Bella turned her head toward Theodore, her phone still pressed tightly against her ear. "Mamma, actually…"
"I don't want to hear anything," Selena's firm voice cut through her hesitation. "Driving is not safe in this weather. I don't want you to get hurt again. You are not coming back. Call Theodore."
"Mamma, listen to me," Bella tried to explain, but Selena was too anxious to hear her out.
"If you are hesitating to call him, I'll do it myself," Selena insisted. "But I won't allow you to drive in this weather."
Bella exhaled softly, glancing at Theodore before finally conceding. "Mamma, I am with him. Don't worry about me. I'm not driving."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Selena's voice burst through with relief and surprise. "He is with you! You met him."
Bella nodded. "Yes, we had lunch together."
"That's wonderful," Selena beamed. "Go to his place with him."