High Hurdles Collection Two by Lauraine Snelling Page A

anyone, she’d been praying for a safe drive from the airport. She’d heard that most accidents happen within five miles of home.
    â€œDaddy! Daddy!” The twins both would have pelted out the door into the rain if DJ and Joe hadn’t grabbed them.
    â€œSorry we’re late,” Robert called, helping Lindy out of the car at the same time. “Fog in Los Angeles.” Arm in arm, the two came up the walk. The glow from the yard light set haloes of light around them.
    The look they gave each other told the whole story. DJ swallowed a lump in her throat. Her mother’s face glowed like the streetlights lending iridescent shimmers to the fog.
    Robert wore a child on each arm as they all gaggled in the living room.
    â€œWe was sick.” Bobby put his hands on Robert’s cheeks and turned his head so he could look right in his father’s eyes.
    â€œReal sick,” said the other.
    â€œNanny Ria is in the horsepistol.”
    â€œHorsepistol?” Robert thought a moment. “Oh, the hospital.” He turned to his father. “What’s been going on?”
    â€œStrep and flu. We all had it and mostly got over it, but they put Maria in the hospital yesterday with pneumonia.”
    â€œSo you’ve had the boys since when?”
    â€œLast Sunday afternoon, late. I went in to get them.” Gran stood between DJ and Lindy.
    â€œThey weren’t supposed to come out here until this afternoon. I’m sorry, Dad, if I’d known—”
    â€œNothing you could have done. This whole area’s been under siege. You two didn’t get it?”
    â€œNo, nothing.” Lindy reached for one of the boys and sat down on the sofa with Billy on her lap. “We brought you some presents,” she said after kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair. “DJ, could you go get the extra bag out of the trunk?”
    â€œI will.” Joe reached for Robert’s keys.
    DJ snagged a jacket off the hook in the closet and followed him out the door. Again, the boys took center stage. She might as well have not been in the room. But when something needed doing, who did Lindy ask?
    Me, that’s who. Good old DJ, the walking, talking mule. Good for fetching and carrying, but always easy to ignore. Is this the way life is going to be?

Chapter • 6
    DJ still had a headache in the morning. Or was it another?
    â€œBye, honey, I’ll call you later.”
    â€œBye, Daddy.” The two voices spoke as one.
    The door closed on Robert. In a minute, he started his truck and backed out the drive.
    On this first morning as a family in their own house, DJ heard it all. She forced her eyes to remain open. No way was she going to stay home from school today. Headache or no, she forced her muscles to move and headed for the bathroom.
    â€œDJ’s up! Hi, DJ! You want to play Legos?”
    Big mistake. She should have checked to make sure the hall was clear first. “Sorry, guys, I gotta get ready for school.”
    â€œWe can help.”
    â€œNo … I don’t think so.”
    â€œBobby, Billy, your breakfast is ready.”
    The way miraculously cleared in front of her as the boys pounded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Did they never try slow motion?
    DJ took a shower and washed her hair. Even that small action made her tired. This looked to be a long day, no two ways about it. She was brushing her teeth when the pounding came on the door.
    â€œWe need the bathroom, DJ. You gots to hurry.”
    DJ groaned. “In a minute.” She squeezed toothpaste onto the brush.
    â€œI gotta go.”
    â€œUse the other bathroom.”
    â€œCan’t. Mommy is in there.” A hand jiggled the doorknob.
    DJ groaned louder. With a mouthful of toothpaste, she pulled her nightshirt back on over her wet hair and opened the door. She went back to scrubbing her teeth but turned when she caught two blue pairs of eyes staring at her. “Now what?”