"There will be 150 people in the meeting."
Bella had been in sales before starting Bella Pelle, so she was always comfortable speaking to groups of people. Still, the thought of speaking to 150 of the smartest people on the planet was daunting.
"Of course, Phil. It's not a problem. I'll call the office and get that arranged. I was planning to drive to Houston, so I can bring them with me if that's okay. Is there anything else I should bring?"
"Sensible shoes, Bella. You'll be doing a lot of walking," he replied before saying his goodbyes.
Humph. Sensible shoes, she muttered to herself as she walked into her closet. Looking at her options, she realized she didn't have as many sensible choices as she'd thought and wondered if she had time to hit the shops before leaving.
A quick trip to Nordstrom to procure the aforementioned sensible shoes was a success. Bella found several pairs of cute trainers she could pair with both jeans and dresses, as well as a gorgeous pink dress with a sheer floral overlay that she simplyhad to have. Bella was only 5'3", so she typically wore heels, but she could see the wisdom in flats if a lot of walking was involved.
Back home, she packed carefully for the NASA week, then turned to the more enjoyable task of choosing her concert outfit, remembering at the last moment to add the friendship bracelets the girls had made for her for the Eras Tour. The bracelets spelled out the names of her favorite Taylor songs. Taylor had incorporated the Surprise Songs section of the Eras Tour into the new tour, but this time with the full band instead of just herself with a guitar or piano, so Bella was hoping one of her favorites might be played at the Houston show.
Realizing more time had passed than she'd thought, she grabbed her purse and Primrose and headed over to her parents' house. They had a family rule of Sunday dinners together, but since Bella would be driving to Houston on Sunday, everyone had agreed to move this week's dinner to Saturday evening. Angela and Madeline were both in town for a change. They were leaving in the morning to spend some time in Los Angeles with their dad, so tonight would be the last night they were all together for a while.
Arriving at her parents' house, she noticed Angela's car was already in the driveway. Madeline didn't drive. Having grown up largely in London, where public transportation was readily available, she'd never really seen the need to learn. Lifting Primmy out of the car, Bella walked to the door and let herself in.
"Sono arrivata! Ciao, famiglia!" Bella called out as she entered the kitchen, where everyone was gathered. Italians consider the kitchen the heart of the home, so she knew exactly where she'd find them.
A chorus of "Bella!" and "Mom!" greeted her as she stepped inside. After quick hugs all around and letting Primroseout into the backyard, Bella settled onto a stool at the kitchen island.
"Is there anything I can help with, Mom?" she asked.
Mary Genovese was a lovely woman whose hair was still more blonde than gray. She stood stirring a large pot of sauce made from Big G's homegrown tomatoes.
"Maybe help the girls set the table? Dinner should be ready soon," Mary replied.
"Are you having wine with dinner, Mom? Should I set out a glass for you?" Angela asked.
"No wine for me. I'm driving but thank you."
Bella wasn't much of a drinker. She enjoyed the occasional Aperol Spritz, glass of prosecco, or dirty martini, but never when she knew she'd be driving.
"I'll have a glass!" said Madeline as she laid out the cutlery.
"Ha, nice try. You're only eighteen."
"I'm eighteen, and in the UK, you can drink at eighteen."
"Well, you're not in the UK right now, and the drinking age in Texas is twenty-one, so it's a big no."
Angela burst out laughing, and soon everyone joined in.
They finished setting the table just as Big G came in carrying a platter of pasta, followed by Mary with the bread and Madeline with a large bowl of salad.
"My bellissima girls, all in one place! I must have someone upstairs who likes me to bless me with such beauty in my life," he declared as they sat down to eat.
Big G never missed an opportunity to tell people how proud he was of his family.
"What time are you leaving for Houston, Bella?" her mom asked.
"Have you checked the oil in the car? The air pressure in the tires?" asked her dad.
"Do you have your road-trip playlist ready?" Madeline added.
"I didn't realize this was the Spanish Inquisition!" Bella laughed, never one to miss a chance to quote Monty Python.
"Yes, yes, and yes. Everything is good to go. I'm planning to leave around nine in the morning so I can account for traffic and still have plenty of time to get settled into my hotel before Monday."
