High Hurdles Collection Two by Lauraine Snelling

don’t act too excited.”
    â€œGuess it’s better than doing algebra.”
    â€œSo, do you or don’t you? You know you’ll owe him something if he does it.”
    â€œI’ll ask Joe.” When he agreed, she took the phone off her shoulder. “Joe’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Thanks.” She hung up the phone and propped her chin on her palms, elbows braced on the counter.
    A glass of orange juice clunked on the counter beside her.
    â€œDrink!”
    Gran’s tone said now , so DJ drank.
    â€œYou need anything else?” Joe asked on his way out the door.
    DJ shook her head. “But thanks.” She watched him go. “How can I be tired when I just slept again?” She rubbed her forehead. “Can I get in your bed? The boys have mine.”
    â€œThey’ll be out here in a minute. I just heard them.” Gran came and gave DJ a hug. “You’ll live, darlin’.”
    â€œI know. But this stuff is really the pits.” She leaned her forehead against Gran’s shoulder.
    â€œI want my daddy.” One of the boys shuffled in and leaned against DJ.
    The other clutched Gran’s apron. “Me too.”
    DJ reached for the box of tissues and handed them each one. “Blow.” She rolled her eyes at Gran and shook her head. “One thing’s for sure, I will never be a nurse.”

    By Sunday evening, DJ had all her homework caught up but the book report. She tried skimming the book just enough to do the report but kept getting caught up in it. She filled out the book report form as much as she could and kept on reading.
    By 8:00, they still hadn’t heard from Lindy and Robert.
    â€œWhen’s my daddy coming?” Both boys looked up at DJ from the floor by her feet.
    â€œGot me.” DJ looked to Gran for an answer. If they’d asked once, they’d asked a million times.
    â€œSometimes planes are late,” Gran said. “Why don’t you go sit on Grandpa’s lap? Maybe he’ll read you a story.”
    â€œHe’s sleeping,” DJ hissed.
    â€œOh, you’re right.” Gran gathered both of the twins close. “You go get a book, and I’ll read you a story.”
    DJ went back to Nancy Drew.
    Nine o’clock came and went.
    â€œBut I want to stay up and see my daddy,” Bobby argued when Gran said it was time for bed.
    DJ’d finally figured out a way to tell them apart. She’d put a red shirt on Bobby and a blue one on Billy. They thought it was funny. Even without their color-coded shirts, DJ knew Bobby as the one who argued more.
    â€œHow about if I call the airport and see when the plane is arriving?” At Gran’s suggestion, their frowns turned upside down. “While I do that, you go get into your pajamas.” They scampered out of the room and down the hall. “Daddy’s coming, Daddy’s coming!” they chanted.
    â€œThey’ve been on the ground for over an hour,” Gran announced when she hung up. “They could be here any minute.”
    Joe checked his watch. “Depends on how long it takes to get their luggage. I’ll go dish up some ice cream. Come on, DJ, you can chop the nuts for sundaes.”
    â€œDo you have good fudge sauce?” She put the book down and got to her feet, taking time to stretch in the process.
    â€œThe best. Mrs. Whatshername’s Fudge Sauce.”
    â€œYou’re a good man, Charlie Brown,” DJ quoted the last book Gran had read to the boys.
    The sundaes had disappeared and another book had been read when the sound of a car made both boys sit up straight. “Don’t need a watchdog with them on guard.” Joe let loose so Bobby could slide to the floor. When they heard the car slow down and turn into the driveway, both of them darted to the window. “Daddy’s here! Daddy’s here!”
    DJ breathed a sigh of relief. While she hadn’t said anything to