Unexpected Second Chance

Chapter 3 - My father hates him

When Joe followed Owen and Natalie from the house to the lake on Sunday afternoon, he scanned the crowd over by Ella's grandparents. The day before the group was smaller and Ella was not a part of it. He saw the young girl and boy he'd seen the day before and the boys Ella had been with during the week.

He turned toward the house at the sound of her sweet voice. Standing on the porch, she called, "Uncle Nick, Sara needs you."

Joe was so fixated on Ella, he barely took in a snide remark from one of the men. "I'll bet she needs you!"

The sun shone on her golden hair and she smiled, as she walked down the beach. She stopped halfway and looked in his direction.

Busted, he thought, as he gave her a pathetic wave.

Owen had been shocked when Joe announced the beauty from the lake was their new music teacher.

"She's a hell of an upgrade from old Marsha." Owen joked about the woman, who retired in many people's opinion about five years too late.

Joe listened when Owen asked Natalie about Ella.

Natalie's smile assured Joe she thought highly of her. "That girl is extremely talented. She had the lead in the musical as a freshman! Plus she's a Burke... everyone loves the Burkes."

Being new to town, the two men looked at each other and shrugged.

Natalie sighed, as if forgetting they were from away. "Dr. Burke, who lives next door was the only doctor in town for years. Now his sons and daughter are doctors. Ella's father has been my doctor forever."

Joe's eye wandered over to the couple with the little ones. He recognized the woman. "I saw her when I had strep last winter."

Natalie nodded. "Ella's sister is studying medicine. She was valedictorian of her class in high school."

Joe cringed, as Owen said, "Hey Joey, you have something in common."

Despite or perhaps because of the despair in his life, Joe was a dedicated student and was number one in his class. He earned free tuition to the state university, for his high score on the state standardized exam. Still, his achievements embarrassed him. He never felt comfortable getting attention. In his house attention was the catalyst for being yelled at.

She returned his wave with a smile. Then she sat down next to another young woman, who after a moment looked in his direction. He knew they were talking about him.

He was showing off when he dove into the lake. Owen followed him and Joe migrated in the water a little closer to the Burke's beach. Owen had been teasing him for days about his crush and the teasing didn't stop, as Ella began swimming in their direction.

"She's hot for you," Owen whispered.

Joe retorted, "She has a boyfriend."

"Right, the gym teacher..."

Owen was cut off, by a sweet voice. "Hi."

Joe replied, "Hey! You ready for tomorrow?"

"I think so." She looked uncertain.

"This is Owen. Now you'll know two of us. We only knew each other when we started."

There was a pregnant pause, but Natalie interrupted. "Hey Ella, come on up."

Ella waved and began heading towards shore with both Owen and Joe following her.

Natalie exclaimed, "Congrats on going back to high school."

Ella laughed. Joe felt her laugh flow through his body like a warm wave. If he wasn't careful, he would embarrass himself. He quickly picked up his towel to dry his face and dropped it into his lap as a precaution. Her eyes were a unique blue-green and they sparkled when she laughed. Embarrassed, he realized that he was staring at her pink lips, as she talked to Natalie about people they knew. He had never felt this way before and just his luck she had a boyfriend, not that he was good enough for a girl like Ella. He deserved a girl like Whitney who came from a family as effed up as his.