Teach Me How To Love Again

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

As they closed in on their last rehearsal, Jill frantically ran around the set to put the finishing touches on every rock and flower in sight. She stepped back to scan the scenery, mentally making notes of each spot that needed touching up.

She was so preoccupied with her task, that she didn't even hear anyone come into the theater. 

"This looks amazing!" Jill heard his recognizable voice and turned around to see Senator Biden in a simple cotton button-down shirt and blue jeans. She was taken aback to see him in anything other than a suit, but she certainly wasn't complaining. She could see every muscle on his upper body through the thin cotton.

He was dreamy and she was... Well, she was covered in yellow, blue, and green paint splatters. Embarrassed, she frowned slightly at her clothing.

When he approached her, she was still lost in her daydream.

"Mrs. Stevenson!" Joe's voice bounced off of the auditorium walls.

She squealed and dropped her paintbrush, which flung specks of paint all over her face and the floor. She instinctively closed her eyes.

He shook his head and reached forward, using his thumb to remove blue paint from her eyelid and temple, wiping the remains on his jeans.

"You should wear some protective eye gear if you're going to paint so ferociously." He smirked and handed her a small piece of cloth that was hanging over a chair.

"Thank you." She wiped the remainder of the paint off of her face, with a laugh. "I can be rather clumsy. Beau is finishing up now and he should be out in a minute."

Joe watched from the side of the stage as his son recited his lines.

"He's doing great, you know," Jill reassured him and he beamed with pride. "He has this incredible ability to capture everyone's attention. I can't imagine where he gets that from."

Joe raised an eyebrow.

I can't imagine where he gets that from. She repeated in her brain. Seriously, Jill?

"I suppose it's in the DNA?" He said with a shrug, breaking the tension.

"Dad!" Beau yelled from the stage. "Did you see me?"

Joe nodded, "I did and I am so proud of you!"

"Mr. Davis says I am done for the day but I forgot my lunchbox in Mrs. Stevenson's room. Can I go get it?" He inquired, turning to Jill.

"Of course, honey."

"Hurry up, please. We're going to have dinner with Aunt Val, Uncle Frank, and Hunt and I don't want to make them wait for too long," Joe added.

He put his hands in his pockets. "I swear these kids would lose their heads if they weren't attached to them."

"Tell me about it. I am constantly locating missing pencils and Tupperware containers," she shared as she put the lid back on her paint can. She huffed as she tried to seal the lid with the hammer unsuccessfully.

"Here, let me help you with that," he offered, taking the hammer from her hands and sealing it with two hits. "There you are," he said, handing it back to her.

"Thanks!"

"No problem. It's nice to be of use," he joked.

"In case you're not busy enough, you're welcome to join us. We can always use someone to seal out paint cans," she laughed. Joe opened his mouth to respond but little feet barreled towards them.