Page 9 of Heart of a Hero

Forrest slid out of the booth and stood tall, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn’t say a word, but Lester swallowed, and to his surprise, glared back at him. “What are you, a wrestler? Shithouse kicker?” He seemed to think he was clever.

“I teach kindergarten, and my kids have better manners than you do.” He kept his voice quiet and gentle but leaned forward. “Have a nice evening and enjoy your meal.” He waited until Lester turned and left before sitting back down.

“Who was that?” Lizzie asked.

“You know how you have Lucy?” Conrad asked. She nodded. “Well, at work, I have him, only they don’t make him stand in a corner. But I wish they would.” He nudged Lizzie. “Finish eating your pizza, Peanut.”

Conrad glanced to the counter, where Lester seemed to be placing an order. “He and I are both up for a promotion to the head of accounting systems. The thing is that I do most of the work, but the old director is retiring in a few months, and as soon as Lester got wind of it, he started bucking for that job. He isn’t qualified, but he talks all the time, and I swear they give him what he wants to shut him up. And if they do give him the job, I’ll end up doing all the work while he takes the credit. Either that or I’ll have to find another job.”

“There have to be plenty of firms who would want you.”

“Oh, there are. And I have enough clients who would go with me that things would be fine.” He shook his head. “You don’t need to hear about office politics.”

“As long as you let me complain about school politics, we’re even. The PTA groups will drive you crazy, I swear.” At least Conrad smiled. Forrest like that smile and wished he saw it more often.

Conrad set down his fork and drank his soda. “I hired in with a fresh CPA. John Brunner, one of the founding partners, hired me into the firm. He was hard-driving but fair and believed in nurturing people. He taught me the ropes, and found I had this gift for managing accounting systems, so we developed that end of the business with Carter Grove. He and I have worked together for eight years, and soon he’s retiring.”

“So why would they consider Lester?” Forrest asked.

“He’s been with the firm for ten years longer than me, and he’s one of those mover-and-shaker kind of people. He can be obnoxious, but he brings in business to the firm.” Conrad shrugged. “I’ve brought in clients as well, but….”

“Don’t underestimate yourself.”

“The thought of working for Lester makes me want to run and hide. He’s such a jack… jerk face.” Forrest smiled at the way Conrad kept himself from swearing.

“Then keep your best foot forward. The people who make the decisions have to know what you do for them, and they aren’t going to want to lose you. And I’m sure they know what Lester is like as well, and I’m guessing the last thing they want is to spend more time with him.” He snickered as Lester almost dropped his pizza when his phone rang.

Conrad shrugged. “I’ve always wondered if he had files on people. No one likes to work with him, and the people on his team either quit or get themselves transferred somewhere else. The office would be so much better off if he would just leave. But of course he never will.” They watched Lester balance his pizza and cradle his phone under his neck to pull open the door. Somehow he managed it without dropping anything. “Lester will stay until they force him out,”

“Okay. Then you do your best and make sure you look good to the bosses. If you get the job, then will he work for you?”

“No. Thank God. He’s such a weasel that even being his supervisor is hell. He always tries to get the upper hand, and you know that every time he doesn’t like something, he manages to get to one of the partners. The guy is toxic.” He took another bite. “Sorry, let’s talk about something more interesting. What are the people like at the school?”

“The other teachers are nice. There’s this great mix of people. Some have been there for years, and others, like me, are new. But we all try to help each other. One of the sixth-grade teachers taught kindergarten for five years, and she’s always there if I need advice. My principal is good to work for, so I don’t have to worry too much. Though I know that parents look at me and wonder what they’re getting their kids in for. I had a few people request to switch their kids to the other class, but I suppose once I get a reputation as a good teacher, that sort of thing will stop. It’s funny how people don’t look any deeper than what they see.” He shrugged slightly. “Though I do wonder what would happen if it became common knowledge that I bat for the other team. The principal knows, and he feels it’s no one’s business. But I can just imagine the calls that would come in.”

“You know, kids know who they like, and there’s no hiding from them. They won’t willingly be around someone they don’t trust. Lizzie has better instincts than I do when it comes to people. She hated my ex with a passion. She was just a baby, and we came to visit this one time. James lifted her up, and Lizzie wailed as though she were on fire, kicking and making it known she was having none of him. James handed her to me, and she calmed down right away. She knew James was a jerk.”

“He was stinky too. One year for Christmas he gave me socks.” She scrunched her face. “No kid wants socks. After that Daddy kicked him to the curb.”

“I may have said that once or twice. And he’s gone, so we never have to see his crazy butt again.” Once again he hugged Lizzie to him as she drank her Sprite. “And for a while it’s just been you and me.”

“With angel mommy watching over us.”

“Yes. Exactly.” He took another slice of pizza. “I guess I have to ask, in this day and age, is your sexuality really going to be an issue? I brought James to firm functions for a number of years, and after we broke up, some of my coworkers tried to set me up with friends. It just doesn’t seem that big a deal.”

“The thing is that I don’t know. I mean, if there are parents who requested the other class because of how I look….” He swallowed hard. “When you first saw me, you were terrified.”

“Because you looked like some biker gang refugee.”

“That’s because I rode my motorcycle to the store that evening and I was dressed in the leathers. I needed to pick up some things, and I didn’t want to run home and get the car just for a few groceries.”

“You actually ride?” Conrad’s eyes practically bugged out of his head.

“Of course I do. I love it. There’s something about the wind and the speed. In a car you’re insulated from the road, but not on a bike. Do you ride?”

“I used to. But not anymore. I have Lizzie, and she’s more important than that. I can’t take her with me… so my bike is in the garage, and we take the car.”

“I see,” Forrest said. “It’s a shame, though.”