Page 74 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘You’re busy,’ he said. ‘And by the way, I’ve seen a bra before. And as you’ve seen my naked arse, I don’t think you should be stressing about me seeing your underwear on the floor.’ He reached down and collected another bra, holding it between thumb and forefinger as he dangled it in the air.
She snatched it from his hand and tossed it over her shoulder, spun him around and forced him out the door as he laughed. ‘We have to go,’ she said.
‘What’s the plan for today?’ he asked as he stumbled down the hall, her hands still propelling him forward.
‘We’re going to do some dog training.’
‘Now, I don’t want you to panic,’ Sera said as they drove up the road that led to the oval. ‘There are going to be a few dogs here.’
He looked over at her. ‘Okaaay?’
‘But they’ll all be on the leash.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘It’s the local dog training group. I’ve booked you and Buffy into a class.’
‘Right. You know I’ve never trained a dog in my life?’
‘That’s why you’re taking a class. You’ll be in with the beginners.’
He nodded.
‘The instructor is great.’
‘Wait. You’re not leaving me here?’
‘Of course not. I’ll be watching.’
She parked the van, took Buffy from the back and handed her off to Ethan.
‘What are you doing?’ he asked, looking at the dog by his feet.
‘I thinkyoushould walk her over to the class.’
He took a cap from his back pocket, put it on and pulled down the peak. ‘Okay. Let’s get you trained, Buffy.’
Sera sat on a plastic seat in the mottled shade of a weeping willow and watched Ethan trudge towards the row of dogs and owners with Buffy obediently in tow.
‘Hi, Sera,’ an older woman said.
‘Hi, Maggie,’ Sera said, as the woman took a seat beside her. ‘Thanks for the donation. I saw it this morning.’
The woman patted Sera’s thigh. ‘You’re welcome.’ She pointed to Ethan. ‘Is that Buffy out there?’
‘Yep. That’s Buff.’
‘Who’s she with?’
‘A friend of mine. Ethan.’
‘In the beginners?’
‘He’s new to dog training,’ Sera said.
Maggie nodded. ‘Does he know Buffy has passed beginners? And every other level?’
‘Nope.’
