The Secret of Willow Lane by Virginia Rose Richter

Author:Virginia Rose Richter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Young Adult Mystery
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Published: 2012-10-14T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Jessie opened her eyes. She listened to the rain beat on the roof, collect in the eaves of the house and pour into the metal downspouts. Wisps of fog drifted outside her window like great cobwebs. Spooky, she thought. Then she remembered Tina—lying hurt under the tree. Was it an accident?

Tina’s dad, Doctor Adams, had assured everyone that Tina was fine. Just a slight concussion from a bike accident. She’d be healed in a couple of days.

Jessie felt guilty. I got her into this. Now I have no one to help me figure out what’s going on across the street. On the other hand, Tina won’t be warning me about getting into trouble all the time. What an awful thought! She wanted to cover her head with her pillow and hide all day. Instead, she dragged herself out of bed and went downstairs to the kitchen.

“What a day!” said her mom. She was mixing up orange juice in a glass pitcher decorated with red flowers. “What do you want for breakfast?”

When Jessie didn’t answer, her mom turned from the counter and studied her. “You’re very quiet. Are you worrying about Tina?” She poured juice into a tall glass that matched the pitcher. “Her dad said she’d be okay.”

“Yeah, I know.” Jessie poured cereal into a heavy blue bowl. She couldn’t tell her mother what she and Tina had been up to. She was sure her mom would get angry and confine her to the house forever. The doorbell rang. Saved!

“I’ll get it.” Jessie ran to the front hall. Mrs. Winter was standing in the doorway shaking off her umbrella. Without a word to the babysitter, Jessie rushed back to the kitchen.

“Are you leaving?” she asked her mother. She could hear her own voice rising in alarm. Jessie was afraid to be here with only Mrs. Winter to protect her.

“I have to meet with the antique dealer at the Johnson house,” said her mom. “He’s going to put prices on the furniture. You know—for the auction.”

“Oh, please, Mom. May I come with you? I’m a little nervous about staying here.”

“Mrs. Winter will be here. She’s not going to let any more strangers into the house.”

“Please, please let me come,” Jessie begged. “I won’t bother you or the antique guy. I’ll just look around. I won’t touch anything. I promise!”

Her mother took Jessie’s chin in her hand and studied her daughter’s face. “You look worn out. Are you coming down with something? Okay, come with me today. I’d like that.”

Jessie hugged her mother with relief. Then she ran upstairs and got dressed. She could hear Mrs. Winter getting Phillip from his crib.

Ten minutes later, she and her mom ran down the porch steps. They heard Mrs. Winter lock the front door behind them.

The two sprinted across the street in the rain and ran toward the porch of the Johnson home. Jessie looked up at the house. It had three stories and looked old fashioned. Little balconies jutted out from some of the windows and French doors.

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