She sketched the white beak, the long black neck and the bottle-shaped body before feathering out the wings, but, as usual, her perspective was off. She laughed. “Now do you believe me? Your pelican’s so much better than this.”

Holly flashed her a shy smile. “I like drawing them.”

“I can tell.”

“Pelicans remind me of my mom.”

It was the first time Holly had volunteered any information about her mother and as Harry admitted to having no artistic ability, Alice wondered if Helene had passed on the gene. Then again, neither Karen or Peter drew either, so Holly’s mother might have been equally as stumped by stick figures as Harry. “Did your mom like pelicans?”

“She sculpted them in clay.”

“Wow!”

“And she took her best one to some place in Brisbane. They made a mold and filled it with bronze,” Holly said, clearly proud of her mother’s achievement.

The “mold” would have been wax, the “place” a forge and the molten metal poured into it under intense heat. The cost would have been in the thousands. “That’s very impressive.”

Holly nodded enthusiastically. “We’ve got one in our living room. Would you like to see it?”

“I’d love to.” Alice was surprised when Holly immediately placed her pencil into her tin and hurriedly closed her sketch book. “Hang on, Holly, I didn’t mean right now. Besides, your dad’s picking you up from here.”

The young girl’s face fell. “Oh, okay.”

Holly’s disappointment rode into Alice, taking the shine off what had been a very happy fifty minutes. She supposed she could take Holly home and see the bronze pelican, but she felt uncomfortable rocking up unannounced. She and Harry had an employer–employee relationship and he always delivered Holly to her. He’d never suggested that Alice come to the house and pick up Holly. Not that Harry wasn’t polite, but from the first time they’d met on the pier, Alice had sensed a reserve and a need for privacy. The only time it had wavered was at Relay for Life when his obvious concern for Holly had made him fight for her.

“It’s not that I don’t want to come, Holly. I’d love to see the pelican. It’s just you should probably ask your dad first.”

“Ask me what?”

Harry’s voice startled Alice so much she almost dropped her pencil into the bay.

“Daddy!” Holly scrambled to her feet. “I want to show Alice Mom’s pelican.”

Surprise lit up his eyes, immediately followed by hesitation, giving Holly the opportunity to add, “You said I could invite a friend home anytime I wanted.”

Alice stood and gave Harry the out he obviously wanted. “I was just explaining to Holly that today might not be convenient.”

“Please, Dad,” Holly begged. “Alice sucks at drawing birds. Seeing Mom’s pelican might help her.”

Harry’s face morphed from being cornered to horrified. “Holly! Manners! That’s a very rude thing to say.”

“I was trying to help!” Holly’s voice was thick with impending tears.