Mel put his arm around his cousin, her head on his shoulder. “I wish I’d known him better,” he said.

“So do I,” she answered.

I was about to leave for work the next morning when Deanna came into the kitchen, perfectly made up and patting her hair, sporty in a dark rose velvet tracksuit. She looked like a Florida grandmother postcard.

“Ronni,” she asked me, “would you mind if I stayed here a few more days? I hate to impose, but there’s something important I’d like to do before I leave.”

“Sure, I love having you here.” I gave her a quick hug. “I have to run or I’ll be late. See you tonight.”

“Thank you. I’ll try to earn my keep by doing some housecleaning and cooking for you.”

“Oh, good,” I said. “I am extremely fond of having other people do both of those. Ooops, I forgot. Rick is supposed to come over for dinner. Would you mind if he joins us?”

“Don’t be silly,” she answered. “I’m the one who should be asking that. But I’d love to meet him, and I promise I’ll put together a nice meal for all of us.”

“Anything will be better than the usual salad for me and pizza delivery for him,” I grinned at her. “Thanks.”

Rick charmed Deanna with Really Funny Stories of the Highway Patrol while I sipped wine and watched them laugh. I’d heard them all before and was waiting for the grand finale in which a driver with an expired license says, “Do you mean my remit done collapsed?”

I gathered the dishes, shushing Deanna’s protests and carrying them to the kitchen. She’d cooked a delicious chicken casserole. I slipped Halle a plate to lick and began washing up, straining to hear as the conversation in the other room turned somber and much quieter. I wondered if she was telling Rick about her past.

By the time I returned the two of them were laughing again.

“Well,” Rick said, “it’s getting kinda late for me. I have an early shift tomorrow.” He grabbed Deanna’s hand and kissed it. I swear she blushed.

I walked him to his car. “Ronni, I need to tell you something,” he began, leaning on the driver’s door. He reached out and held my shoulders. “You know I love you. And I want what’s best for you.”

My stomach flipped like an Olympic gymnast. “And?”

“Well, I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but Victoria has left Professor Gasbag.” He looked at the asphalt, then the sky, anywhere but at me. “Apparently he was accused of improper behavior with a student.”

I stared at him, quietly waiting.

“She brought the boys and moved into the lakehouse. It’s only for a little while. She’s going to have to decide what to do about school and all.”

“When did this happen?” I asked.