Shadows on the Lane by Virginia Rose Richter Read Free Book Online

Phillip coming back. “What’s the last thing you remember that day at the museum?”
    Bryce and Phillip came around the corner with a pitcher of lemonade and a plate.
    “Here’s something to cool us down,” said Bryce.
    “And cookies too!” said Phillip
    Drats! I missed my chance .

CHAPTER TWELVE
    Weeks passed. One morning in August, Jessie sat side-by-side with Sunny on the piano bench and played a simple duet. Mrs. Livingston had given the music to Jessie at her last lesson. “I cannot believe we ended together,” Jessie said. “It sounded pretty good.”
    Sunny laughed. “You’re going to be good at this.”
    When they stopped playing, Jessie could hear violin music from upstairs. She sat very still and listened. “What’s Bryce playing? It’s so beautiful.”
    “I think it’s Brahms—a serenade. Sunny turned on the bench, leaned forward and pulled her wheelchair toward the piano. “He’s practicing for a performance at the library next month.”
    * * *
    “There’s a band concert on Sunday,” Bryce said. They were walking on the museum grounds with Sunny. She’d graduated to a walking cast and crutches. “Do you want to go?”
    “Are you asking me to go with you?” said Jessie. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe. “Sure,” she squeaked. Oh, honestly—get a grip, Jessica.
    “Me too?” asked Sunny.
    “No way. Dad’s taking you to a movie,” said Bryce. “I’ll pick you up at four-thirty, Jessie.” Bryce helped Sunny to a bench in the shade.
    This almost sounds like a date. I wonder if Mom will object. Her mind went blank. She felt as if she were floating. She was afraid to speak in case her voice cracked again. “Got to go. I promised Mom I’d watch Phillip.” She gave a little wave, started across the lawn, tripped on a tree root and fell to her knees.
    Bryce ran to her and helped her up. “Are you all right?”
    She looked up expecting to see him laughing, but he only seemed concerned. “Thanks. I’m fine. Have to run.” And that’s what she did until she was safe inside her front door.
    “Jessie, why are you flattened against the wall? I almost didn’t see you,” said her mother. “You look flushed. Are you getting sick?” She felt Jessie’s forehead.
    “Oh, Mom. Bryce asked me to go to the band concert with him Sunday.” She grabbed her mother’s hand and kissed her arm all the way up to her elbow. “Please, Mom. You’ll let me go, won’t you?”
    Her mother laughed. “Ah, the amazing Bryce Peterson. It’s all right with me.” She smoothed back Jessie’s hair and refastened the ribbon on her braid. “You should be well chaperoned at a band concert with a hundred people around you. Especially in Fairfield where everyone knows who you are.”
    Jessie threw her arms around her mother. “Thank you, thank you! You’re the best mom in the world!”
    “Well, sometimes anyway,” laughed her mother. “Watch Phillip in his pool, will you? He’s all ready to go.”
    “Come on Phillip, you little angel,” said Jessie. “Let’s go swim in your pool.”
    Phillip ran from the living room. “You sick, Jessie?”
    “Not sick, Phillip,” said her mom. “Just happy.”
    “Happy, happy, happy,” sang Phillip as they headed outside.
    * * *
    Every time she went to her lesson, Jessie looked for Rita. Once the woman was sitting on the old porch, but didn’t speak.
    On this Saturday, the latch on the barn door was undone and, for the first time, Jessie saw the bumper of a car inside. Her mother had already driven off so she edged closer to the opening.
    “Jessie!!” It was Mrs. Livingston standing on the porch. “Are you ready to come in?”
    Startled, Jessie dropped her music books onto the gravel. By the time she’d gathered them up, Mrs. Livingston was standing beside her. “Were you looking for something, Jessie?” The teacher took some of the books from Jessie’s hands and began walking back to the house.
    “No, just wandering around.” Jessie followed