Carrie and Jerome had set up a wonderful display of the limited-edition jars of Astra Seta on the marble table and prepared a company bio for the reporter to take back with her to New York.
Bella had dressed carefully, knowing photos would be taken. She’d chosen her lucky DVF red print wrap dress, with Gucci Lady Horsebit high-heeled sandals in a metallic gold, her trusty Speedmaster watch, and the charm necklace Jack and the girls had given her for her birthday. Hair down in loose curls, understated makeup and her signature red lip completing the look.
Brooke Stafford arrived promptly at 10am with her photographer. After greeting them in the lobby, they started the tour, with Carrie and Jerome taking the lead, keeping the conversation going while explaining the day-to-day operations there. After the tour they headed to the conference room, where the interview would begin in earnest.
“So, Bella - may I call you Bella? - tell me how Bella Pelle came to be?” Brooke asked?
Quickly warming to the subject, Bella launched into the story behind the company, her vision for the brand and more, the photographer moving quietly around the room as she spoke.
"Wow — you really took your grief and channeled it into something extraordinary.”
“Thank you Brooke, but it was a team effort - we wouldn't be where we are without Carrie and Jerome - they are every bit as responsible for our success as I am.”
“Of course. And now you’re dating the Diana IV mission commander, Jack Calloway. Rock star wife to astronaut girlfriend - tell us about that.”
Bella raised an eyebrow and said nothing — and held it until Brooke started to visibly squirm. “I mean, that’s something the readers would love to know about.”
“I’m sure they would Ms. Stafford. If that’s the whole angle you want this article to take, then I’m afraid we are done here. I thought this article was to focus on Bella Pelle - our story and how we came to be associated with NASA for the upcoming mission. My personal life isn’t up for discussion, nor is Captain Calloway’s.”
“Of course — we just thought it would make a lovely addition. It's such a feel-good story.”
‘Thank you for your understanding. Now, shall we get you loaded up with products to take back to New York with you?” And with that the interview was over.
That night during their FaceTime call Bella filled Jack in on the day’s events, and Jack got his first taste of the volcano temper - Bella delivering an epic rant. Jack said nothing, just let her vent and get it all out.
Finally, she ran out of steam, asking “Did I overreact? Am I being silly? What if they write an article badmouthing me?”
“No, I think you handled it brilliantly. And no one could badmouth you, how could they?” he replied.
“Thank you. I probablydidoverreact - but it triggered something in me. When Jasper died the music press were relentless - asking for details about what happened - they wanted salacious dirt. There I was trying to grieve and instead I was being asked for quotes.”
“It’s okay Bella, really. You did good.”
“You think so? I guess I’m just protective of what is ours - I don’t need outsiders to know our business - that’s for us.”
“You’re very fierce, you know that?”
“Why Captain - that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
Chapter 24
August arrived and with it the undeniable reality that April 2028 was no longer comfortably far away. NASA had shifted into the final intensive phase of pre-launch preparation — full system integration, environmental testing, everything moving with quiet urgency toward April. Jack and the crew were deep in mission-specific training. Their long days were spent doing flight simulations, systems verification, and scientific experiment preparation, all under the watchful eye of mission control. He’s also spent time doing High-G Centrifuge Training - where he was strapped into a massive capsule at the end of a long mechanical arm that spins rapidly to simulate the crushing acceleration of liftoff and atmospheric re-entry - enduring forces of up to 5G - with occasional spikes to 9G for the emergency abort simulations. It was pretty much the most physically exhausting experience of training.
Bella and Jack did manage to get a few days to themselves here and there, as well as special family time. Sloane’s 16th birthday had been a big event, with both Susan’s parents and Jack’s coming in for the party, and Angela and Madeline were there.
Sloane had been shocked at her present and the scream she let out when she saw it broke the sound barrier: a sage greenVolvo XC40. Jack had kept it completely secret, arranging for it to be in the driveway with a big bow the morning of her birthday, so she could see it when she woke up. He’d spent many nights after returning home from training researching the safest car he could find before landing on the Volvo and finding a used one in good shape with low mileage.A perfect first car.Of course, Sloane had to finish driving school, take and pass her test before she could drive it, but he knew she’d pass with flying colors.
The weekend of the party was also the first time Bella met Jack’s parents, David and Debbie, and his brother Jason. David and Debbie were both retired professors, and Jason was an engineer for Boeing Aircraft, so Bella felt a little intimidated, especially when they all gathered to watch ‘Jeopardy’ on television, apparently a Calloway tradition. Fortunately, that night's episode contained a healthy amount of pop culture and literature topics, in addition to science and math - she held her own with the Calloway family!
Bella found herself chatting with Jack's parents as though she'd known them forever. Susan’s parents being there was nice too - remarkably it wasn't awkward at all - and both Bill and Wendy told Jack how happy they were to see both Sloane and Piper happy - they clearly adored Bella and her girls. Sitting around the pool, while Sloane and her friends splashed away, getting out every few minutes to take selfies, Debbie told Bella stories of Jack growing up, both of them laughing when she described the time he was positive he was Superman and launched himself off the roof of their house - fortunately he landed in the bushes, with nothing worse than scrapes, bruises and a very stern talking to from David - Jack didn’t try that one again - instead setting his sights on becoming a pilot. Wendy pulled out her phone and scrolled through photos of Susan, from her college graduation to pictures of her and Jack smiling in ahospital room, holding Sloane, and then a few years later the same scene but this time with Piper.
“Wendy, I can see and feel the love on Susan’s face from here, she must have loved those girls so much.”
“She really did, Bella, they were her whole world. I appreciate that you can see that, and I see that same love when you look at your daughters. All four of these girls are blessed to have you in their lives.”
She could see Angela and Madeline with Sloane and her friends, animated as they talked about their Housewife show and how Teresa had flipped a table in anger at something one of the other wives had said -the drama!Reaching out, Bella gave the older woman’s hand a light squeeze. Glancing over at Jack, she saw him with the other men, drinking a beer, manning the grill.Thank you Susan, thank you Jasper, shethought.She was positive they had engineered this somehow.
Later, after cleaning up, with both sets of grandparents and Jack’s brother having opted for hotels, as Angela and Madeline were taking the guest room, Jack and Bella sat outside alone on Jack’s covered porch, with the ceiling fan sending a cool breeze (again Houston = hot and humid), talking quietly about the day and Sloane's joy at her new car.
