“Um, I love the ocean and water but only to look at - I’m not much of a boat person.”
Jack clutched his chest dramatically, “Bella, how can you say that to a Navy man? I’m crushed!”
“I’m sorry - I’m not a strong swimmer, so I tend to avoid it. Plus, I think I watched ‘Jaws’ too many times growing up.”
“Ha - fair enough - no boats. Got it.”
“You know what? Maybe the girls would like it though. I don’t have to go, you can take them, and I can stay at the house - I can run to the store and get something for dinner. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a plan, we can ask them when they get off the Ferris Wheel. I just hope Piper doesn’t get sick - she doesn’t do heights. I’m shocked they even got her up there!”
The next morning everyone left early to head out to the lake, while Bella ran to the store to pick up ingredients for dinner. She'd decided on a lemony theme — a nod to her love of the Amalfi Coast and all things lemon - marinated chicken, lemon-ricotta stuffed ravioli, ingredients for an antipasto tray, and then she would make a lemon granita for dessert. She also stopped by the liquor store to pick up bottles of Aperol and prosecco, for Aperol Spritzes — Jack had never had one, but she had a feeling he'd like it. She knew her way around Jack’s kitchen by now, so she got everything out of the cupboards that she’d need for preparing, quickly changed into something comfortable — a vivid Pucci caftan she'd found in a vintage store in Rome, twisted her hair into a messy knot on the top of her head - and then got to work. She was making the pasta from scratch - no store bought for this Sicilian girl!
Jack and the girls arrived back at the house after the day out on the lake - they’d all had a great time - to find Bella singing and dancing in the kitchen, with Taylor Swift blasting through the kitchen speaker.
“Jack! Girls! You’re back! Did you have fun? Was it nice? Did you get seasick - ha! Angela - you look a little pink. Go grab that balm from my bag and put that on right now - that will help. Dinner will be ready in about an hour - Jack, did you want to fire up the grill for the chicken? “
Jack listened to all of this and laughed. “Of course - do I have time for a quick shower? I need to rinse the sweat and sunscreen off.”
“I’m sorry - yes, of course. Girls, do you want to shower as well? Go ahead, we’ve got time - no rush.”
“Ooh - I love this song!” Bella said suddenly, as Taylor’s “Style” came on.
“Dance with me, Jack” she said, pulling him by the hand into the kitchen, and twirling around. Jack obliged her by twirling a few times, entranced by the smile on her face. Both of them were completely delighted, all four girls laughing at the sight of them - the song ended and Jack went into the master bath for a quick splash. He shaved, put on clean clothes - a pink Ralph Lauren polo shirt and cargo shorts - then returned to the kitchen to find Bella waiting for him with an Aperol Spritz for him to try.
“It’s very orange,” he said, eyeing the glass with mild suspicion.
“It’s good for you - Aperol is an aperitif, which is good for the digestion. It’s a pre-dinner drink. One of my favorite things in Italy is sitting at a café near a piazza — with an Aperol and little snacks, watching the sunset. They call it ‘aperitivo.’ You’ll see - youmustcome to Italy with me someday.”
Jack took a sip and raised an eyebrow. Not bad at all. He went outside to get the grill going while Bella took out plates, put the antipasto tray on the table, and filled a pot to boil water for the ravioli.She wants me to come to Italy with her. That would be nice.
The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing - Angela and Madeline had to head back to their respective schools for the end of the school year and pack their things up for the summer. It was also the last week of school before the summer break for Sloane and Piper, and there was an end-of-the-year school event that they’d asked Bella to attend with Jack, so she’d be staying the rest of the week there in Houston. She had her laptop with her so she could work - she also planned on visiting a few of the department stores in the area that carried Bella Pelle - nothing like the founder dropping in to help at the counter!
On the night of the girl’s school event Bella dressed with care. She wore a pink linen sundress, with a white cardigan, and paired them with Aquazzura Marea high-heeled sandals in seafoam blue - embellished with little fish and seashells. Several swipes of mascara, tinted moisturizer, highlighter, with a pink lip gloss, and Bella was ready. After confining the Corgis to the kitchen - Jack hadn’t forgotten the unfortunate pillow incident - he set the house alarm and followed the others to the garage.
“Piper - don’t even think about calling shotgun,” he warned as he unlocked the car.
“Humph,” he heard from the backseat as they all got in.
Reaching the school a few minutes later, Jack dropped the girls at the front and then went to park the car. No matter how much she protested, Bella’s shoes didnotlook like walking shoes. Bella grabbed seats for her and Jack, while Sloane and Piper went to join their classmates before the program began. Glancing around, Bella noticed Heather’s mom - the blonde - looking straight at her.Ouch - if looks could kill!
Jack slipped in beside her, reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. She smiled at him and said nothing, and then the program began. Watching the students walk to the stage, after their names were called for various awards and recognition, they were pleased when both Sloane and Piper received awards. Jack stood and cheered loudly and Bella stood and cheered alongside him, genuinely thrilled to be there. The principal gave her closing remarks then directed everyone to the area where refreshments had been set up.
Both girls made their way over to them, a blonde girl hovering just behind Sloane.
“Hey Bella, this is my friend Heather - she wanted to meet you.”
“Hi Heather, it’s nice to meet you. Congratulations on your award, well done.”
“Thank you, Ms. Genovese,” the other girl replied. “Those are amazing shoes. Sloane, you weren’t lying when you said she had killer shoes. I’m so jelly - my mom never wears cool stuff like this.”
“I’m sure your mom has plenty of cool clothes, sometimes we just don’t notice when it’s our own parents,” Bella replied graciously.And speak of the devil.
As if on cue, the other woman came walking up, and made a beeline for Jack, sliding her arm into his. “Jack - it’s been way too long - we never see you anymore. Where have you been? I miss you coming around the house.”
Jack looked bewildered -what the hell is this?“Hi Gretchen, how are you? I’ve, um, been busy, you know NASA stuff.” He gave Bella a look that said “HELP.”
“Oh hey, Mrs. Lange, have you met my dad’s girlfriend, Bella? Isn’t she the prettiest? She owns a big skincare company, Bella Pelle, have you heard of it?”
