Beyond the Reflection’s Edge by Bryan Davis Read Free Book Online

I’m ready.”
    “Then let’s go.” Clara marched toward the door, her purple sleeves flapping in the stiffening breeze. “Once you sound the call, you might as well be ready to charge.”
    Nathan pushed away from the Jeep and followed, the mirror tucked under his arm. He hopped up one step to a tiled porch and bumped the edge of a welcome mat with his heavy boots. Red-twine letters woven into the scratchy material spelled out,
If You Have to Duck to Enter, I’m Your Coach.
    Clara found a doorbell embedded in the brick wall and pressed it lightly. A loud bong sounded from inside, a sweet bass, like the lowest note on a marimba.
    A female voice sang through a speaker at the side of the door. “Who is it?”
    Clara nodded at the speaker and whispered. “Answer her, Nathan!”
    He leaned toward the intercom. “Uh … It’s Nathan. Nathan Shepherd. Clara and I are here to —”
    The voice pitched higher. “You’re early!”
    Nathan cleared his throat. “I … I’m sorry. I didn’t know what time we were supposed to —”
    “But I’m not ready … I mean, we’re not ready. Your room is —” A loud thump sounded from the speaker. “Ouch! Now look at what you made me do! What a mess!”
    “I made you?”
    “Ooooh! … Just wait right there. Don’t move a muscle!”
    Nathan glanced at Clara. She returned an
I have no idea
kind of expression and added a shrug. After a few seconds, loud, uneven footsteps stomped toward them. The door swung open, revealing a teenaged girl hopping on one bare foot. Her bouncing shoulder-length brown hair framed a pretty face with black smudges on each cheek.
    She grabbed her toes and leaned against the jamb, scrunching her thin eyebrows toward her button nose, her cuffed jeans exposing her leg from midcalf downward. “That cabinet was heavy.”
    Nathan focused on her pink toenails, the shade of pink on Barbie doll boxes and inside Pepto-Bismol bottles. “Think you broke a bone?”
    The girl set her foot down and tested her weight on it while pulling her dirty white T-shirt down to cover her midriff. “I don’t think so. It’s just —”
    “You must be Kelly,” Clara said, extending her hand. “I’m Clara Jackson, Nathan’s tutor.”
    Kelly took Clara’s hand and nodded. “Kelly Clark. Pleased to meet you.” She reached her hand toward Nathan. “Pleased to meet you, too, Nathan. Are you a Bulls fan?”
    Nathan shook her hand. “A Bulls fan?”
    “Yeah.” She pointed at his shirt. “You know. The basketball team. My dad loves them.”
    Nathan glanced down at the logo. “Oh, that. It’s borrowed. I’m not really a basketball fan.”
    “Oh.” A faint gleam appeared in Kelly’s eyes, and she flashed a hint of a smile. “Good.”
    “Are your parents home?” Clara continued.
    “No. Dad’s leading practice with the team today, and then he’s going out to get stuff for tonight’s dinner, so it’ll be a while.” Kelly pulled in her bottom lip and drummed her fingers on her thigh. “And Mom’s … um … in Des Moines for … for personalreasons.” As a pink flush tinted her face, she gestured with her head. “C’mon in. There’re cold drinks in the fridge and —”
    “I must leave immediately,” Clara interrupted. “Our lawyer is meeting me in Davenport so I can settle Nathan’s affairs. I’ll collect some necessary items for him while I’m there. We had a mishap of sorts last night and lost our luggage.”
    “Oh, that’s too bad. Nathan probably can’t wear any of my father’s clothes. They’d be too big.”
    Clara glanced at her wristwatch. “It’s still early, so I should be able to come back this evening with some things.” She placed a gentle hand on Nathan’s shoulder and turned to Kelly. “Did your father tell you about Nathan’s parents?”
    Kelly’s brow turned downward. “Yes … he did.”
    “Then I’m sure you’ll make him feel at home, won’t you?”
    A sympathetic smile spread across her face. “You can count on