High Hurdles Collection Two Read Online Free PDF Page B

the floor beside her grandmother.
    â€œHow was the ride?”
    â€œHeavenly.” DJ leaned her cheek on her grandmother’s thigh.
    Gran stroked DJ’s hair. “I’m glad you had fun.”
    DJ told her about everything they’d seen and done, with Joe adding bits and pieces when he set their full teacups on the end table and relaxed in his recliner. One of the boys coughed, catching their attention.
    â€œPoor little tykes,” Gran said. “When they are sick enough to sleep like this, they must be really sick.” She checked her watch. “They need their antibiotics pretty soon and more to drink. I should have gotten fruit juice bars on the way home, but I couldn’t take them out of the car. Maria said that’s all they’ve wanted since last night. Good thing Robert didn’t realize how sick they were, or he would have postponed the honeymoon.”
    â€œHe knew you and Joe were near.”
    â€œAnd who knew Maria would catch it, too?”
    â€œMust be pretty contagious stuff.” Joe sipped his coffee. “We all better take our vitamin C and some of those herbs you found, Mel.”
    â€œI already did.” Gran sighed after a sip of tea. “This tastes so good. And the dinner smells wonderful. You want to stab the potatoes, darlin’? See if they’re done?”
    No one moved. Finally DJ asked, “Who are you talking to?”
    â€œWell, I meant Joe, but if you want to go, feel free. If they’re done, I’ll come make the gravy.”
    DJ rose from the floor. “No, no, GJ, don’t get up. I’ll do it.”
    He opened one eye. “You talking to me?”
    DJ pinched his stocking-clad big toe and ambled into the kitchen. She could hear Joe and Gran talking in the living room, a comforting sound, like a creek murmuring over pebbles and sand. Feeling like she could give them something back, DJ went ahead and made the gravy. While it simmered, she set the table, including the salad Gran had ready in the refrigerator. She sliced the pot roast and laid the carrots and potatoes on the platter surrounding the meat.
    â€œCome and eat,” she said from the doorway.
    Both Gran and Joe roused from a doze, blinking themselves awake.
    â€œReady for the gravy maker?” Gran asked, pushing herself up from the softness of her chair.
    â€œIt’s all done. If you don’t get a move on, it will be cold.” DJ cleared her throat.
    â€œYou sound like me.” Gran patted her granddaughter’s cheek as she entered the kitchen. “Oh, how lovely that looks. DJ, what a nice thing to do.”
    â€œThanks, kiddo,” Joe said, gripping DJ’s shoulder. “You know, Mel,” he said as he pulled her chair out for her, “this kid is definitely a keeper.”
    â€œOh, I’ve known that for fourteen-plus years.” Gran winked at DJ, but her brow wrinkled when DJ cleared her throat again. “You have a frog in your throat?”
    â€œSomething like that.” DJ took a drink from her water glass.
    â€œWell, you better not get what the boys have. The clinic doctor told Maria this is a vicious bug going around this year.” She reached her hands out to Joe and DJ. “Let’s say grace. DJ?”
    DJ cleared her throat again. It felt like a sheet of sandpaper was wedged in there. “For health and strength and daily bread, we give you thanks, O Lord. Thank you for my family, please take care of Mom and Robert, and make Bobby and Billy and Maria better. Thank you for the ride into the park today, too. Amen.” She squeezed her grandparents’ hands and reached for the salad bowl. “I don’t know if there is enough salt in the gravy, so you better try it first.”
    Their conversation during dinner was punctuated several times by coughing from the boys’ room, but still the twins didn’t wake. When they were done eating, Gran laid her napkin on the table and