“Saint Christopher. The patron saint of travelers. My grandfather pressed it into my father's hand the morning he boarded the boat from Sicily. I want you to take that if it’s okay. You take that with you, do your job, then come home. Our girls need you.”
Jack felt something shift behind his eyes.
“Yes sir, Roger that.”
Angela and Madeline left to go back to school the next day- both girls would be coming to the launch - but before they left, they Facetimed their dad. Peter had asked to speak to Bella, and he told her he was happy for her, he’d be keeping Jack in his thoughts, and hoped he could meet him after he returned. Bella thanked him - he was a good guy, and she was grateful every day for how naturally they'd found their way to friendship after the divorce.
Bella and Primmy spent New Year’s Eve in Houston again, although this year was slightly quieter as the girls were both attending parties with friends - sleeping over and back the next day. They decided to watch Andy and Anderson again this year - they actually had been pretty funny. A few minutes before midnight Jack muted the television and turned on the stereo. Dancing in the living room to Frank Sinatra's 'The Way You Look Tonight', they rang in the New Year, knowing that 2028 would be a year full of great highs, and worries. But tonight was all about the future - bright as the moon in the night sky.
They spent the first few days of the new year making room for Bella’s things - due to arrive the following week - rearranging his office and clearing space in the master closet - though Bella was already certain she'd need more space than he'd allocated.
“Jack, can I have a bit of the closet in one of the guest rooms?”
“Really, Bella, you’re not going anywhere while you’re here - how much stuff do you really need to bring?”
“I can’t believe you’d even ask me that. Just because I’m not going out doesn’t mean I don’t want to look nice.”
“Fine - fine - take part of the closet, I’m just giving you a hard time.”
“Oh, good - let me go have a look at how big it is,” she said heading towards the stairs.
“Wait - give me a kiss before you go.”
Walking back into the room, Bella wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a kiss that promised there would be more later that night.
“Ugh - old people kissing, so gross. You people need to stop that, you’re going to scar me for life!” came Piper’s voice from the doorway.
Giggling, they kissed again before Bella headed upstairs, still laughing as she went.
A few days before the move, a small crew arrived at Bella's, to load up her home office, clothes, and things she would need with her while she was there. Jackie would be stopping by the house every few days, just to check on the place. She'd barely seen the moving crew off before realizing she was going to be late meeting Jackie for dinner. Walking into the restaurant, Bella spotted Jackie waving to her and made her way over to the table.
“Happy New Year Bella! 2028 looks good on you!”
“It’s only been a week, Jackie, give it time. I swear the closer to the launch date the more gray hairs I get.”
With a wink, Jackie slid her an Aperol Spritz, saying “Then you’ll need this.”
Laughing together, they ordered their dinner, then spent the next hour catching up and cracking jokes.
As the evening wound down Bella's smile faded slightly. “I’m scared, Jackie. What if something goes wrong?”
“Bella, you don’t have to go to outer space for something to go wrong, it happens here on earth every day. You know that.”
“I know, but space!”
"Take it one day at a time — hell, take it one hour at a time. It'll go faster than you think."
“Really?”
“Yes really - Captain Cutie Pants is going to want to get back to you as soon as possible.”
“You’re terrible.”
“It’s true - he’ll have been in strict quarantine for 14 days, and then 14 days to the moon and back. He’s asailor, Bella. He’ll be looking forward to some shore leave, if you get my drift.”
Laughing, they paid the bill, walked to their cars, and gave each other tight hugs.
“I’m here for you Bella, night and day. If you get scared, you call me, no matter the time of day.”
