Page 4 of Small-Town Secrets
I had not. "I've been kind of busy myself. That's why I didn't answer the phone. Kind of in the middle of something here." I nodded at the dogs.
"Oh, I know. Still playing with dogs all day? Must be nice." Marvin walked past me and let himself into the house. "C'mon, I'll make us some coffee, and then I have some more pictures to show you. You should swing by soon. Madison has been asking about you too."
I nodded wordlessly as I followed my brother into the house, Sarge and Ophelia alongside me. Madison was Marvin's firstborn, my oldest niece. Was she seven years old now? I wasn't sure, but I thought so. She was a good kid. I especially liked that she didn’t talk as much as her dad.
"How is she doing?" I asked. "Does she like her little sister?"
"Sure she does," my brother said with the brightest smile, although I knew he and his wife hadn't exactlyplannedon having any more children after Madison. "I mean, the baby eats up a lot of our time, but we try to make sure she doesn't feel neglected or anything." Marvin turned away from me to work the coffeemaker. "We signed Madison up for all these after school activities so she wouldn't feel bored."
"And to keep her occupied?" I grinned, getting some treats out of my pocket to feed the dogs. Ophelia lapped hers up excitedly, while Sarge accepted the food only after carefully inspecting it from all sides.
"It's good for children to try a lot of things!" Marvin insisted, but then he gave a small sigh. "Unfortunately she hasn't stuck with most of them. She quit ballet and swim class and choir... all she's interested in is karate."
"She looks good in her gi." Those pictures Ihadseen on Facebook. I'd been mighty proud of my niece too, knowing that she was training under the same sensei who had taught me when I was young.
"Yeah, it's a real shame," my brother said, turning to face me.
"What's a real shame?" My dog and I both studied my brother suspiciously. I was pretty sure that Sarge had no idea why we were being suspicious, but he took his cues from me.
Good boy.
"It's a shame that old Mr. Henderson broke his leg. He won't be teaching for a while."
"I'm sorry to hear that." It really was a shame. But I got the feeling that my brother wasn't telling me this without ulterior motive.
"Yeah, Madison is heartbroken. She was just about ready to get her first belt too! Now who knows when her teacher will be back to work?"
"I'm sure it won't take too long. Sensei Henderson would never abandon his students."
"Yeah, I've talked to him and he really isn't happy with the situation either. He says if there was someone with a lot of experience who could cover for him—"
"No," I cut my brother off before he could continue. "I don't have time to teach karate."
"But Aaron—"
"No buts." I held my hand up. "I already have a job." As I finished speaking, Sarge barked as if to underline my point. He was such a good boy. I picked him up and he licked my cheek, making me chuckle.
"I know you'd rather play with dogs but there are children who need you! Actual human children!"
"I don'tplay with dogs." Okay, yes, sometimes I did, but that wasn't my job description, even if my dear brother would never understand that. How could he? He was an accountant.
"You don't?" Marvin stepped up to me and tried to scratch Sarge's ear, but my little buddy growled at him because he knew we were being mad at my brother. "You didn't train that one very well."
And suddenly Marvin remembered that I was a dogtrainer."Oh, he's very well trained." I grinned at my brother while I petted the dog in my arms, who preened as if to show what a good dog he was—in the right hands. "Point is," I said, "I don't have the time to train dogsandkids."
"Please, Aaron, we're only talking about once a week and it wouldn't be for long. You'd be doing these children a huge favor. I can't think of anyone better. You know karateandbeing in charge and bellowing out commands."
I looked at my brother with raised eyebrows. So that was how he thought of me?
"What I meant was, you're great with kids," Marvin hurried to correct himself. "Madison loves you! She'd love to spend more time with you. She'd be so excited if you said yes!"
"And she'd be out of your hair for a little bit," I added.
"And that," my brother finally admitted. "C'mon, bro, I really need your help here. I'll repay the favor once you have children."
"Who says I'll ever have children?" I countered.
"C'mon, a handsome alpha like you?" Marvin tried to pat my shoulder, but the soft growling of my tiny dog stopped him again. I almost laughed, but managed to keep a blank face somehow. "I really don't know why you're still single, brother."
