Dad in Training (9 page)

He forced a nod.

Her expression softened. “You really need to do something about that headache.”

“I will,” he said, knowing his headache would soon be on her way.

Molly stood beside her car, and as soon as Brent’s foot hit the brake, Randy darted from the passenger door before Brent could put it in Park.

Today his shyness had vanished, and he bounded toward her waving his arms. “I’m getting a dog.”

Her stomach tightened seeing the boy’s eagerness. Yet she knew kids, and they made promises that they didn’t keep. How would Brent handle cleaning the yard and feeding the dog when the newness wore off? She hid her concerns and gave the boy a grin. “I know, and you promised to take care of the new dog, too.”

He nodded. “Feed him and clean up…yuck.” He gave her a crooked smile. “But I will.”

“You’d better.” Brent’s voice cut into their conversation. He rested his hand on Randy’s shoulder but looked at her. “You look chipper.”

His tone sent a message, and she didn’t doubt the meaning. “I’m happy for Randy.” She thought a moment. “And for you. I know you enjoyed a dog when you were a boy.”

Randy spun around. “You did? I thought you hated animals.”

Brent flashed her a “button your lip” look, then shifted to Randy. “I had a dog once.”

“You never told me.” The boy’s mouth drooped, and his eyes showed his hurt.

Molly gathered her thoughts to right her mistake, but surprising her, Brent beat her to it.

“I’m sorry. I’ll tell you about Toby later.”

The name Toby caught in Brent’s throat, and Molly’s excitement twisted into anxiousness. She wanted a dog for the boy and for Brent, too. She hoped Randy would find a friend and something that would help him enjoy life, and she wanted to believe that Brent would heal from whatever happened in his past.

She lifted her shoulders above her concern. “Ready?” She glanced at her watch. “They close in forty minutes.”

“I’m ready,” Randy said, bounding in front of them toward the entrance.

When he was out of earshot, Molly clasped Brent’s arm. “I didn’t know you hadn’t told him about owning a dog. I assumed—”

She felt him stiffen. “I should have. I’m a grown man acting like a kid. I need to get over it.”

“Over what?”

He looked straight ahead. “It’s nothing, Molly. The story is long and boring. I don’t want to dig up all that old garbage. Not anymore.”

It certainly wasn’t boring. Nothing boring could affect a man like Brent had been affected. Whatever happened seemed to litter his life with sadness and self-doubt. The controlled man she’d met weeks early had lost his armor. She had pried away his shield and somehow left him wounded.

Molly studied him as he opened the door to let Randy bounce in and then waited until she’d entered. Though he’d been hurt, she knew that wounds healed with good care and the proper treatment. Brent could be whole again. It would take time, and she needed patience and stamina. And she needed to face the truth. Brent didn’t only represent the solution for the dog shelter. He meant so much more, and his pain had become hers. If she could learn to keep her mouth closed, she’d be a better friend.

“Molly.”

The clerk’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Hi, Kirk. We have an eager young man who wants to look for a dog.”

Kirk motioned toward the kennel entrance. “You know where you’re going.” He looked at Randy. “You have lots of choices.”

Molly moved ahead to the door while Randy paused and gave Kirk a thoughtful look. He turned toward Brent, then back to Kirk. “Me and my uncle will pick the best friend for us.”

“Let’s take a look.” Molly pushed open the door. She observed Randy’s face as he barreled alongside her, not
wanting to miss a moment. She pulled open the next door, and the dogs’ excitement filled the room.

Randy dashed from one cage to another while Brent stood at the threshold as if nailed there.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“In a minute.”

She strode away, heading for Randy and praying he’d notice the golden retriever. She stopped beside the boy as he knelt on the floor and petted the small dachshund she’d noticed on her last visit. Its long black nose and frankfurter body pressed against the wire, his long, thin tail beating against the floor.

“Do you like him?” Molly held her breath.

“He looks like a hot dog.” He rose and looked down the row. “But I want a bigger dog.”

Her lungs released pent-up air. “I noticed a really great dog here the other day.” She guided him down the row, but he’d been diverted by a large black Lab. Ebony. The name had been attached to the door. “She’s a girl.”

Randy backed away. “A girl?”

Molly nodded. “Don’t you like girls?”

“I want a boy dog.”

Brent had appeared, and his frown melted to a smile. “I’m not surprised. We boys stick together.” His gaze shifted to Molly. “But girls are nice, too.”

“Yuck.” Randy shook his head.

She chuckled, but Brent stood a moment, his gaze riveted to hers, letting her know the girl comment was meant for her. Molly’s pulse skipped like kids heading out for recess. “We’d better get moving before they close.”

Brent blinked as if unaware he’d been staring. He spun around and headed down the row of pens, and when he slowed, Molly knew he had neared Rocket.

She edged her way closer as he crouched beside the dog and petted his nose through the barricade.

“Is he a boy?”

Randy’s question jarred the tender moment. “He’s a boy. His name’s Rocket.” She turned over the information sheet and looked on the back. “He’s three years old.”

“Rocket.” Randy nestled down beside Brent and let the golden retriever lick his fingers. “He likes me.”

“He does,” Brent said, his voice sounding tight. He lowered his hand from the cage and stepped back.

Randy stood, too, and continued down the row, stopping to pet another dog.

Molly watched Brent’s expression, trying to decide if Brent wanted Randy to choose Rocket or a dog that wouldn’t remind him of Toby, who’d been a symbol of the love that should have been in his life. She knew it, and she suspected Brent did, too. The dog might cause too much pain for him.

“Is this one a boy?”

Molly strode forward and eyed the dog—a black-and-white setter. She flipped over the card. She didn’t want to tell him the truth. “He’s a boy. He’s five.”

“What’s his name?”

She pointed to the sign.

“Rascal.” He withdrew his focus from the name card and gazed down the aisle toward Brent. “Do you like this one?”

Brent sauntered toward them and glanced into the pen. “It’s your dog, so it’s your decision.”

Randy studied the setter. “I know which one I want.”

A vise clenched Molly’s heart. “Are you sure?”

Randy nodded and then turned and whipped past them. “Rocket loves me, and I love him.” He swung around to face Brent. “Can I have Rocket?”

Brent looked as if the weight of the world plunged from his shoulders. His head shot upward and his stride picked up speed. “If you’re sure, I think he’s a good choice.”

“Yep. That’s the dog I want.”

Molly viewed the two smiling faces, and her heart danced a jig.

“R
andy, what are you doing?”

The boy stood over the dog’s bowl pouring dry dog food that fell to the kitchen floor. “I’m feeding Rocky.”

Brent managed to calm his voice. “The bowl is full. You just fed him this morning.”

“But he’s hungry. He keeps watching me eat my sandwich.”

Brent dragged out a sigh and headed for the closet. “Please clean up that food.” He handed Randy the broom and dustpan. “Dogs beg. They’re not hungry. They just want what you have. That’s something you need to learn.”

“He looks hungry.”

Brent held up his hand. “We feed him once a day and keep his water filled.” He gave his nephew a piercing stare. “Do you understand?”

Randy didn’t respond. He swept the nuggets, flinging them farther onto the kitchen floor while Rocket bounded after the food. It became a game that revved Brent’s patience. He grabbed the broom from Randy’s hand. “Look. We can take the dog back if…”

The look on Randy’s face stopped him cold. What was he
doing? Memories crashed over him. Dogs and kids took patience. He’d experienced the lack of understanding in his father. Do it his way or no way…while his brother taunted him from the sidelines.

When Brent realized Randy’s problem, shame weighted his shoulders. “Have you ever used a broom?”

Randy shook his head as the words
learn to be a dad
filled his mind.

Rocket sprinted around the kitchen gobbling up the dry pellets, and if he didn’t act, the food would vanish before they cleaned it up.

Brent spun around and faced the dog. “Rocket. No.” He pinpointed the retriever with his index finger. The dog eyed him, then the food, then him again. “Sit.”

Rocket sat. Relief washed over Brent. Okay. He’d experienced one moment of success. Now Randy. “I’ll show you how to sweep.”

He demonstrated while Randy watched and then gave him back the broom and watched him pull what nuggets were left into a pile.

“Now, hold the dustpan like this.” Brent bent down and showed him how to guide the pellets into the scoop. “Now you do it.”

Randy followed his example and looked at him with a grin. “Like this?”

He smiled back. “Great job.” He tousled Randy’s hair and lifted the trash lid for him to toss the nuggets. “We need to work together to make Rocket healthy. He can’t eat too much or he’ll get fat and sick.”

Randy turned his back and crossed the room. Brent jammed his fists into his waist, irked by Randy’s rudeness. When he realized Randy was returning the items to the closet, Brent lowered his arms, cautioning himself to be more tolerant. Randy’s hyper behavior took understanding, and that’s what happened when he became excited.

Brent could relate. His own behavior hadn’t been normal since meeting Molly.

Randy came bounding back with Rocket at his side, his eyes glinting. “If Rocky’s too fat, he wouldn’t play with me.”

“That’s right.” Brent drew in a breath. Randy did understand. Maybe he and Randy could both change for the better. He did a double take. “What’s this Rocky stuff?”

Randy gave him sly smile. “When you’re mad at me, you call me Randall, so I thought—”

“You’d call him Rocket when he’s bad and Rocky when he’s good.” Brent chuckled.

Randy’s playful grin grew.

Brent opened his arms and wrapped them around the boy. His stomach tightened as he felt Randy’s slender frame in his arms. When was the last time anyone had hugged the boy? Brent’s mind segued back to his childhood. He’d longed to be hugged by his father, and it never happened. Though Brent’s mother had been more affectionate, she followed his father’s rule that boys needed to be strong and not treated like babies. Brent had been treated like a man as far back as he could remember. He gave Randy a final squeeze. The boy needed lots of hugs.

The telephone’s jingle broke into his thoughts. He unwrapped his arms from Randy and grabbed the receiver from the wall phone. His chest pulsed when he heard Molly’s voice. “What’s up?”

“I just wondered how you’re doing with the dog.”

He heard an undertone in her voice. “Fairly well. We’re both learning some lessons.” He glanced at Randy, sitting at the kitchen table beside his half-eaten sandwich petting Rocket. He needed to break the dog’s habit of begging at the table.

Molly’s voice intruded on his thoughts. “Lessons? I hope you’re not having—”

“No problems, really. In fact, I was surprised to see that he obeyed when I said no.”

“Randy or the dog?”

He chuckled. “Both, actually.” He glanced at Randy again as he reached for his sandwich. “Wash your hands before you pick up food.”

Randy glanced at the dog and his hands and then rose and headed for the sink.

The line lay silent except for her breathing.

“Sorry. We had a little overfeeding-the-dog mishap today.”

“Do you need some help, Brent? I’d be glad to come over.”

Come over.
His lungs worked harder. What did that woman do to him? He’d spent his lifetime controlling his emotions, but somewhere along the line he’d lost it. A man demanded control. He clutched the phone and held his breath. “Did you want to start the lessons today? I know Randy’s finished with school, but I thought you wanted to wait until school’s closed for the summer.”

“I’m finished next Wednesday, but today’s Saturday. I’m free.”

Brent hadn’t prayed in years, but he felt himself wishing that he could ask God what to do. He could deny his feelings, but who would he be fooling? Getting involved with anyone wouldn’t work. Dating led to expectations. Not just Molly’s but his own. He’d closed himself off too tightly to be a good companion, especially a husband, and he scuffled to be a father figure to Randy.

Brent drew in a lengthy breath. “Probably not today, but thanks.”

Seconds ticked by with only silence. “I only wanted to help. I know I finagled you into getting a dog, and I feel guilty.”

“Don’t feel guilty. I’m the one who asked about the Teacher’s Pet program.” He wished he could drag the words back. He gazed across the room and saw Randy’s gaze bearing down on him as he listened.

“Is that Molly?”

“Hang on,” he said as he covered the receiver. “Yes, she offered to come for your first obedience lesson with the dog.”

“Obedience?”

“You know. Training Rocket to behave.”

“I remember.” His face filled with anticipation. “Is she coming?”

His heart skipped. His purpose for adopting the dog was for Randy to have responsibility and purpose. Being a father meant following through on his promises, and he couldn’t hide from Molly the rest of his life. He needed to be strong. He couldn’t let her turn him into mush every time he saw her.

“Have her come today.” His expression grew to a grin. “Please.”

Please.
How long had it been since that word crossed Randy’s lips? Brent lifted his hand from the receiver. For Randy’s sake, he had to deal with his emotions.

Randy and Rocket were waiting in the front yard when Molly pulled up. She eyed the house a moment, admiring the stately brick colonial with its multitude of windows opening the rooms to sunlight. She hopped out of the car carrying a dog collar in case Brent had purchased a choke chain. She didn’t approve of those. A stern voice and reward for obedience motivated a dog without hurting him. That’s all a trainer needed.

“Hi,” she said, rounding the car and striding up the brick sidewalk. She could imagine the beauty of the landscape if Brent had added some flowers, but the shrubs were neat and well trimmed.

“Are you ready for your first lesson?” She eyed the doorway, then the window, hoping to see Brent. No such luck.

Randy appeared shy today, as his eyes drifted from her to the dog. “We have a collar.” He grasped the dog’s neck and pulled it upward so she could see it.

Molly was pleased to see one like her own. “Do you have a leash?”

He nodded. “It’s in the house.”

“Let’s go into the backyard. There’s less distractions there.” She grasped Rocket’s collar. “Go inside and get the leash while I take him around.”

When Randy had vanished inside, Molly let go, and the dog followed her to the back gate. From her experience as a trainer, she figured the dog would be easy to teach. She opened the gate and stepped into the lovely backyard. Again no flowers, but a birdbath and a bench sat in the far corner surrounded by low-lying shrubbery. Pines and maples dotted the periphery. She also noted the lack of entertainment for Randy. No basketball hoop on the garage. No horseshoe pit, and there was plenty of room.

Randy came barreling through the doorway with the leash. He reached her before she could pull her gaze from the doorway, hoping to see Brent follow. He didn’t appear. Disappointed, she glanced at Randy beside her with the leash in his hand, a questioning look on his face.

“Let’s get started.” She found the ring on Rocket’s collar. “Hook the leash.” Randy did as she said, and she handed it to him. “Your uncle said Rocket seemed to understand the meaning of ‘sit.’ So let’s practice that first. He needs to know ‘sit’ before other commands.” She dug into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a bag of dog nuggets. “We use these as a reward.”

When Rocket smelled the food, he bounded around her feet and tangled Randy in the leash.

Molly unknotted the strap and gave it back to Randy. “Never give him even one nugget when he disobeys. That’s important.”

Randy agreed and began to practice what she’d demonstrated.

While he practiced, Molly eyed the doorway again, then jerked her head away, chastising herself. Why moon over someone who wouldn’t make a perfect partner? The answer
followed immediately: because he’d captured her interest. He’d drag out feelings she’d forced to lay dormant.

Molly didn’t know if she could trust herself. When she’d been a teen, she’d led a life she didn’t want to admit, one that shamed her to this day. She went against all that her parents had taught her and all that God expected. The parties with no parents home, the drinking and the backseats of cars. Molly hated the memories. If she married, she wanted a Christian, but how could she tell a Christian how far she’d strayed from her beliefs?

Pulling her mind to the present, she focused on Randy. “Good job.” She gave him a broad smile, touched by the excitement in his face.

Molly’s parents filled her mind. A perfect couple. A perfect marriage. Her two siblings had failed marriages. She didn’t want that. Emotions played tricks, and she didn’t want to make more mistakes, not when it came to what the Bible said. The Lord wanted marriage to be for life. She couldn’t chance following in her siblings’ footsteps, and she had no guarantee with the bad choices she’d made in her past. Best to ignore those sensations she felt with Brent. She knew what they meant, and she wanted no part of promiscuity. Never again, and she sensed Brent wanted no part of marriage.

The words no more than struck her when the door opened and Brent stepped outside. Despite the talking-to she’d given herself moments earlier, her sensations hadn’t listened. She was breathless.

He stood still and watched Randy.

She regarded the boy. “I think we’re ready for the ‘stay’ command.”

His head shot upward as eagerness danced in his eyes. “What do I do?”

“Do you still have nuggets?”

He showed her the baggy.

Rocket lifted his haunches to rise but then had second thoughts. Good dog.

“I’ll show you the first time.” Molly reached into the bag for a couple of dog pellets. “I’m going to get him to sit and give him one pellet, and then watch what I do next.”

As she began to work with Rocket, Brent moved closer and stood beside Randy. “It won’t hurt you to learn this, too,” she said to Brent, as she used her empty hand like a stop sign in front of Rocket’s nose. She backed up a few steps, keeping the dog in focus. “Stay.” She remained in place and waited.

He gave a little whimper but stayed. She gave him a nugget and backed up farther and waited a few moments before she said “come” with as much enthusiasm she could muster under the circumstances.

Rocket darted her way. “Good boy,” she said, giving him the treat. “Just keep in mind that dogs learn to obey if they trust you. They will follow your lead unless it goes against their nature.” She turned to Randy. “Dogs don’t look at the outside of people—they can look in their hearts. That’s what they trust.” She gave Randy a pat. “Now it’s your turn, and then your uncle’s.”

“Not me.” Brent backed away. “He’s Randy’s dog.”

Molly saw the love in Brent’s eyes when he looked at the beautiful golden retriever. She could only imagine when he was a child what it had been like to lose his pet. She swallowed and forced herself to keep her mouth shut.

Brent planted his feet apart and watched Randy while Molly kept her eye on Rocket, but she sensed Brent’s nearness. “When I called here earlier I had another reason for calling.” She kept her voice soft.

“Another reason?”

She tilted her head. Could he be so dumb? “The proposal. I wondered about the status.”