“Jack, there’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re going to need to make some space in your closet. I have a lot of shoes” she grinned, as she pulled him down on the bed beside her.
The next morning Bella awoke to the sounds of Jack in the shower. She rolled over and saw a small, wrapped box lying on her pillow.What’s this?she thought. She looked up to see Jack, fresh from the shower, with just a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Happy Anniversary, Bella.”
One year to the day since they'd made it official.
Touched that Jack remembered, she reached for the box. “Open it,” he said.
Bella carefully undid the silver ribbon, wrapped around the sapphire box - Jack had it wrapped in the colors of Astra Seta. Bella's breath caught. It was a man’s Breitling Cosmonaute - the same one Jack wore.
“Read the inscription.”
Gently removing the watch from the box, she turned it over -Per aspera ad astra. Always. J
It was NASA’s unofficial motto, in Latin, which translated ‘through hardship to the stars’.
“I love it, it’s perfect. I have something for you too.”
Getting off the bed, she crossed over to her bag, taking a small box from it and handing it to Jack. Sitting on the bed, Jack unwrapped the box - Bella had gone with red paper and a gold ribbon. Inside lay a Speedmaster First OMEGA in Space — areproduction of the original CK-2998, the very watch astronaut Wally Schirra wore when he orbited the Earth in 1962.
He turned the watch over to read the inscription,‘Fly me to the moon. Always. B’.
“Happy Anniversary, Jack,” Bella said, eyes shining.
Chapter 26
Christmas arrived, with the holidays once again being spent at Bella’s, but this time joined by Jack’s parents. The Calloway’s and the Genovese’s had hit it off right away, and the house full of people filled Bella’s heart with love. Big G and Mary had loved the Calloway’s Christmas Eve tradition of Taco Bar dinner and of course Bella and all four girls had ‘midnight margaritas’, with Jack watching on in amusement from the doorway. Christmas morning was a bustle of activity, with gifts exchanged - Bella thought she would burst into tears when she opened her gift from the girls - it was a framed photo of all four girls from Sloane’s birthday party.
Jack had gifted her with a tiny astronaut charm for her necklace, and she’d gotten him a pair of Puma Scuderia Ferrari Speedcat, which gave Sloane and Piper the giggles.
A few days after Christmas and the night before both sets of parents were due to leave, Bella and her mom made a huge feast for everyone, and afterwards Jack and his dad sat outside on Bella’s deck - the weather had stayed mild - talking about the launch and the lead up to it. Both his parents and the Hansens had been genuinely relieved when Jack told them Bella would be staying at the house during the mission.
“Can I join you gentleman? I brought refreshments.” Big G announced from the doorway, holding up a bottle of scotch like a trophy.
“Of course, pull up a chair.”
Big G grabbed one of the chairs and pulled it next to Jack and sat down. He poured three small measures, and they talked about the day - David and Big G had played golf, with the girls going with them. Piper had again managed to talk them into letting her drive the golf cart.
“All I’ll say, Jack - hide the keys to the Porsche!” David said, to much laughter from Big G.
A few minutes passed before Jack felt a firm hand on his shoulder — Big G.
“So. Commander.”
Uh-oh, what did I do?
“I understand that you are allowed to take a few personal small items to space with you.”
“Yes sir.”
Jack had already been thinking about what to bring. Sloane and Piper had given him a journal this year - a handmade journal decorated with photos of them. He planned to take that — and a photo of him and Bella.
Big G stuck his hand in his pocket, pulled something out and placed it in Jack's hand. Jack looked down at a well-worn silver medallion.
