The Boy Who Has No Belief - Victoria Quinn Page 0,49

does something really terrible, they can’t be let go. They can be on permanent sabbatical and get an early retirement, basically. They should implement another policy that gives them a reason to keep working hard, like pay raises.” Derek spoke to Lizzie like she was an adult rather than a kid, and I wondered if that was why she liked him so much. He had no experience with kids, so he didn’t know how to treat her in a different capacity.

Lizzie nodded like she agreed and kept eating. “What’s it like to go to private school?”

He shrugged. “It’s all the same subjects—just taught differently. When you don’t receive state or city funding, it allows education to adapt and grow, which is something I like about it. Public education is constrained by federal and state guidelines, so it’s prevented from evolving. But it’s still the same subjects, the same hours, stuff like that.”

She continued to eat.

I wished I could put Lizzie in private school, but it was just too expensive. I would have to choose—for her to go to private school or to have money for college. I chose college because that would be a huge financial burden for her, and I didn’t have many assets to leave her when I was gone someday. Her education was the only gift I could give her.

Lizzie ate more than either of us, scarfing down slice after slice.

Derek stared at her, clearly amused.

When we were finished, Derek paid the tab, and we walked outside.

Ronnie was there, and he started the engine.

“Can I give you guys a ride home?” Derek asked, sliding his hands into his pockets and keeping several feet between us, like he was overcompensating for his real affection for me.

“You’ve done enough,” I said. “We can walk. It’s only a couple blocks.”

He didn’t argue like he normally would. He just accepted it.

“Thank you for the pizza,” I said. “And you know…yelling at her teacher.”

Derek smiled slightly, the amusement in his eyes. “You’re welcome.”

Lizzie walked up to him and gave him an unexpected hug. “Thanks for having my back, Derek.”

He stilled at her affection, his arms rising slightly, like he had no idea what to do. His eyes widened, and he stared at me, asking for direction.

I moved my arms in front of me, showing him to hug her.

He moved slightly, but instead of doing what I suggested, he placed his hand on her back and gave her a gentle pat. “I always have your back, Lizzie.”

She pulled away, gave him a big smile, and then came back to me. “See you later!” She waved then walked beside me. “He’s the coolest guy ever, Mom. You’re so lucky he’s your boss.”

I was lucky that he was a lot more than that. “Yeah…he’s great.”

Lizzie faced my mom in the kitchen and told her the whole thing, blow-by-blow. “And then he was like, ‘Oh, why don’t we go down to the principal’s office and tell him you’re a dumbass?’ and then Mr. Franklin just stood there like he pooped his khakis. Derek totally ripped into him, Grandma! He said I was smart and I was gonna get an A in that class, and it’s not my fault that he’s too stupid to understand the math I’m doing that’s being taught by this super genius. It was sooooo cool.” Lizzie kept going on and on.

My mom stood there with a grin on her face. “Sounds like Derek told that teacher where to go.”

“He totally did. He’s awesome, Grandma.”

I gave Lizzie a pat on the back. “Alright, it’s been a very exciting day, but it’s getting late so time to shower and get ready for bed.”

“How am I supposed to sleep?” Lizzie asked incredulously. “I’m gonna be the coolest girl in school tomorrow.”

“No one was there, Lizzie.”

“Oh, but I’m going to tell everyone. And tons of people saw Derek, so I get to tell them I know him!” She grabbed her backpack off the counter and walked into the hallway so she could do what I told her.

My mom waited until the door was closed before she talked to me. “So…sounds like the two of them are getting along.”

“She’s pretty enamored of him.”

“That’s great. I guess I was wrong about him.”

Yes, she was. “Derek seems to like her too. You should have heard the way he talked about Lizzie…saying how bright she was and that she could do anything, and it seemed like he meant it. And when he looked at her worksheet and saw that she