Free Shadows on the Lane by Virginia Rose Richter

Sunny’s memory. But I’ve decided I won’t do it if it’s not okay with you.”
    He took her hand. “What is it you want to do?”
    Oh, fine. I’ll probably get tongue tied again. She told him her idea. “Please tell me what you really think. I’ll do whatever you say.”
    Bryce walked beside her, thinking. “It could work. Oh, so that’s why you’ve been practicing so much.” He laughed. “Boy, Jessie, you’re something.” He stopped and faced her. “Go ahead with it. But I’m coming to your lesson too. Just in case Sunny gets upset.”
    Jessie could have hugged him. But she was sure all the neighbors were watching them from their windows. “I could hug you, Bryce,” Jessie whispered.
    “It’s okay with me,” he laughed. “Why are you whispering? Oh, the neighbors.”
    “Another thing,” said Jessie. “Will you go with me while I tell my dad what we’re doing?”
    “Sure,” Bryce said. “He’ll probably think it’s a good idea.”
    At the Hansons’, Jessie and Bryce found her dad playing in the sandbox with Phillip. When he saw them, he stood, brushed sand from his jeans and said, “We have tasty sand pies right out of the oven. Would you care for one?”
    Phillip watched Bryce as he pretended to enjoy one of his pies. “Good?”
    “Delicious,” said Bryce.
    Jessie and Bryce sat on the ledge of the sandbox and patted sand into little balls. “Daddy, we wanted to ask your advice about something,” Jessie said.
    Her father helped Phillip pile sand into a high mound. “Oh?”
    “Well you know I’m suspicious of my piano teacher’s daughter, Rita. About the hit-and-run.”
    Her dad nodded and shaped the sides of the mound. It was beginning to look like a castle. “We talked about that. But, Jess, you just don’t have any basis for your suspicions.”
    “I was thinking I’d take Sunny to my lesson today and maybe if she sees Rita, she’ll remember her. If she doesn’t, then I’m wrong about what I suspect.”
    Her dad thought about that for a while. “That’s not a bad idea. I don’t see how it could hurt anything.” He looked at Bryce. “What do you think? She’s your sister. Could she handle it?”
    “I think it’s worth a try,” Bryce said. “But I’m going to the lesson too. Sunny and Jessie are playing a duet. That’s my excuse.”
    Her father stood up. “Great! I’ll pick you up after your lesson.”
    “Oh, good!” said Jessie. “That way you’ll be there in case my idea works,”
    “Yep. And I think it’s about time I met Mrs. Livingston.” He turned his attention back to Phillip and the sand castle.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
    The rain beat a loud tattoo on the car’s roof and sent waves of water over the curbs and lawns. Jessie’s mom hunched forward at the wheel and squinted through the sweep of the windshield wipers. “Does Mrs. Livingston know you’re bringing guests to your lesson?”
    Jessie, seated in the front passenger seat said, “I called her.”
    The severity of the storm silenced everyone in the car. Forks of lightening shot across the black sky, followed by enormous cracks of thunder. Jessie turned and looked into the back seat. Phillip’s eyes were huge and full of fear. Sunny and Bryce sat on each side of his child seat and held his hands.
    When the car turned onto the country road, trees gave shelter from the downpour and muffled the beating of the rain on the roof. By the time they reached the barnyard, the storm was dying down.
    Jessie’s mom pulled up close to the porch steps to let them out. “I’ll be at Robyn’s birthday party with Phillip.” She leaned over and kissed Jessie’s cheek. “Your dad will pick you up at three o’clock.”
    Jessie, Bryce and Sunny ran up the steps where Mrs. Livingston held the door open for them.
    Inside the studio, they removed their raincoats and stood by the fireplace to warm their hands.
    “What a day!” said the teacher. “But a good day too!” She walked to the piano. “I finally will