Teach Me How To Love Again

Chapter Twenty

In the whirlwind of the post-Christmas vacation period, Joe and Jill found themselves constantly on the move. With their days filled to the brim with errands, meetings, and family visits, spare moments together were becoming increasingly rare.

Even at night, when they did manage to steal a quiet hour alone, their physical intimacy had dwindled. Though it was simply the natural ebb and flow of their relationship with balancing two careers and two children.

On this particular day, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Joe held Jill close in the morning, softly saying, "I miss you," against her bare shoulder. She sighed, leaning into his embrace. "I miss you too," she murmured in response.

"I think Washington can survive without me," Joe teased, as he nibbled on her ear. Though, he could’ve easily been persuaded to go in late.

"Ah, but my classroom cannot function without me," Jill quipped back.

“Neither can I.”

“You’re already late,” she reminded him.

He pouted playfully, and she chuckled, running her thumb over his bottom lip. Jill was filled with nervous excitement as she prepared to take over a retiring teacher's class after the Christmas break. Her anticipation kept her awake at night and had her practically bouncing off the walls.

As Joe rummaged through his dresser, hunting for a pair of black socks, Jill pointed out their exact location without missing a beat. “What would I do without you?” Joe feigned helplessness.

“Probably wear navy blue socks,” she joked and he turned on his heel to get the boys ready. The truth was, she knew exactly where the socks were because they were placed just inches away from the velvet box in his drawer.

Although the topic of the ring hung between them, neither felt the need to revisit the conversation. They shared an unspoken understanding that the ring would remain tucked away in Joe’s dresser until they were both ready to take that next step in their relationship.

She hastily grabbed her coat, a luxurious mink-lined gift from Joe for Christmas. Although he claimed it was ideal for recess duty, she couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted to see her wear it in a more intimate setting. Her playful jab about his hidden intentions went unanswered, but she indulged him anyway.

"I love you," He said, kissing her goodbye. "Have a great first day."

Bending down to the children, Joe instructed, "Boys, take care of her."

"Promise, Dad," Beau replied solemnly, saluting him. He understood the importance of his new role in protecting and looking after her.

"He's just like you," she observed, prompting a bright smile from Joe.

-
Jill Jacobs stood confidently at the front of her high school English classroom, surprised by the sense of comfort and ease she felt in her role as a teacher. Teaching was her passion, and as she looked out at the eager but unfamiliar faces before her, she knew she was exactly where she belonged.

As she wrote her name on the blackboard, a sense of freedom settled over her. She stepped back to admire the cursive script, and her maiden name seemed to glow in front of her. For a moment, she felt like she was shedding the skin of Mrs. Stevens, a persona she had worn for so long. It was a liberating feeling, like shedding the weight of a heavy cloak and stepping into a new dawn.

She turned around to her students with a new sense of confidence and enthusiasm.

"Good morning, everyone,” she clasped her hands together. “I'm Ms. Jacobs, your English teacher for the semester, and I'm thrilled to be here with all of you," she greeted with a warm smile.