Chapter 21
The following weekend in Dallas it was Jack’s turn to go to Bella’s.
Her beloved Philadelphia Flyers were in town on Friday night - Bella’s birthday fell the next day - playing Carrie’s Dallas Stars, so they had a double date to the game with Mike and Carrie (they were still going strong!) to celebrate - and Jack saw yet another side of Bella at the game.
Seeing this stylish woman wearing a hockey jersey with the Flyers logo on it, drinking beer from a plastic cup and yelling at the players, cheering the fights that always happened on the ice at a hockey game was a real eye opener. So many facets to this woman!
Bella and Carrie had gone to the ladies’ room between periods, giving Mike and Jack a chance to talk about the game - they both enjoyed hockey but weren’t fanatics like Carrie and Bella seemed to be.
“Bella’s pretty amazing, don’t you think?” Jack asked. “Nothing like the old widow lady I had in my head before we met her.”
"Oh, Ghost has it bad," Mike said with a grin.
“Let’s just say I’m locked on and leave it at that,” he said, before taking a swig of his beer.
"Then stop circling and make your approach, Ghost.”
Jack looked out at the ice for a moment.
"Already committed. No abort option", Jack replied.
“Cheers, Jack.”
Carrie and Bella returned just in time for the start of the second period and took their seats, just in time for a big roar to come from the crowd inside the arena.
Looking up at the jumbotron, Bella realized the screen had both Mike and Jack projected, with the caption “Diana IV Astronauts in the house!” She poked at Jack, drawing his attention to the screen - he and Mike both stood and gave a wave to the crowd.
He pretended to be embarrassed, but Bella knew he was pleased to be recognized - NASA depended on the public to be supportive of their mission, to keep the government funding flowing.
“I can’t take you anywhere, Captain," she said, teasing him.
After the game, which the Flyers won to Bella’s delight, they all went for a bite to eat before splitting up to head home.
Back at Bella’s house, Jack let Primrose and Daisy outside, while Bella wanted to have a hot bath before bed, and went to run a bath, adding a generous pour of her favorite milk bath powder to the running water.
Jack let the dogs back in, gave them their treats, set the alarm and moved through the house turning off lights, heading to the bar area but stopped in the living room - something is different, he thought, his ever watchful pilot eye picking up on something, but not quite sure what it was.
Looking around, it hit him - the gold records are gone.
What does THAT mean? Does it mean anything - maybe she just decided to redecorate.
I’m reading too much into this. He went over to the bar, poured a Laphroaig for himself and mixed Bella a dirty martini — two olives - and headed to the master bedroom.
“Madam, your drink has arrived,” said Jack as he walked into Bella’s master bath suite, and paused at the sight of her in the tub, hair pinned up, and cheeks pink from the heat of the water.
“That’s a big tub, Ms. Genovese.”
“It is, Captain Calloway.”
“Can I join you there?”
“Cleared hot, Ghost,” Bella replied with an inviting smile.
Bella, using his call sign alongside a military term for permission to engage — was unexpectedly, overwhelmingly a turn on, and he was positive he broke Mach One getting undressed to join her in the tub.
Much later, Bella and Jack lay in bed, Bella’s head resting on his chest, while his arm encircled her, his fingers tracing slow circles on her bare shoulder.
“How did you find out my call sign?” he asked.
“Mike told me. Is it okay that I used it? “
“Hell yes, that was sexy.”
“That was some game tonight. You sure love your hockey,” Jack said.
“I do, I’ve always loved hockey - the speed, the action, all of it. It’s so exciting to watch, especially in person. I’m glad you had a good time - does this mean you’ll go with me again?”
“I don’t know - you were a little scary actually, I didn’t imagine you to be so bloodthirsty!”
“Oh, ha ha,” Bella said flatly.
“Seriously, it was another side to your personality that I haven’t seen, I loved it. I love learning all about you. Just like I love all of you."
“Jack.”
“It’s true. I’m crazy in love with you, Bella. I thought you knew that.”
“I love you too, Jack. I wasn't sure we were in the same place. I didn't want to say it first and risk getting my heart stomped. I remember one of the things you said to me early on, you didn’t know what your intentions were. I guess I was the same - neither of us were expecting this. But I’m happy it’s here, and with you. You’re an amazing man, Jack Calloway.”
“Bella, I love you so much, I’m going to spend the rest of the night telling you, and showing you just how much.” And he proceeded to do exactly that.
Saturday morning, Bella woke up, leaving the room silently, so she didn’t disturb Jack.
He’s got so much going on, he probably needs to sleep in a little, she thought.
Moving into the kitchen, she turned off the alarm and let the dogs out - Jack had brought Daisy as the girls were staying at friends for the weekend - then turned on the coffee maker, got a few cups out of the cupboard while waiting for it to finish brewing.
She heard scratching at the door and let the dogs in so she could get their breakfast for them.
Both dogs jumping and making excited yipping noises like they hadn’t eaten in months made Bella laugh.
“Good morning. Is there coffee for me?” Bella heard from the doorway.
“Jack - I’m so sorry, was I being too loud? I was trying to be quiet so you could sleep in.”
“No, I felt it the moment you left the bed.”
He walked across the room, taking the cup she held out to him, and said “Happy Birthday, Bella.”
“Thank you. Another year older, probably not any wiser”, she laughed.
“Ha! I’m looking forward to dinner tonight, I think you’ll like where we are going - Carrie helped me get the reservation.”
“Exactly where are we going?” she asked.
“I can’t tell you - it’s classified as ‘top secret.’”
“Okay, Flyboy, I’ll remember that when it’s your birthday and I’m the one making plans!”
“Is that a threat or a promise, Ms. Genovese?”
“Maybe a little of both, Captain.”
Moving closer, Jack stood in front of Bella, so close her back was against the kitchen counter. Suddenly he grasped her by the waist and lifted her onto the counter. Oh God, this is sexy, am I about to live out one of my fantasies? she thought, as he leaned in, kissing her neck.
“Mmm, oh yes” - and he stopped.
“Did you really give me a coffee cup that says, ‘Italian Girls do it Better?’”
“Sorry, I didn’t even look - just grabbed them.”
“It’s okay - as a matter of fact, why don’t you just show me how much better Italian girls do it.”
So she did.
Later that day, Bella had asked Jack what to wear for dinner since she wasn’t sure where they were going and didn’t want to be underdressed or overdressed.
All he would tell her was ‘comfortable’, so she went with her favorite low rise jeans, a black Versace Medusa '95 satin corset top, a black leather motorcycle jacket on top, and completed the look with Golden Goose Superstar tennis shoes, in classic white with the signature star and distressed leather. Well, he did say ‘comfortable.’
Her classic red lip, cat’s eye liner was the makeup look, along with tousled hair worn down.
Jewelry was her trusty Omega Speedmaster watch, a ring in the shape of a ram head with tiny ruby eyes — a nod to her Aries star sign - and white gold hoop earrings, a present from Angela and Madeline.
Grabbing her bag, a small Versace clutch purse, she went to the living room to meet Jack, who was waiting for the Uber he’d called.
Jack wore dark jeans, a grey pair of suede Puma Speedcat tennis shoes (his shoe game had improved considerably) and a white button-down dress shirt, untucked, and his Breitling Cosmonaute watch.
How did I get so lucky? They both thought, smiling at each other.
Sitting in the back of the Uber, they held hands quietly, Where on earth are we going?
! thought Bella, as they drove further and further out of the city, towards the countryside.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the driver turned off the main road, onto a dirt road, and after a few more miles, the trees seemed to clear and there was a large building that looked industrial.
What the??
A smiling woman stepped out to greet them. “Welcome Captain Calloway, I hope you didn’t get lost on the way out here.”
“No, all good, thank you. I’m looking forward to this.”
Turning to Bella, he pulled a black satin eye mask from his pocket. "Okay, Bella — I need you to put this on," he said, holding it out to her.
“Whaaat?”
“Bella, I did tell you it was ‘top secret’.”
“Fine” she said as she slipped it over her eyes - this better not mess my make up! - she thought.
“Okay, follow me this way please, it’s just a short walk,” said the hostess.
Taking Bella’s arm so he could guide her along, Bella felt the cool air of the building as they entered, and followed Jack, wondering what on earth he had planned. After a short 5-minute walk, Bella felt the air grow warm again.
“Captain, we will be back in about 30 minutes with your dinner entrees. Enjoy,” the hostess said, quietly shutting a door behind her, a door Bella hadn’t even heard open.
Removing her blindfold, Jack said, “You can open your eyes now,” and Bella gasped.
They stood in a glass enclosed room, open to the night sky, with the moon and stars shining down into the room.
Lit candles were scattered throughout the room, which was also filled with lush, green plants, fragrant, exotic flowers, and a small ornamental pond, its water bubbling softly.
Oversized cushions and a soft blanket were arranged on the floor, and Bella a bottle of champagne sat chilling in ice alongside crystal flutes, and a Charcuterie platter, with smaller plates and utensils so they could serve themselves.
“Oh Jack, it’s like some kind of fairytale!”
“I assume it was worth the suspense?”
“Oh yes, this is perfect, I love it, and I love you,” she said, wrapping her arms around him, kissing him with a passion she didn’t know she had within her.
“Mmmm, we should eat, they’ll be back sooner than we think.”
Settling down onto the cushions, Bella removed her jacket while Jack poured the champagne. “Happy Birthday, Bella,” he said, handing her a flute.
Bella took a small sip and promptly hiccupped. “Dammit!”
Laughing, they helped themselves to the platter while they waited for the main course - Bella didn’t have too much because she wanted to be sure she had room for whatever was coming - it was bound to be good!
After dinner - a delectable sage and brown butter ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach, dessert was a luscious lemon tiramisu - they lay back on the pillows, looking at the night sky above them, not talking, just enjoying the silence.
This is all I ever wanted, Jack thought.
A short while later Jack said “Bella, can I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“I noticed you took down Jasper’s gold records. Is there any reason why? I’m curious.”
Bella took a long moment before answering, a long enough pause that Jack wondered if she was even going to answer.
“I loved Jasper so much, Jack. It wasn’t the infatuation or lust you feel when you’re young, although we certainly had that.
He was my best friend, too. The person I could tell anything to and never judged me, even if what I was feeling was rotten or mean.
When he died, I honestly didn’t know how I was going to make it.
I did, of course - I had the girls to think about - and I know you understand that, but I made it through - you know what they say, ’You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.
’ So I carried on, came back to Dallas, even though I hadn’t lived here since I was twenty, started Bella Pelle, and slowly built myself a new life.
I will always love Jasper, just like you’ll always love Susan, but for me, the gold records were a reminder of a life that doesn’t exist anymore.
And now with you here and so alive, I felt it was time to put that old life where it belongs: in the corner of my mind where the good things live on. Does that make sense?”
“It does. Thank you for sharing that with me. I do understand everything you’re feeling, I feel it too. Maybe that’s why we fit together so well. We’ve both lost love and continued on. Do you think I should do the same with Susan - maybe put her things away?” he asked.
“Oh God no, it’s completely different. Jasper wasn’t Angela and Madeline’s father - sure they loved him and were close, but it’s not the same as Susan - she is their mother.
The girls might feel you’re trying to erase her memory if you do that, even though we know that’s not the case.
Leave the photos out, and anything else you may have of hers.
It’s important that the girls see and know that she still has a place in your heart where she lives on.
It doesn’t bother me if that’s what you're worried about. If anything, I’m thankful to her. ”
“What do you mean, thankful?”
“Susan helped you become the man you are, Jack. Your love for each other, your marriage - they shaped you. People that we love do that - they make us want to be better for them and ourselves. Things didn’t turn out like we planned, for either of us, but we benefit from those relationships.
They brought out the best of us, and now we give that best to each other. ”
“Isabella - wait, what’s your middle name, I don’t know it.”
“Lol, it’s Marie.”
“Okay, Isabella Marie Genovese, you are the wisest, most loving, gorgeous, woman - in heart and body. Thank you for that. You’re right, I think I just needed to hear it from someone else.”
Sitting up, he leaned over to his jacket lying on the floor next to him and pulled a small box from the pocket.
“This is for you.”
“Jack, you didn’t have to get me anything, this night has been gift enough” she said, already reaching for it.
Inside lay a white gold necklace, with small charms of a star, crescent moon, and a tiny replica of the Aurora, the ship that would be taking Jack to the moon, all studded with tiny diamond chips. “Oh Jack, this is gorgeous, I love it,” she exclaimed.
“I’m glad - Sloane, Piper, and I each picked a charm.”
Leaning over, she kissed him, and said, “C’mon, let’s go home. I suddenly feel overdressed.