Page 38 of Losing Faith

“This is a big chair.” She glances down at it.

“I’m a big guy.”

Her eyes cut up to mine, and when a smile grows on her face I shake my head at her.

“How many inches are we talking?” She glances between my legs before looking back up at me, and I bite back a laugh as I take a seat in front of her.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Surprisingly, a lot.”

My eyes cut to hers and she’s just sitting there with a gorgeous smile.

“You really believe there’s something wrong with you?” I study her for a beat and her smile doesn’t waver, but I see how she forces it more.

“You haven’t seen what’s in here.” She taps her head. “Back to what I wanted to talk about.”

She continues before I can counter and keep the conversation on her and I notice she does that a lot, deflects when I ask about her.

“It’s about Belle.”

I feel my brows furrow as I slightly sit up in my seat, but she puts a hand up, her smile slowly returning.

“Chill, Daddy bear. She’s fine,” she tries to reassure me. “She had a red card in her folder though.”

I let out a groan as I cover my face. “Jesus Christ,” I mumble.

“Yeah,” she treads lightly. “She was apparently being disruptive during quiet time and wouldn’t stop laughing, but coming from a teacher and knowing she isn’t a disrespectful child, that’s a ridiculous reason for a red card.”

I throw my hands up. “Thankyou,” I exclaim. “I feel like I’m walking on eggshells with these people. God forbid a child behaves their age.” I understand needing to correct her behavior if she was truly being disruptive, but a red card for laughing? These cards are apparently a last resort, and her getting two in one week is absurd to me.

“I also read over her assessment and I think they have something against you.”

Hearing her words are incredibly reassuring because I was starting to feel like I was going crazy. “So you don’t think she’s behind?”

She takes a beat to respond and I study her closely before she shrugs. “I don’t think it’s fair to label her asbehind.Kids develop at different ages,” she says exactly what I told them. “Shecouldbe more advanced, sure, but she turned five in August which was barely two months ago. She’ll reach the milestones soon enough.”

I nod in return.

“What exactly did they tell you? I don’t understand why they’re giving you such a hard time. She’s honestly a great kid.”

I sink in my seat as I rant. “They’re incredibly invested as to why her mom isn’t in the picture and it’s not in a mandated reporter kind of way. They’re simply nosy.” I roll my eyes as their comments come to mind. “When I was registering, I overheard them comment about how I probably cheated on her.”

Her brows raise before she lets out a scoff. “I hate private school teachers, especially those kind.” When she smiles this time, I know a joke is coming. “On the bright side, you can go to their higher ups if they kick her out of school for failing her next assessment. I know private schools have different rules, but it sounds like they’re breaking some.”

I offer her a smile, but her words don’t make me feel better.

“She’s not going to fail,” she reassures me. “Change your face and have more faith in me, asshole.”

I let out a low laugh. “What did I say about the language?” I tease.

“Right.” She nods before giving me a once-over. “We wouldn’t want you withholding the big guy from me.”

“Lisette.” I feel my face heat and her loud laugh fills the room as she rises frommyseat.

“You seriously need to stop with the inappropriate comments, especially in front of my kid. I don’t care if she doesn’t catch onto them,” I tell her more seriously.

She rolls her eyes at me as she makes her way around my desk. “Your blush is so cute though.” She ruffles my hair. “I’ll stop saying them in front of your kid since she’s a sponge.”

---