Button Hill Read Free Page A

to think about what Harper had said about her mother, and what it meant to live on the other side of that bridge, beyond the darkness. He kept moving his feet one in front of the other until the wind dropped, and the dream faded into gray.
    In the morning when Dekker awoke, he was exhausted.

Two
    â€œOkay, this is it. I won’t see you until the weekend,” Dekker’s mom said while they ate breakfast on Monday morning. She stuffed some papers into her bag at the kitchen table. “I want you to finish putting away your clothes and toys while I’m gone. And don’t forget to feed Ranger.”
    Riley stuck out her bottom lip. “Why can’t I come?”
    â€œGo ahead—I don’t want to babysit you anyway.” Dekker looked pleadingly at his mom as Riley started to sniffle. “I told you we shouldn’t have come out here. She’s going to be a worse pain than ever.”
    His mom zipped her bag shut and grabbed a piece of toast. “We’ve been through this already, Dekker. You’re still too young to be on your own. I’m only going to be at our house to sleep. Once my classes are over, I’ll be here more. Or we’ll be back home. Or something.” She sighed. “Dekker, take those earbuds out so I know you’re listening.”
    â€œSimmer, Mom. I heard you. But I don’t want to stay with Riley or be watched by Aunt Primrose. I want to check out the town, see if there are any other kids around here.”
    â€œYou needn’t worry, Stella,” said Aunt Primrose as she entered the room. “I shall be glad to chaperone.”
    â€œThank you, Aunt Prim. Kids, you listen to your great-aunt while I’m gone. Is that clear?” She looked hard at Dekker. He looked away.
    Riley’s hand shot into the air. She was waving a little white statue above her head. “Ooh, ooh, Mom, I forgot—look what I found in the other room. A skeleton-versus-mummy chess set! Auntie says it’s made of real bone! She says she’s going to teach me how to play. Is that cool or what?”
    Dekker’s mom kissed Riley on the cheek. “That’s nice, dear. Maybe you’d better put that down. It’s very fragile.” Riley set the skeleton carefully on the table by her plate, then tucked her napkin around it like a blanket. Aunt Primrose said nothing, but Dekker thought she looked relieved.
    Dekker let his mom give him a hug before she left. “Try to be nice, and take care of your sister, okay?” she said. They watched from the sitting-room window as she climbed into the van. She honked the horn, and the van disappeared down the tree-canopied driveway.
    As soon as she was out of sight, Dekker turned to his sister. “You heard Mom—get up to your room and put away your stuff.”
    Riley rolled her eyes at him. “Put away your own stuff, slobby. I’m already done.”
    â€œYou little squid.” He made a grab for her, but she had already run down the hall. Dekker watched her go, then slumped on the couch by the window.
    â€œReally, young man, I can’t understand why you insist on tormenting your poor sister.”
    Dekker scowled and pushed his hair out of his eyes. “This wouldn’t be happening if Dad was still alive. You wouldn’t understand. Anyway, I’m just in a bad mood. I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
    Aunt Primrose patted him roughly on the shoulder with a heavy hand. “The night does take some getting used to if you’re not from the country. No sirens wailing, no motors running endlessly, no blaring horns. In time, you will adjust.”
    â€œIt’s not that. I dreamed about that stupid clock. I couldn’t get it out of my head.”
    She squeezed his shoulder again, until it hurt. “You are not to go near that clock. I did not fully explain this to you earlier, in the hopes of saving you needless worry.” The old lady leaned in