Chapter 24
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 a hospital 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, she thought.
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.
“I don’t know, Bella. Should I have bought her a car? I worry about her on the road - other drivers aren't always paying attention."
“Your concern is understandable, Jack. Maybe if you set some ground rules for her - no driving after dark, no music at deafening levels while driving. Maybe no freeways for the first year either. She’s a smart, sensible girl - I don’t see her out joyriding.”
“I know, you're probably right. You went through this with Angela when she got her license, so you’ve got more experience with this.”
“Speaking of worries, can I tell you something?” Bella asked.
“Always.”
“It’s starting to hit me, the reality that in less than 9 months you're going to the moon. I think it’s freaking me out a little.”
“Freaking out good or bad?”
“Can it be a little of both?”
Jack leaned across the distance between their chairs, taking her hand and pulling her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her.
“I know it’s a scary thought. Try not to worry.
The smartest people on the planet are on this, going over every possible scenario, so they have options should something go wrong.
There’s also a strict rule for launch - if they find something wrong or the weather isn’t right then the launch is scrubbed. ”
“I know, but still. I’ll worry from the moment you take off till you’re back on terra firma.”
“I understand, Bella. I also know there is not much I can say to reassure you, other than to say it’s all going to go fine.”
Bella sat quietly in Jack’s lap, deep in thought, with his arms around her, as if he were trying to will some of his strength into her.
She breathed in the heady scent of the night-blooming jasmine Jack had in the backyard - Oh!
That would make a great perfume for Bella Pelle, maybe with some sweet Italian Orange Blossom as a top note - and appreciated that he didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with noise, he let her just be there with her feelings.
Finally, after a long while, Jack said “Let’s go to bed, I know the perfect way to take your mind off this,” his hand finding her knee.
They'd long since stopped pretending there were separate sleeping arrangements, and everyone was fine with that, not that it stopped Piper making gagging noises at bedtime announcements.
“Why, Captain Calloway, what did you have in mind?”
“I can’t take you with me to space, Bella, but I can show you the stars here on Earth.”
Bella was sure she’d never seen the stars shine brighter that night.
The next morning, they all met for breakfast before the grandparents would be heading back home.
Bella would be making a trip to the West Coast later in the year, and both the Calloway’s and the Hansens made her promise she’d call them when she was in their towns, with the idea of meeting up.
Driving back to the house, Jack reached over to hold Bella’s hand and smiled at her. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing. I’m just happy. The last few days were nice. I’m glad you met my parents, and that you all seem to mesh so well, even with Bill and Wendy. It’s unexpected, but nice.”
“It is, isn’t it? I’m happy too - they are important in your lives. Susan may no longer be here, but they are still family.”
“Yes. Just like you, your girls and your parents are family now too. We have a strange little family unit, don’t we?”
“It’s only strange if you think about it that way. I choose to see it as expanding the family, to include all the people we love.”
“That’s a good way to think of it. Are you really going to call Bill and Wendy when you’re in San Diego?”
“I was, unless you think they were just being polite, or I shouldn’t? You know them better than I do. What do you think?”
“I think they were sincere - I think you should. They aren’t going anywhere, and neither are you Ms. Genovese, so it means a lot to me and the girls for you to get to know each other and get along. Is that okay?”
“Yes of course, and I will. I’m looking forward to it. Did I tell you your parents invited me to stay at their house when I’m in the Bay Area? They said they’d put me in your old room.” she said, giggling.
“Sixteen-year-old Jack would never believe the hottest, sexiest woman alive would be sleeping in his bed.”
“Ha - you talk some nonsense sometimes, for a nerdy astronaut.”
After pulling into the garage, Jack opened the door and disarmed the alarm. As she came into the kitchen Jack pulled Bella into his arms, pressing kisses along her face and neck. “It’s true - you are a ‘total snack’.”
“Ugh - old people - stop it - you’re going to make me hurl” said Piper, walking in behind them.
“Nope, I won’t. Nom nom nom” Jack said, pretending to take bites out of Bella’s shoulder, causing her to giggle like a fiend.
“Gag” said Piper and walked away.