Chapter 29
Jack awoke to the sun streaming in his eyes, rolled over and saw the bed empty next to him. Rising, he wandered down the stairs towards the kitchen where he heard voices.
“Good morning – is there any coffee left?” he asked sleepily.
“Coffee? You look like you need an espresso to get you going!” replied Sloane.
“Well, are there any of those croissants left?” he said, gesturing to where Piper sat munching on one, slathered in Nutella.
“Cornetto’s Dad. We are in Italy; they are called cornetto’s here.”
“Sorry, jeez.”
After the textbook splashdown, the crew of Diana IV were given immediate health checks by their NASA flight surgeons before being flown back to Houston for extensive post-flight testing — blood work, ultrasounds, and the beginning of rehabilitation.
Twenty-four hours later, reunited with everyone, Jack had never been more grateful to be home.
The crew had two weeks of recovery and debriefing — Jack staying close to home as much as possible, with daily visits to NASA — before the press tour began.
Talk shows, news conferences, and a visit to the White House.
The world had watched in wonder — rightly so — and Bella viewed each appearance with a heart full of pride and love.
After several months, and finally able to take a break, Jack had his first real vacation in years.
He, Bella and all four girls had flown to Italy — spending time in Rome seeing all the sights, driving down to the Amalfi Coast — she absolutely nailed that scent in the body balm — and then on to Sicily, where they were staying at the guest house on Bella's family olive farm.
It was exactly as beautiful and peaceful as she had promised.
Today they were leaving the farm for the last leg of the trip — travelling around the island, including a visit to Agrigento to see the ruins at the Valley of the Temples and a hike partway up Mount Etna, the active volcano on the island's eastern coast.
From there they would head back to Rome for a day before splitting up — Sloane, Piper and Angela going on to London with Madeline for a week, while he and Bella headed home.
Jack was a little nervous about that — four teenage girls loose in London — but he knew Bella's girls would look out for them, and they'd have a wonderful time.
He was also, he had to admit, missing Daisy and Primrose considerably. Jackie had offered to watch both dogs so they wouldn't have to be boarded — an offer he'd accepted with considerable relief.
“Where’s Bella?”
“She’s outside on the balcony.”
As he entered the living room on his way to the balcony, Angela looked up from her laptop and gave him a smile — she'd been editing the piece she'd written about Astra Seta and NASA, picked up by National Geographic.
Madeline gave him a wave as she spoke on her phone - she’d had a job offer to help a big firm plan an event related to the F1 Italian Grand Prix. Once it was confirmed he fully intended to hit her up for tickets - the man loved racing!
Moving out to the balcony, he saw Bella, her back to him, leaning on the rail, looking out over the olive groves — a vision in a colorful printed caftan, barefoot.
He paused, committing this moment to his memory, as he had done with every moment since he'd landed back on earth.
He crossed the balcony silently, slid his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to her neck.
"Good morning, Mrs. Calloway."
Bella felt his arms come around her. She placed her hands over his, her eyes dropping to the plain white gold band on his hand and the diamond and sapphire band on her own. Jack had designed it to resemble stars in the night sky.
He'd proposed within weeks of returning — just the two of them in her Dallas kitchen, Primrose and Daisy underfoot. He had gone quiet mid-conversation, looking at her in that way he had.
"Marry me, Bella."
Not even a question. A statement. Very Jack.
"Yes," she said.
Neither of them wanted to wait to be married, so they held a small ceremony with their families and closest friends, followed by a slightly larger reception in Houston.
The girls had stood up with them during their vows, and Jackie had Primrose and Daisy on floral leashes — not wanting to leave them out of the happy occasion.
Their first dance as a married couple was to Taylor Swift's Cowboy Like Me, of course.
Carrie had caught the bouquet — though that may have had something to do with Bella's rather pointed aim.
Jerome never got his moon rock, but with the first crewed mission to Mars planned for five years' time, he spent the entire reception cornering anyone who would listen, loudly, that he was now manifesting a Mars rock.
Bella smiled serenely. “Good morning, Captain Calloway.”
“My flying days are over Bella, no more ‘Captain’.”
“You’ll always be my Captain.”
“Roger that. Always”