Chapter 34
Florida
Bella and the girls arrived in Florida, checked into the small beach house Bella had rented, then drove to Kennedy Space Center to get their visitors’ passes and undergo the medical check required before they could visit Jack.
Because they wouldn't be allowed to visit public places, Bella had arranged for the beach house to be stocked with food.
She'd ordered board games, supplies to make friendship bracelets, and adult coloring books with colored pencils to keep them busy during the day.
Their teachers had also sent homework — assignments they'd turn in when they got back to Houston, so they'd be caught up.
The beach house came with a private beach, which meant they could walk or sit outside without the worry of running into anyone.
Bella also busied herself building a Spotify playlist she called Captain Jack's Space Music, loading it with every space-themed song she could think of and giggling to herself as she sent the link to his phone.
“You’re nuts,” he texted back, with a squirrel and nut emoji following.
They were allowed time each day with Jack, but they had to wear special masks and distance. It wasn’t ideal but Bella didn’t care. If they told her she had to wear a hazmat suit she would have done it - she was sure she had shoes that would match someplace in her closet.
On the third night there, Bella lay in bed, wishing for sleep when her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was Jack. “Is everything okay? It’s late,” she asked as she answered.
“Yes, I couldn’t sleep, and I wanted to hear your voice. Did I wake you? “
“No, I can’t sleep either. I miss you - this bed is too big without you.”
“I hear that. I miss you too, I miss the smell of your hair in my face, the feel of you next to me. But I don’t miss you stealing all the blankets, ha ha.” he said with a teasing tone in his voice.
“Oh ha ha, Captain. At least I don’t snore.”
“Say’s who?”
“Ha! You know I don’t. Anyway, not long now. How are you feeling? Really?”
“I’m excited, anxious, ready to go. I’ve been working towards this for so many years, it’s almost hard to believe it’s happening. I keep praying the weather holds up or there’s no snafus and we have to scrub. How are the girls holding up?”
“I think they are good. I’m keeping them busy, and of course they’ve got schoolwork. They helped cook dinner tonight - we had big salads and chicken kebabs on the grill. They missed you.”
“I know - I miss them too. And you. And Daisy. And Primrose.”
“I love you, Captain Calloway. You should try to get to sleep now. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I love you too, Ms. Genovese.”
Jack’s parents, along with Big G, Mary, Angela, and Madeline arrived a few days before the launch.
Because they hadn’t undergone the quarantine protocol, they weren't allowed to see Jack in person — FaceTime would have to do. Bella and the girls were off limits too, but they would all be reunited on launch morning. The night before the launch they headed over to say their goodbyes before liftoff. Standing about fifty feet apart, with a barrier between them Bella and the girls joined the other families there. She’d dressed carefully - She'd dressed carefully — a colorful Dolce and Gabbana sundress printed with scenes of Sicily, and wore sandals adorned with little cherries on the straps.
“Bella, you’re a vision!” Jack said to her when he saw her.
“Girls, I’m wearing your bracelets,” he said, holding up his wrist to show off the friendship bracelets they had made for him, the ones that spelled out ‘Astro Dad’ and ‘Space Cowboy’.
Bella had contributed one that she made for him.
He’d laughed out loud when she gave it to him the night before he left Houston, reading ‘Fire Up the Quattro’ spelled out in beads.
She looked at him across the distance between them.
“Captain. Tomorrow looks to be a good day for a trip to the moon.”
“It does indeed, Ms. Genovese. I’ll be the first man in space with flawless pores.”
“Oh ha ha.”
Sloane and Piper told Jack how they’d been spending their days chattering on in enthusiasm.
Bella and Jack were mindful of the other families around them, so they kept their conversation light and breezy. Finally, it was time to say their goodbyes.
“I love you, Bella. I'll see you on the other side.”
“I love you too, Jack. I’ll have a scotch waiting for you.”
“I hope that’s not all you have waiting for me”, he said with a quick wink.
“Ugh - gross. Old people love” said Piper, making gagging noises.
Bella woke up early the morning of the launch.
She moved quietly through the sleeping house and took her coffee out onto the deck and listened to the sound of the waves crashing along the beach, looking up at the stars still faintly visible in the pre-dawn sky.
Jack will be up there later, she thought to herself.
She finished her coffee, went back inside for another cup, showered and got the girls moving.
NASA would be sending a car for them in a few hours, as they needed to be there and in the stands by 7am.
Arriving at Kennedy Space Center, they were escorted to the designated area for the families.
Bella watched as Jack, Mike, Elena, and Margie left Neil A.
Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, where they could wave at them, separated again by a barrier, and then escorted via vans to the launchpad, surrounded by their ground crew.
Waving and smiling as they walked - confident and calm, every one of them.
Bella and the girls were then taken to the viewing area, and she was pleased to see the others were already there.
Jerome was there — he'd somehow finagled an invite from Margie because of course he had. Carrie — always the most composed person in any room — looked nervous for the first time Bella could remember. Bella gave her a quick hug, before she met up with the rest of the family. Looking up at the large screens set up. She glanced over at NASA’s iconic, historic countdown clock, watching the numbers tick by.
Jack had told her the closer they got to lift off the numbers would go faster, speeding up in the last 10 minutes, with automatic sequences starting 15 seconds before liftoff.
She checked her purse for the earplugs she’d brought - Jack had said the sound of the rocket taking off would be extremely loud - so she’d brought them for herself and the girls.
What is it with me and men with loud jobs?
After final checks and a game of cards - NASA has a longstanding tradition among flight crews before they leave the crew quarters to board the rocket.
They play until the commander - in this case Jack - loses, the idea being he burns off all his bad luck.
The astronauts entered the Aurora spacecraft, accompanied by the closeout crew, who would strap the astronauts into their seats, connect their suits to the spacecraft’s systems, and close the hatch.
Bella watched all of this on the big screens in silence.
Several hours passed, and the air grew heavy with anticipation, with less than 15 minutes left before liftoff.
“Bella!” She turned. “Big G!”
Bella saw Dr Phil Campbell walking over to them, the ever-present Mr. Jones and Mr Smith following closely behind.
One day I've GOT to ask Jack just what those two do.
“Phil, it’s a great day to go to space!” said Big G, greeting his friend.
“Bella, how are you doing?” Phil asked.
“I’m nervous but excited at the same time” she replied.
“Yes, yes, I understand. Try not to worry, Bella” he said, moving to greet the other guests there.
“Ms. Genovese,” Bella heard a deep, gruff voice say to her. It was Mr. Jones.
“It speaks,” whispered Jerome.
“Stop it” - she said.
“We wanted to say thank you for all the products you gave us. Our wives loved them.”
“I’m glad to hear that Mr. Jones. Does this mean my mind is safe from being wiped by the silver thingie in your suit pocket?”
Mr. Smith patted his jacket. “For today, Ms. Genovese, for today.”
And with that they fell back into formation behind Phil, dark suits, Ray-Bans, and all. Bella and Jerome looked at each other and burst into laughter.
The moment had arrived. The clock was ticking faster, and faster, and Bella felt the rumbling of the rockets in her chest, as they started to fire up, preparing to take the Diana IV crew into space.
David, Debbie, and Jason stood behind her, with Big G and Mary next to them, along with Angela and Madeline.
Bella was flanked on either side by Sloane and Piper.
The clock flashed out 5-4-3-2-1 and then it blasted into the sky, smoke billowing everywhere, with the rocket moving at what seemed to be an impossibly slow speed, as it cleared the tower.
As the rocket went higher and higher into the sky, Sloane took one hand, while Piper took the other.
She gave them both a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
Hey God. You’ve blessed me with so much in life, I feel guilty being greedy and asking for one more thing. But if you can watch over this ship and her crew, see they complete their mission and make it home safely, I’d really appreciate that. You see, it’s carrying our hearts with it.