Yesterday's Stardust by Becky Melby

sir.
    I intend to. I’ve heard marvelous things about your chef.
    Chef Dominick is the best, sir.
    He smiled to himself as he rolled to a stop. Feeling like a new man, he lifted his face to the sun. As he turned toward the car, his thoughts froze. Two kids leaned against a beat-up car, lip-locked in an almost obscene embrace. A cloth bag hung over the girl’s shoulder. A bag exactly like—
    His breath caught. Fingers spasmed into fists. “Renata!”

C HAPTER 8
    I ced tea’s done.” Dani set the pitcher on the counter and looked over at Vito’s wife.
    “Thank you. Why did God not give me a daughter?” Lavinia glanced toward the front door. “Check on the garlic bread, okay?”
    Lavinia was up to something.
Please, Lord, not another blind date.
Ever since the first time Agatha broke down at work and Vito invited Dani to dinner, Lavinia had been trying to find a “nice Christian man” for her. They’d introduced her to two of Vito’s nephews, their mailman, and the guy who installed their water softener.
    The garlic bread was still on the pale side. “Just a couple more minutes.” Dani closed the oven door. “I’ll set the table. Just the three of us?”
Please.
    “Why don’t you toss the salad?”
    The salad looked sufficiently tossed, but she picked up the tongs and repositioned the cherry tomatoes.
    The clang of the front door opening made her jump.
    “The police force has arrived,” Vito shouted from his recliner in the living room.
    Lavinia picked a tomato from the salad bowl. Her eyes glittered. “Come on in the kitchen, Todd.”
    “Lavinia!”
Dani stomach seized.
This can’t be happening.
    Running fingers through gray-streaked curls, Lavinia shrugged. “Why didn’t I think of him before? A cop and a reporter—a match made in heaven. Don’t tell me he didn’t turn your head.”
    “He didn’t turn my head.
Yenta.
”
    “Ha. I don’t believe you. He’s cute; he’s single. You’re pretty; you’re single. Chemistry, I tell you.”
    Dani pointed a fork at the little round woman who stood eye to eye, challenging her to admit her attraction to the policeman. The stare down lasted only seconds. Dani laughed. “What a conniver. I seriously didn’t think about the guy once after I met him.”
    “We’ll see. I listen to God when He gives me a nudge, and He tells me something’s going to happen here tonight. Something for your future.”
    Something like getting arrested for accessory to murder?
    Lavinia pinched her cheek. “Be a good girl and put the salad on the table.”
    There was nothing to do but smile and act polite and pretend her abs weren’t going into convulsions as Todd Metzger walked in, wearing jeans and a polo shirt. Okay, so maybe her head turned just now. Just a little.
    “How’s my Italian mama?”
    “Stupendo.
” She pinched his cheek. “How’s my pale Norwegian boy?”
    “German.”
    “Whatever. You’re all pasty-faced.”
    Todd laughed and turned to Dani. “Nice to see you again, Danielle.”
    “Dani.”
    “Whatever.” He mimicked Lavinia’s tone. “Nice to see you again, Dani.”
    Lavinia pulled a pan of mostaccioli from the oven. She looked at Todd and nodded toward the basement door. “Call the troops.”
    “Troops?” Dani stared at the door handle turning beneath Todd’s hand. The knot in her gut wrenched tighter.
    “Soup’s on!”
    Footsteps. The door opened wide. Renata, the waitress— Dominick’s sister—stepped into the room. Behind her strode the King of the Universe himself.
    Lavinia!
The scream stayed in her head as she greeted Renata.
    The girl shrugged. “Call me Rena.” Lavinia pulled a pan from the oven. “Nicky, you remember Dani.”
    Dani nodded at the man who’d tattled on her for crashing a funeral.
Stupido.
She knew other words, thanks to Vito, but she wasn’t that kind of girl.
    Dark eyes narrowed as he returned her nod.
    Headed toward the table with the steaming pan, Lavinia walked between them.
    Nicky plucked a piece