Heart of Clay

  Clay sat at his desk in his classroom, preparing for the first class of the day when Jake sauntered in. His cousin was no longer the little shadow that followed his every footstep. Jake had grown into an admirable young man - intelligent, fun, and outgoing.

  Despite the fact he tried to keep Clay on his toes during class, he really was a good kid.

  “Hey, Clay. I haven’t seen Callan forever. When’s she going to stop by for a visit?” Jake plopped down on the edge of Clay’s desk.

  “I don’t know. She probably stays away due to the fact that there are so many characters of questionable reputation in my classes.”

  “Right. It isn’t because she’s so glad to get rid of you for the day she wouldn’t want to extend her suffering by showing up here. One of these days, she’s going to realize she should have waited and married me after all,” Jake said with a teasing grin.

  Clay chuckled. Jake had been the recipient of all the ice cream cones it took Clay buying at the fair to work up the courage to ask Callan out on a date. He’d taken to her immediately. He even served as the ring bearer at their wedding. During the rehearsal, Jake had broken into uncontrollable sobs when he realized Callan was going to marry Clay, not him. Callan stopped the rehearsal, held him on her lap, kissed his cheek, and told him he was going to find just the right girl to marry when he was a big boy like Clay. Then she gave him a piece of candy and they went on with rehearsal.

  Callan would have made a great mother.

  As he looked at the tall young man perched on his desk, Clay wondered if their son would have grown up to be like Jake.

  That line of thinking caused a brutal ache in his chest. For someone who hadn’t been particularly interested in raising a child, Clay found himself consumed with thoughts of never having the opportunity.

  Although he was no longer mad at Callan, Clay battled regret and an overwhelming sadness from time to time. Mindful of thoughts better left alone, he looked back at Jake and sighed.