That’s the
beauty of having our own production facilities. It doesn’t take much to try
these things out.”
Rafael held
out his hand. “Bella Thompson, you are an amazing woman. I will be proud to
partner with you.”
She slipped
her hand into his. “Thank you, Rafael. I have a feeling it’s going to be fun.”
* * *
Bella let out
a whoop of joy and ran onto the production floor, waving an envelope. “Guess
what? Carla and Ethan are going to arrive next week. They’ll be here in time
for the opening of Bella on the Bay . Isn’t that terrific?”
Sofia turned
away from the ‘big board’ where she’d been updating their production schedule.
“That’s great news. Have they decided where they’re going to live?”
“They’re
going to leave their options open, but they want to rent a place somewhere
between here and the film studio.” Her face fell. “I’d love to help her look,
but what with the opening, and Rafael being gone so much, I scarcely have time
to breathe.” The San Francisco store had finally come together, but they’d
learned a great deal about ‘remote’ locations. Rafael was already putting
together his notes to guide them through their future expansions. “Never mind”
she said, unwilling to spoil the joy of her friend’s pending arrival. “She’ll
find her own place. I can hardly wait to see her again.”
* * *
It was
raining when Carla and Ethan arrived at LAX; Bella spotted them immediately.
“I’m so happy
to have you here,” she said, giving her friend a hug. “You too,” she said to
Ethan, kissing him on the cheek and then holding him at arm’s length. “I want
to remember you just like this, before you become a big movie star.” She led
them out toward the limo she’d booked for the occasion. “Sorry about the
weather, but the sun will probably come out later this afternoon.” She followed
Carla and Ethan into the back of the limo and sat facing them. “I’m talking too
much, right? I’m just so happy to see you.” She looked at Ethan. “Can Carla
come up to San Francisco to the store opening? It will make up for missing...”
She stopped
in mid-sentence. There was something wrong. Carla and Ethan exchanged quick
glances.
“Bella.”
Tears welled up in Carla’s eyes. “Your mother is very sick.”
The words
echoed in her head, as though they’d come from a long distance. “Mom? Sick?” She
looked from Carla to Ethan, then back to Carla. “How sick?”
Carla managed
to meet her eyes. “I think she’s dying, Bella.” She sucked in a breath of air
and then continued. “We went home for a quick visit before coming here, and I phoned
ahead, asking if it was all right to stop by. She was sitting up, but just
barely. I think she made a real effort just to do that.”
“She’s not
sewing any more?” It was a foolish question, and she knew it, but she couldn’t
imagine her mother not being able to sew. It had been a part of who she was all
of Bella’s adult life.
Carla seemed
to understand. “No. Evidently she gave that up about six months ago; she was
just too tired. And then, about three months ago, the doctor started to suspect
that she might have lung cancer and he sent her for an x-ray.” Carla dropped
her eyes. Her voice was barely audible. “They found a large mass on her left
side, and the cancer had started to spread.” She looked out through the tinted
windows, but didn’t register the scenery. “I’m sorry, Bella.”
“The
opening.” It was all starting to make sense. “That’s why she didn’t come to the
Santa Monica opening.”
Carla nodded.
“Yes, you’re probably right. That would have been around the time they had her
in the hospital for a series of tests.”
Bella made up
her mind. “Do you mind awfully if I don’t go to the opening in San Francisco?
You’re still welcome to go...as a matter of fact Rafael could probably use
someone to help out.”
“You’re going
home?” Carla stated the
beauty of having our own production facilities. It doesn’t take much to try
these things out.”
Rafael held
out his hand. “Bella Thompson, you are an amazing woman. I will be proud to
partner with you.”
She slipped
her hand into his. “Thank you, Rafael. I have a feeling it’s going to be fun.”
* * *
Bella let out
a whoop of joy and ran onto the production floor, waving an envelope. “Guess
what? Carla and Ethan are going to arrive next week. They’ll be here in time
for the opening of Bella on the Bay . Isn’t that terrific?”
Sofia turned
away from the ‘big board’ where she’d been updating their production schedule.
“That’s great news. Have they decided where they’re going to live?”
“They’re
going to leave their options open, but they want to rent a place somewhere
between here and the film studio.” Her face fell. “I’d love to help her look,
but what with the opening, and Rafael being gone so much, I scarcely have time
to breathe.” The San Francisco store had finally come together, but they’d
learned a great deal about ‘remote’ locations. Rafael was already putting
together his notes to guide them through their future expansions. “Never mind”
she said, unwilling to spoil the joy of her friend’s pending arrival. “She’ll
find her own place. I can hardly wait to see her again.”
* * *
It was
raining when Carla and Ethan arrived at LAX; Bella spotted them immediately.
“I’m so happy
to have you here,” she said, giving her friend a hug. “You too,” she said to
Ethan, kissing him on the cheek and then holding him at arm’s length. “I want
to remember you just like this, before you become a big movie star.” She led
them out toward the limo she’d booked for the occasion. “Sorry about the
weather, but the sun will probably come out later this afternoon.” She followed
Carla and Ethan into the back of the limo and sat facing them. “I’m talking too
much, right? I’m just so happy to see you.” She looked at Ethan. “Can Carla
come up to San Francisco to the store opening? It will make up for missing...”
She stopped
in mid-sentence. There was something wrong. Carla and Ethan exchanged quick
glances.
“Bella.”
Tears welled up in Carla’s eyes. “Your mother is very sick.”
The words
echoed in her head, as though they’d come from a long distance. “Mom? Sick?” She
looked from Carla to Ethan, then back to Carla. “How sick?”
Carla managed
to meet her eyes. “I think she’s dying, Bella.” She sucked in a breath of air
and then continued. “We went home for a quick visit before coming here, and I phoned
ahead, asking if it was all right to stop by. She was sitting up, but just
barely. I think she made a real effort just to do that.”
“She’s not
sewing any more?” It was a foolish question, and she knew it, but she couldn’t
imagine her mother not being able to sew. It had been a part of who she was all
of Bella’s adult life.
Carla seemed
to understand. “No. Evidently she gave that up about six months ago; she was
just too tired. And then, about three months ago, the doctor started to suspect
that she might have lung cancer and he sent her for an x-ray.” Carla dropped
her eyes. Her voice was barely audible. “They found a large mass on her left
side, and the cancer had started to spread.” She looked out through the tinted
windows, but didn’t register the scenery. “I’m sorry, Bella.”
“The
opening.” It was all starting to make sense. “That’s why she didn’t come to the
Santa Monica opening.”
Carla nodded.
“Yes, you’re probably right. That would have been around the time they had her
in the hospital for a series of tests.”
Bella made up
her mind. “Do you mind awfully if I don’t go to the opening in San Francisco?
You’re still welcome to go...as a matter of fact Rafael could probably use
someone to help out.”
“You’re going
home?” Carla stated the
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