A Straw Man (The Clay Lion Series Book 3)
Page 22
Life, as it turned out, wasn’t about controlling that fate, but surrendering to it. About holding on to the things that were most important and letting the rest go.
“Buh,” Mikey cried suddenly, holding the jar for me to see.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Buh,” he said again, his smile emphasized by the two bottom teeth which had finally come in.
I stood him on my lap to ensure I had his full attention and his tiny toes dug into my thighs.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I gasped.
He shook the jar. “Buh.”
“You’re saying bug, aren’t you?”
“Buh!” he squealed.
I couldn’t believe of all the people to hear Mikey’s first word, Fate had chosen me. I scooped him up, along with his jar of glowing bugs, and held him to my chest, savoring the musky scent of little boy. I knew I’d always cherish my precious memories of Vicki, but I was learning to treasure all the other good things in my life, regardless of how they were acquired.
Things like summer nights and lightning bugs.
And Nate.
And especially Mikey.
PART FOUR
SPRING SEMESTER – FOURTH YEAR
EPILOGUE
“Are you kidding me right now?” I called over my shoulder. “Come on already!”
Nate trailed behind me, his gown flowing like a cape behind him as he hurried to catch up.
“He’s not going anywhere, you know,” he said. “And you’re gonna knock someone over if you don’t slow down.”
I had no intention of slowing down or listening to his advice. I had already missed the main event, thanks to my own graduation ceremony which my mom insisted I attend, despite my opposition. I wondered if she beat us from school to the hospital.
“I’m here to see Brooke Johnson,” I told the nurse at the front desk.
She checked her computer screen. “She’s a popular girl. In room 108. Down the hall to your left and it’s the third door on your right.”
I thanked the nurse and powerwalked through the corridor, leaving Nate trailing behind. I could hear my family before I saw them and Mikey greeted me at the door.
“Aunt Mewady,” he cried, racing across the linoleum floor into my arms.
“Hey, Kiddo!” I said, giving him a kiss on the top of his head. “I heard you have a new baby brother.”
“Baby,” he said, pointing to where Brooke was propped up on the bed in the center of the room, a swaddled infant tucked in her arms.
Nate joined me in the doorway and Mikey scrambled down to say hello.
“Look at you two, all dressed in your caps and gowns,” Charlie commented as he strode across the room to greet us. “I can’t believe out of 365 days to choose from, this little guy decided to come on your graduation. What are the chances?”
“Pretty slim,” I said, giving him a hug. “I’m sorry you guys missed it, but I think having a baby there at the ceremony might have taken away from all the pomp and circumstance. And you know how universities like their pageantry.”
“I do,” he laughed. “And thanks for agreeing to keep your stuff on so we could see you looking like the graduates you are. Maybe we could take some pictures together outside when Mom gets here.”
I rolled my eyes. Any excuse for them to pull out a camera.
I glanced at Brooke, who was flushed with the excitement and exhaustion of the day. She knew immediately what I wanted to do.
“Well come get him,” she said, shifting the baby from under her bosom. “You won’t believe how different he is from Mikey. They don’t even look like brothers.”
“What’d you decide to name him?” I asked as I approached her, arms outstretched.
A wistful look passed between Charlie and Brooke, and she smiled knowingly at her parents.
“Branson,” she said. “We’ve decided to name him Branson.”
I took my nephew gently from her arms and gazed upon the little boy who would share a name with the brother-in-law I never had the pleasure of knowing. My breath hitched in my throat and I couldn’t keep myself from welling up.
“He’s cute, but he’s not that cute,” Charlie teased. “There’s really no reason to cry.”
I couldn’t stop myself because Brooke was right. He looked nothing like Mikey.
Instead Branson looked exactly like Vicki, with her auburn wisps and dark eyes. He was slight – not nearly the armful his brother was, and it was as if I was looking into Vicki’s face and not my newborn nephew’s. In that moment I knew Fate had delivered me a spectacular gift - another opportunity to be the aunt I was supposed to be to a child who would forever remind me of the value of living in the moment.
THE END
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Thanks again and happy reading!
Amalie Jahn
Also by Amalie Jahn:
The Clay Lion Series
The Clay Lion
Tin Men
A Straw Man
The Sevens Prophecy Series
Among the Shrouded
Gather the Sentient
Let Them Burn Cake!
(A Storied Cookbook)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Masterful character development and story lines woven with the common threads of human experience make Amalie's novels relatable to both young and old alike. Her ideas are born from the passions of her own heart which she uses to share her vision of the world with her readers.
When she's not at the computer coaxing characters into submission, you can find Amalie swimming laps, cycling, or running on the treadmill, probably training for her next triathlon. She hates pairing socks and loves avocados. Amalie lives in the United States with her husband, two children, and three extremely overfed cats.
She is also very happy time travel does not yet exist. You can find her right here in the present day at these social media sites or sign up for her spam-free newsletter on her website to receive special offers and information on her latest releases:
Website - http://www.amaliejahn.com
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AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, to my fans, thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I hope that Melody’s story was worth the wait.
To Anne Zirkle, for helping me to hone my craft by encouraging me with the perfect amount of eye rolling and ridiculously thorough attention to detail. Waiting for you to publish your new homonym app cuz Lord knows I could use it!
To Rick Tarr and Erin Roscoe, for giving me the inside scoop on everything UVA and Virginia Tech related. Hope I did your alma maters proud!
To my grandmother, for unapologetically pushing young adult literature to the geriatric crowd and creating for me a whole new fan base.
And finally, to my family, for putting up with the middle of the night tapping at the keyboard, the burnt dinners while I’m trying to multitask, and the inattentive stares when my mind is still writing while I’m supposed to be paying attention to you. Thank you for accepting that, like it or not, Brooke and Charlie and Melody are officially a part of our family.
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