Page 131 of A River of Crows

“Sure, I can do that. Absolutely.”

Ridge pulled out his wallet. “What’s a fair price?”

Sloan pushed down it down. “Put your money away. I know you think you have to help me, but you don’t. I actually make a little more teaching here than I did in Houston.”

Ridge bumped against her shoulder. “And you get to make out with your boyfriend in the teacher’s lounge.”

“You should talk. Did you ever ask out that research assistant you told me about? Liv?”

Ridge set his suitcase on the bed. “Until I graduate, I’m dating my work.”

“Next year, then,” Sloan said. “Next year, you’ll be Dr. Turner and should have no trouble finding a girl to bring home for Thanksgiving.”

“And next year, you might be Mrs. Lawrence.” Ridge raised his eyebrows. “Maybe with a little Sloan Jr. on the way?”

“Slow down there, Uncle Ridge. Right now, Dylan and I are just looking forward to the Daughtry trial being over. It’s scheduled for next May.”

Ridge unzipped his bag. “I heard it’s going to be televised.”

“Yeah. A regular circus.” Sloan stepped back. “Well, I’m sure you are exhausted from your layover last night. Take a nap. Dylan and I can handle the cooking.”

“Nah, I’m good. May take a quick shower.”

Sloan bit her lip. “Well, that’s going to have to wait a few hours.”

“Why’s that?”

“See for yourself.” Sloan stepped across the hallway and pushed open the bathroom door.

It took Ridge a minute to notice what she was referring to. When he did, he started laughing. “You forgot to thaw out the turkey.”

Sloan pressed her forehead against the door jamb. “Dylan reminded me to take it out four nights ago when he left. I got distracted and totally spaced it till last night. It wouldn’t fit in the sink.”

Ridge walked to the tub and put his hand on the submerged turkey. “I don’t expect we’re going to be having this guy today.”

“Really?” Sloan touched the turkey. Ridge was right. It was still solid. “Ugh. I wanted everything to be perfect, and I sabotaged the most important part of dinner. Thank goodness Dylan is smoking a ham.”

Ridge shook the water off his hand. “It doesn’t matter what we eat; at least we’re together.”

He was right. But it didn’t escape Sloan that they weren’t all together. Dad had invited them to his home for Thanksgiving, but Sloan wasn’t ready for that.

“Have you talked to Dad again?” Ridge asked as if he’d read her mind.

“Not in a few days. I don’t understand why he can’t spend half the day with them and half the day with us. I mean, he split his time between us all those years.”

Ridge raised his eyebrows. “I think we can all agree that wasn’t the best idea.”

“And pretending to be some big happy family is?”

“I didn’t say that.” Ridge put his hand on her shoulder. “Relax. I get you not wanting to go.”

“And you did want to go? I’m sorry it’s just us. I invited Noah’s family, but they went to Dallas.”

“Sloan, I don’t care who else is here. I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with you, and I am. Now, let me change out of these clothes, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen to help.”

As Sloan began peeling potatoes, she wondered what Ridge’s actual opinion was about having Thanksgiving with their dad. Had she really ever asked him or just assumed he didn’t want to?

Ridge returned a few minutes later, changed from his athletic shorts and t-shirt into jeans and a blue button-down shirt. Sloan looked over her shoulder. “Wow, look at you.”

---