The Man Who Has No Love - Victoria Quinn Page 0,77
you want to get rid of her, but Boris would much rather lose you and Jake than lose her.”
Her mouth was open in shock. “You mother—”
I shut the door in her face.
Derek was on the couch, his schoolwork on his lap. “Why did Mom just call you mother?”
He was way too young to know the truth. “I think she was going to say ‘You aren’t his mother.’”
It didn’t make sense, but Derek bought it.
When I looked at my little boy, I stopped thinking about Valerie. He was the light of my life, the person who could erase my bad mood with just a smile. “What do you have there?”
“Homework.”
“Need help?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look so somber?”
“Somber?” he asked.
“It means quiet, sad.”
“Oh. I guess I’m just kinda bored. This stuff is easy.” He held up his multiplication tables. “And this has an error.” He’d circled the word that was misspelled on the document. “And then my teacher said this was wrong, but I checked it three times, and I’m pretty sure she’s wrong.”
I took the papers and examined it, immediately feeling the kind of pride I’d never felt before. “You’re right, Derek.”
“I told her, but she doesn’t believe me.”
I smiled. “Because she doesn’t want to admit a five-year-old is smarter than her.” I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and kissed him on the head. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Why?” he asked.
My hand rested on the back of his head, and I looked at his innocent features. “I just am.”
“Why don’t we ever have pizza?” Derek asked as he looked at his sautéed kale and veggies with sliced chicken breast.
“Just eat, Derek.”
“Mom gives me pizza all the time.”
My response came out like word vomit. “Well, she’s a bitch.”
Derek turned to me, both of his eyebrows raised.
Shit. “I mean…she has a different approach to parenting.”
“What’s a bitch?” he asked.
Oh fuck.
“I’ve never heard that word…”
“It doesn’t mean anything. Just forget I said anything.”
“Are you a bitch?”
Sometimes. “Derek, don’t say that word again, alright?”
“But I’m trying to learn more words—”
“It’s a bad word, alright? Just don’t repeat it.”
“Fine.” Derek went back to eating.
A knock sounded on the door.
Derek turned in his chair to look at the door. “Who is that?”
Cleo let herself inside after she knocked, carrying her heavy purse that held her laptop and paperwork. She moved farther inside the condo as she looked into her bag, not seeing us yet.
Derek’s eyes popped open as if he couldn’t believe she was there. “Oh my god! Cleo!” He got off the chair and sprinted.
Cleo turned to see him rushing toward her, her features transfixed in shock. She had no idea he was there because we hadn’t spoken today. She dropped her bag on the rug, not caring about the laptop, and got to her knees just in time to embrace him. “Derek…” She hugged him tightly, squeezing him to her chest just the way I did. One hand cupped the back of his head, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” His arms were around her neck, and he held her that way for a while.
I sat there, my own eyes getting emotional at their reunion. It was like watching a different version of myself with Derek. She had the same feelings I did, the same tears, the same overwhelming love for that little boy.
When he pulled away, he looked at her face, where her tears were sliding down her cheeks. “Why are you crying, Cleo?”
She sniffed before she smiled. “I’m just so happy to see you.” She pulled him back into her chest and hugged him again. “I thought about you every single day I didn’t see you.” She kissed his forehead before she released her grip.
“Does this mean you’re back?” He turned back to me, looking for confirmation.
I nodded. “Yes.”
He turned back to Cleo. “Yay!” He jumped into her arms again. “That means we can go back to the cabin, go to the movies, I can show you my friends, we can go to the beach house…” He rambled on and on.
But she hung on every word. “I can’t wait to do all those things with you, sweetheart.” She cupped his cheeks before she released him. “I’ve had such a long day, but looking at you makes me forget about all of it.” She sighed loudly as she looked into his features. “I love you…”
“I love you too, Cleo.” He turned back to the table and crawled into his chair so he could finish