Evil in the Lake (Amen: American Exorcists Book 1) by Blaze Dzikowski

Author:Blaze Dzikowski [Dzikowski, Blaze]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

“I hope you like it.” Eileen put a large platter in the center of the table. It was a pot roast, consisting of beef with potatoes, carrots, and onions in rich gravy, sprinkled with finely chopped chives. The aroma was amazing.

She watched as Paul and Conrad put sizeable mounds of the dish on their plates and dug in vigorously.

“This is beautiful,” Conrad said with his mouth full. “Huh, Paul?”

“I’m in love,” Paul agreed.

Eileen laughed and leaned on the table.

“I thought you can’t be in love.”

“Why?”

“The celibacy?”

“That has nothing to do with feeling love!” Paul protested and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I love a lot of things and a lot of people. Celibacy is just⁠—”

“No sex,” Conrad said bluntly, staring at the two of them. Then, he reached for more roast.

“Yes,” Paul said. “We can’t have romantic partners. But you must know that, working at a church?”

“Of course. I was just poking fun at you,” Eileen laughed and started picking the dirty dishes.

“Wait, please.” Paul reached into his pocket. “I want to show you something.” In his open palm he held the ring he had found in the shack. “What do you make of it?”

Eileen lowered herself over his hand to see better and he smelled a hint of vanilla perfume or maybe perfumed soap, and a strand of her hair tickled his forearm as she looked at the metal band.

“An old engagement ring,” she said. “What about it?”

“What makes you say it’s an engagement ring?” Paul asked, surprised. “It has no marks or anything.”

“I don’t know.” She gave an awkward laugh. “This is just what I first thought when I saw it. Sorry, I’m stupid. Maybe it’s a wedding ring. But looks a bit cheap for that, no? So I thought, like, a ring that a not wealthy boy gives to a girl to ask for her hand.”

“This conversation is getting quite unseemly,” Conrad barked. “You’re both young, he’s a priest, and you keep talking about celibacy and romance and stuff like that.”

“I’m sorry… you’re right,” Eileen blushed and lowered her head.

“No! Eileen. We weren’t doing anything wrong,” Paul protested. “You’re oversensitive, Father. It was a normal conversation.”

“I’ll get on with the dishes.” Eileen took a small tower of plates and disappeared in the kitchen.

“Really.” Paul glared at Conrad. “Nineteenth century.”

“I’ll go to sleep now,” the older priest said and rose from the table. “You’re free to chat about celibacy without me.”

“We sure will, after your ridiculous intervention.”

“If it’s true that I have killed your chatty moods, I invite you to follow in my footsteps and go to bed. It’s going to be another long day tomorrow,” Conrad said. “And the beast is still on the loose. Two more victims this summer, remember? We could be next.”

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