Chapter 19
January and February passed by in a rhythm that felt both new and completely natural to Jack and Bella.
Jack’s schedule was really ramping up now, and with the girls' school schedule, it was easier for Bella to spend weekends at his place, so every other weekend she and Primrose made the drive from Dallas to Houston, leaving early on Friday mornings so she didn’t get stuck in traffic.
They had a lovely dinner at The Capitol Grille in Houston on Valentine’s Day, and shortly thereafter Sloane declared it was ‘dumb’ for Bella and Primrose to pay for a hotel room when she spent most of her time at their house, and with that settled, Bella started staying at their house, although always in the guest room.
Jack had managed to get away for a few nights here and there, and it was at that those times he would come to Dallas, the girls staying the night with friends, so Bella and Jack still had their alone time, something they both eagerly looked forward to.
One night, as they FaceTimed before bed, Jack mentioned that it was interesting that they hadn’t had any arguments or real disagreements. He put that down to Bella’s easygoing nature, which caused Bella to break into peals of laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“You saying I’m easygoing. If you had known me when I was younger you would not be saying that.”
“Really, did you have a bit of a temper Ms. Genovese?”
“Jasper used to call me ‘Volcano.’ What does that tell you?”
“Remind me to never do anything to make you erupt, well, at least not in that way if you get my drift.” Jack hesitated, then asked, “Do you miss Jasper?”
Bella thought carefully for a moment before replying, “Of course I do. Just as I’m sure you miss Susan. We both planned to spend our lives with them, and those lives were taken from us. It’s only natural to miss them, but that doesn’t take away from what we have.”
“What do we have?,” he asked.
“What do you think? I assume we are dating exclusively. I've never asked, but I know I'm not interested in seeing anyone else." Bella waited for his reply.
"Bella, I'm fifty years old. I don't want to date around, swipe right, or whatever people do on those dating apps.
I want to be with someone kind, smart and funny — someone with a good heart who knows the value of family and hard work, someone who understands the importance of what I do and doesn't resent the time it requires.
I think I've found that person in you." He paused.
"It helps that you're sexy as hell too."
He paused again, a slow smile crossing his face. "And I'm not going to do anything to mess that up. So yes — we are exclusive."
“That makes me really happy.”
“Good, and now that we’re feet dry and confirmed exclusive, my rules of engagement have changed. You’re my HVT now. If I see some guy trying to orbit your position or paint you for a lock, he’s not just a nuisance — he’s a Leaker who’s breached my defensive perimeter.
“What?”
“The thought of some other guy around you brings out the pilot in me. I can’t help it”
“I have no idea what any of that means, but it’s extremely hot. You’re pretty sexy for a nerdy astronaut.”
“Never forget I was a fighter pilot first - with multiple combat missions.”
“I could never.”
Finishing up their call with plans of seeing each other as soon as schedules allowed, Bella finally turned the lights off and snuggled up to Primrose.
Ha! I have a boyfriend. Who would’ve thought? and drifted off to sleep, smiling into the dark.
The next morning Bella went into the office, with a smile still on her face, from last night’s call with Jack. It felt so right, on all levels. I deserve this, she thought to herself.
“Good morning Bella - you’re not going to believe this!”
“Hey, Jerome, you're early. What am I not going to believe? Did you finally get a moon rock? - because no, I really won’t believe it!”
“No, we’ve had an interview request from Scientific American!”
Somehow word had gotten out about Bella Pelle working with NASA, and they’d had several magazines and podcasters emailing, asking for more information and interviews.
While they couldn’t give too much detail, Bella knew the advance publicity was something she needed to take advantage of, so she gladly handed those off to Jerome and Carrie to handle.
“Oh wow - that’s crazy. Did you want to handle that one? Oh - have Luis do it with you too - they will probably have all sorts of technical questions.”
“I can answer technical stuff too, you know. Well, maybe if it’s not too technical. You know what? You’re right. Let me go speak to Luis now so we can get it scheduled.”
“Okay - don’t forget our meeting at 10am!” Bella called as he walked out the door.
Jerome threw a thumbs up over his shoulder without turning around, and Bella turned her attention to answering a few emails, going over February’s sales figures, and double checking the paperwork she'd had drawn up weeks ago was all in order for the meeting.
At 10am, Bella, Carrie, and Jerome headed into the conference room, with Jerome closing the door behind them.
“Okay, boss, what’s this all about?” asked Jerome.
“I want to say thank you to you both. I had a vision and a dream when I started Bella Pelle. We are moving into our third year of business, and we are considered one of the top five beauty brands in the country, and the best part is we haven’t even hit our stride.
Our growth has been astronomical” - she paused, hearing Jerome's voice in her head, snickering at anything space related these days - “and much of that is down to you two. I’d like to give you each something to show how much I appreciate you.”
“As you know, I am the sole owner of Bella Pelle. But as of today that changes. I’ve had these papers drawn up, and if you agree and will sign, then you will both be co-owners with me.
You will each own thirty percent of the company.
I will have the remaining forty percent and the deciding vote, but we move forward as a team, as a family.
I want you to own a part of what you’ve helped to build.
” She slid the papers across the table. “What do you think?”
Jerome and Carrie sat, stunned. Never had they imagined something like this would happen.
“OMG - yes, YES!!” cried out Carrie.
“Bella, are you sure? This is a big step,” said Jerome.
“I’m positive. Now, there are a few caveats. We will stay a privately owned company. If either of you ever decide you want out, I will buy your shares back, at a fair market value. And if the time comes that we decide to go public or sell, then we agree together or it doesn’t happen.”
Carrie and Jerome both took the pens that were laid on the table, read the contracts quietly and thoroughly, then signed.
“Group Hug!” yelled out Jerome, and through their happy tears they stood and hugged each other tightly. This was the right thing to do, thought Bella.
Later that night, Bella recounted the meeting to Jack during their FaceTime call, while he told her about his own day — spent inside a full-scale model of the capsule, going over the spacecraft's systems. They would run through this many times before liftoff - until every one of them knew it like the back of their hand.
“Hey Dad, is that Bella on the phone?” came Sloane's voice from the doorway. "Can I talk to her for a sec?"
“Sure honey - Bella, Sloane wants to talk to you” he said, handing the phone to Sloane.
“Um, hello, privacy please?”
“Oh, excuse me - I’ll just leave my own room because heaven forbid your old dad overhear your conversation with my girlfriend!”
“Thanks Dad, I knew you’d understand.”
“Hi Sloane, what’s up? Is everything okay?”
“I wanted to ask you a question. So, like, this guy from school asked me out, his name is Tom. Anyway, he used to date my friend Heather, and like, I wasn’t sure, is that okay? I mean, they didn't even, like, go out that long, but I don’t want it to be weird.”
“Let me ask you a question. Do you really like him? Is he worth breaking the ‘girl code’ for?”
“The girl code? What’s that?”
"So, the girl code is just the unwritten rulebook for being a solid friend. It’s that 'we’re in this together' energy—like never going after a guy your friend likes or dating her ex, it’s telling her she’s got a stain on her shirt even if you don't know her, and never, ever leaving the party without the person you came with. It’s basically just looking out for each other, so nobody gets left behind or embarrassed. "
“Oh — then no, definitely not worth it, like, Heather and I have been friends since middle school.”
“Okay, well there is your answer.”
“Thanks, Bella - I appreciate you.”
“You’re welcome, and listen, ask your dad, and if he says it’s okay then you and Piper put my number in your phones, and you can call or text me anytime you like if you have a question. As long as it's nothing that would mean keeping something from your dad then I’m happy to help. Sound good?”
“Sure, I’ll ask him. I’ll put him back on the phone. Dad - you can come back in!”
Coming back into the room, Sloane handed Jack back his phone and left.
"What was that all about?" he asked. "Everything okay?"
"All good — nothing to worry about. I'd tell you straight away if it was something you needed to know."
“I know you would.”