Read The Angel of Death (The Soul Summoner Book 3) for Free Online Page B

help it thaw and cook faster.”
    I studied the knobs on the oven. “That’s a good plan. What should I set the oven on?”
    “How about an even 400 degrees?” he suggested.
    “Sounds good to me,” I said, dialing it up to 400.
    “I also got potatoes, green beans, and rolls from the bakery,” Dad said.  
    I looked up at him. “What about dessert?”
    He grimaced. “Oh, I forgot dessert.”
    Nathan jerked his thumb toward the front door. “I can run to the grocery store and pick up something. We passed an open grocery store on the drive here.”
    “OK, great.” I looked around. “I need a knife.”
    Nathan stood. “Here you go.” He produced a tactical knife from his pocket, opened it, and passed it to me.
    I sliced open the plastic wrapping around the bird, and Dad handed me the biggest pan they owned. The bird clanged against the metal when I dropped it in the center.  
    “Let me lift that,” Dad said, stepping in between me and the pan when I went to put it in the oven.  
    I opened the oven door, then set the timer for 4 ½ hours as Dad put the turkey inside. I washed off my hands and wiped them on my jeans. “All right, when should we cook everything else?”
    Dad shrugged his shoulders.  “I don’t think the potatoes will take long, and the green beans are in a can.”
    I shook my head and laughed. “Somewhere, Mom is rolling her eyes and laughing at us right now.”
    Dad chuckled and put his arm around my shoulders. “I’m sure she is.”
    Nathan jingled his keys. “Sloan, do you want to go with me to the store?”
    “If you don’t mind, I’ll hang out with Dad. I think you can manage dessert by yourself.” I was still hugging my father around his middle.
    He held up his cell phone. “Call me if I need to get anything else.”
    When he was gone, my Dad looked down at me and raised an eyebrow. “So you haven’t told him about the baby?”
    I walked to the den and plopped down on the sofa. “No.”
    He sighed and sat in his recliner. “You understand you won’t be able to keep a secret like this for long, right?”
    I kicked off my boots and curled my feet underneath me. “I know. I guess I was hoping I’d be able to tell Warren first.”
    “Do you think he’ll call today since it’s a holiday?” he asked.
    “I doubt it.”
    “How would he feel about you spending the weekend with Nathan?”
    I looked over my shoulder at him. “He wouldn’t be surprised. Warren’s aware I was planning to attend the service. It’s really not a big deal.”
    Genuine concern had contorted his face. “Can I be honest with you, Sloan?”
    I hugged a couch pillow to my chest. “Of course you can.”
    His crumpled brow suggested he was struggling to choose his words. “You aren’t doing anyone any favors by spending so much time with Nathan, especially time alone with him. Both of you may have the best of intentions at keeping the relationship appropriate, but I feel like you’re playing with fire. I don’t want to see you do anything you might regret once Warren gets home.”
    Dad was right and I knew it. “I appreciate the word of caution. I’ll tell him about the baby after the funeral and work on figuring out how to put some space between us.”
    He cut his eyes over at me. “Please be very careful.”
    I nodded. “I will.”
    The familiar guitar riff of I Love Rock and Roll came over the television speakers. Joan Jett was performing Nathan’s song, and he was going to miss it.
    * * *
    Almost two hours later, I was sound asleep on the couch when the doorbell rang. Dad slept in his recliner, snoring with his mouth hanging open.
    I shuffled across the house in my socks and opened the door to find Nathan shivering in the cold, holding two grocery bags. His eyes were wide, his face pale, and he shook his head as he stepped inside. “You do not want to go to the grocery store on Thanksgiving.”
    I laughed and took the bags from him so he could take off his coat. I glanced at the clock