Teach Me How To Love Again

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

"Mrs. Stevenson," Valerie piped up from behind Joe. "It's nice to see you again, please come in."

Jill and Valerie had spoken many times over the phone and Val had attended a few events at the school when Joe was unavailable, leaving them with a rapport.

"Hello, Mrs. Owens," Jill replied apprehensively.

She assumed that Joe would be the one conducting the interview and hoped to discuss this comfortability with the idea beforehand.

Joe stepped aside to welcome her inside, sitting  back as Valerie administered the interview.

"Well, as you know, I've spent a lot of time in the classroom so I believe that children need a balance of structure but also the independence and the ability to explore. I don't think that children should be consumed by one thing."

"If you'll excuse us for one moment," she pulled her brother into the kitchen.

"Joe, I think we should hire her on the spot before someone else does," she whispered.

Joe hesitated for a moment and Val was puzzled by his response.

"Joey, she's perfect. She's everything you want in a nanny. What's up with you?"

He put his hands in his pockets and stared out the sliding glass door, observing his boys playing with two toy trucks in the dirt outside. He knew how much Beau loved Jill and how good she was for him. He supposed that he would be capable of putting them first.

"You're right," he admitted. "I'm just being difficult."

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Val questioned. "It seems like there's something you're not telling me."

"No, no. I'm just... you know letting someone into your home to practically help raise your children is a big deal."

Val nodded sympathetically. "I know it is, and I'm sorry that you have to."

Joe patted her on the shoulder, "Why don't you go tell her the good news? I'm going to go check on the boys before one of them ends up hitting the other one over the head with a bulldozer."

As he approached the sliding door, Hunter began to wail.

"Too late," Valerie sighed.

The feeling in the pit of her stomach confirmed that Joe wasn't being completely transparent with her, but it was something that she'd have to deal with later.

Within a few days under Val's guidance, Jill slowly found her footing and the household running seamlessly and Joe was grateful.

He walked through the door at 6:35pm after narrowly missing the early train. He was exhausted but thrilled to finally be home and hug his boys, which seemed to make the stress of the day melt away.

"Dad!" The boys yelled enthusiastically as they came running to him. Joe sat down his briefcase to catch them in his arms.

"Hey guys!" He tousled their hair. "How was your day?"

"Great! Jill took us to a science museum."

Hunter toddled over to the coffee table, where a matching pair of kaleidoscopes sat. "Look!" He held it up to his father's eye.

"They're called kl-eye-d-d-" Beau attempted.

"Kaleidoscopes." Jill finished for him, wiping her hands off with a towel.

"That is too cool, man!" Joe exclaimed and Jill laughed, taking note that his reaction of equal excitement mimicked the ones she saw from the boys earlier in the day. It was charming.