widower with two daughters, that’s all I know really. It’s nothing.”
“Hmmm, methinks you are interested.”
“He lives in Houston and is busy training to go to the moon. I live in Dallas and run a busy company. I doubt we will even see each other again.”
“I don’t know, something tells me you’ll see Captain Cutie Pants sooner than you think.”
Laughing, Bella said “You’re terrible, you know that. Now where is our food, I’m starving!”
On Monday morning, Bella was at her desk going over the images from the latest photo shoot with Jerome, trying to decide which model shots to go with for their next ad campaign when her computer started pinging every second, with notifications of appointments and meetings being scheduled. Pausing for a moment, she pulled up her calendar and scowled at the screen.
“Carrie? Carrie - can you come in here for a second?” Bella called out.
“Yeeess?”
“What are all these meetings and appointments with NASA in here? There’s like a video call every week, and then in person meetings monthly. Is this a mistake? I thought we were done with all that?”
“No - Dr Campbell emailed over the schedule, so I went ahead and added them into your calendar, so you’d be sure not to book anything that might conflict. Apparently, it’s not a one and done thing Bella, you have to meet with them on a regular basis right up until mission launch.”
“What’s this one scheduled for next Friday? It says, “Crew tour and dinner, with Bella Pelle as the location.”
“Yes, so Phil, err, Dr Campbell, told me that is part of the whole thing. The guys going on the mission, and the girls - sorry - they do appearances on late night tv, tour the facilities of the vendors they are working with. It’s all part of keeping the mission in people’s minds leading up to the launch. He said having them visit the companies making things for the capsule and stuff is smart too - so the workers in the factories see the actual people they are making stuff for - gives it a real human face. Anyway, we have them next Friday, and then we are taking them out to dinner that evening. Which reminds me, I better book something now. A Friday night in Dallas for twelve people - won’t be easy getting a table at someplace good. Ta!”
“You don’t look pleased Bella. You didn’t seriously think you’d give them the product and that would be the end of it?” said Jerome.
"Yeah, I guess I did."Argh."I hadn't planned on this."
“It will be fun. Now, two questions: 1) Where are we going to dinner? And 2) if they don’t bring a moon rock do you think they might bring space dust instead?”
At NASA in Houston, Jack was having the same conversation with Phil. “Is this really needed right now? Can we push this back a few months? There’s a lot going on.”
“Sorry, since Bella Pelle is a new vendor and we need to visit them - we had to slot them in where we could. "Is there something I should know about, Jack?"
“No, it’s good Phil. I just hadn’t planned on this.”
The following Friday, everyone at Bella Pelle was ready to meet the astronauts. Bella had told all the employees they could bring their spouses and kids to meet the astronauts—she’d arranged with Phil to have a group photo taken before the tour ended. That’d be a good memento for everyone to have—everyone there was full of pride at the chance to contribute to such an important mission. Bella had chosen her outfit with care—another vintage Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress, but this one was black-and-white zebra stripe. Looking down at her feet, she was exceptionally pleased with the Schiaparelli pink satin high-heeled sandals she’d chosen to wear. There was something about the color of them that just worked with the dress.I wonder if Jack will notice. And when did it go from Captain Calloway to Jack? Wait. I’m still confused—is it Captain or Commander? I should have researched that—I don’t want to make another faux pas. Why am I concerned if he notices my shoes or not? Dear Lord, Bella, you’re not sixteen, why are you acting so silly?
Bella heard the office door open, and headed out of her office to greet them, only to stop in her tracks.
“Little G, look at you, you’re a picture!”
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to meet the astronauts, and see my friend Phil, we are going to try to get in a round of golf tomorrow before he heads back to Houston.”
Great. Just what I need. Big G. Sweet Baby Jesus, please don’t let him embarrass me, like the time he told stories of me tearing off my clothes and dancing on a table when I was two.
Hearing voices outside, she looked out the window to see the luxury van that held the astronauts had pulled into the parking lot, and they were exiting the vehicle to cheers from the warehouse crew - they’d all gathered outside for their arrival. Spotting Jack in his blue flight suit and those Ray-Ban Aviators. Shehadn'timagined how good he looked in it.
“Good afternoon, welcome to Bella Pelle, please come in, we are so happy to host you here today.”
“Phil, Phil, my friend, it’s been too long! Are you ready to lose to me tomorrow on the course?”
“Big G, I’m feeling lucky my man, I think it’s finally my turn.”
