“It’s fine Jack, really. I only hope meeting me puts their mind at ease, at least regarding the girls.”
“I know, but I was excited for our night together. You’re not mad, are you?”
“Not at all. Besides, I’m seeing you in Dallas next weekend” Bella replied, giving him a quick kiss.
Finishing up in the kitchen, Jack put Bella’s case back in her car, and they waited for everyone to return with the dogs so Bella and Primrose could head over to their hotel for the night, before driving back to Dallas in the morning.
After everyone returned, Bella said her goodbyes and started to open the door when she heard Mrs. Hansen say, “Bella, may I have a word?”
Here we go, thought Bella. “Of course, Mrs. Hansen.”
Moving to the living room, Bella waited patiently for the older woman to speak.
“I’m sure us turning up was a surprise to you,” said Mrs. Hansen. “The girls spoke so highly of you, that I have to admit we were curious and wanted to meet you.”
“I understand Mrs. Hansen; my parents did pretty much the same thing to Jack.”
“I understand you’re a widow.”
“Yes, I lost my husband a few years ago to a heart attack.”
“We saw the lip color shade you named after Susan, and the donation of the profits to her favorite teacher’s charity. That was very kind of you. I think it speaks directly to the type of personyou are Bella, it’s no wonder Jack is taken with you. And the girls are crazy about you.”
“It really was my honor. Teachers are the unsung heroes of the world; I wanted to do it.”
“Piper said Susan would have liked you, and after meeting you I agreed. They told us about ‘midnight margaritas’ at Christmas. That sounds like something Susan would have done. I think she’d be pleased knowing there is someone in their lives who cares about them as much as she did.”
“Thank you Mrs. Hansen, that means a lot to me. For as long as I’m in the girls and Jack’s lives I want to honor Susan’s memory, she sounds like she was an extraordinary woman.”
“She was. And please, call me Wendy.”
Later, after taking Primmy out for a last potty break, Bella took a hot bath, then settled into bed, giving in completely to Primrose's begging eyes and lifting her onto the bed.I need to be sure to leave a nice tip for housekeeping.Bella’s phone rang, and she picked it up to see Jack calling.
“Jack, it’s late - is everything okay?”
“Yes, I just wanted to hear your voice, since I’m not going to get to see your body tonight. I’m sorry our weekend didn’t turn out like we planned.”
“It’s fine really. Well - obviously, I’m disappointed I’m not going to seeyourbody, but we’re seeing each other next weekend in Dallas - we can more than make up for it then.”
“That sounds heavenly, Ms. Genovese. Also, Bill and Wendy both said they thought you were lovely, and they were happy for me and the girls. I know it must be hard and bittersweet for them to see someone else here instead of Susan, but they were genuinely fine about it. Bill actually pulled me aside and saidhe'd wondered what was taking me so long - Susan wouldn’t have wanted me to grieve her the rest of my life.”
“That's really lovely of them. I can't imagine how hard this must be. I hope they know I’m not here to take Susan’s place - no one could ever do that; she sounds like she was truly one of a kind. All I can do is be me - and hope that’s enough. Does that make sense?”
“It does, and trust me - you are more than enough.”
Chapter 21
The following weekend in Dallas it was Jack’s turn to go to Bella’s. Her beloved Philadelphia Flyers were in town on Friday night - Bella’s birthday fell the next day - playing Carrie’s Dallas Stars, so they had a double date to the game with Mike and Carrie (they were still going strong!) to celebrate - and Jack saw yet another side of Bella at the game. Seeing this stylish woman wearing a hockey jersey with the Flyers logo on it, drinking beer from a plastic cup and yelling at the players, cheering the fights that always happened on the ice at a hockey game was a real eye opener.So many facets to this woman!
Bella and Carrie had gone to the ladies’ room between periods, giving Mike and Jack a chance to talk about the game - they both enjoyed hockey but weren’t fanatics like Carrie and Bella seemed to be.
“Bella’s pretty amazing, don’t you think?” Jack asked. “Nothing like the old widow lady I had in my head before we met her.”
"Oh, Ghost has it bad," Mike said with a grin.
“Let’s just say I’m locked on and leave it at that,” he said, before taking a swig of his beer.
"Then stop circling and make your approach, Ghost.”
