“I guess seeing a doctor at your twin’s practice might be problematic.”

“Only if I want to see a woman.”

“Let me buy you coffee and you can fill me in on your good news.” Harry indicated a café across the road. “It hasn’t been taken over by tree-change hipsters yet and you can still get a good, old-fashioned jam lamington.”

Even though Harry knew she was actively dating, Alice felt awkward telling a widower that she’d met someone—hopefully The One—when he was alone and still grieving. “Thanks, but you’re already cutting it fine if you want to get back in time for school pick-up.”

He shot her a quizzical look as if he was surprised she knew about school pick-up, then checked his watch. “Damn, you’re right. Sorry. I better get going and leave you to your twirling.”

“Say hi to Holly and Hunter for me.”

“Will do.” He turned away then turned back. “Alice?”

“Hmm?”

“Hunter’s joined Scouts and he wants to practice lighting and cooking on a campfire. I was thinking, seeing as Holly’s current thing is drawing flowers and she’s getting close to exhausting the bulbs—”

“The wild flowers are just coming out in the river reserve. You want to kill two birds with one stone?”

He smiled and it lit up his eyes. “That’s the plan. Are you up for a burned sausage after school on Monday or Tuesday?”

“A burned sausage?” She laughed. “Hunter knows the way to a girl’s heart.”

“I’ve taught him well.”

Alice had enjoyed the chaotic dinner she’d shared with the Waxmans. She’d ended up staying later than planned as she’d gotten involved helping Hunter with his papier-mâché blue-ringed octopus for his school project on the ecosystem of rock pools. There was something remarkably soothing about sitting around a table talking about nothing much, tearing newspapers into shreds and getting all sticky with glue. Afterwards, she’d gone home, feigned exhaustion to her parents, locked her bedroom door and phoned Tim. He’d apologized, told her he’d missed her and how desperate he was to make up for lost time. It had been one of her best days in months.

“It sounds like fun.” Hello? Tim! “Oh wait, sorry, Harry. I’ve just remembered some tentative plans.”

Harry shoved his hands into his pockets. “Judging by that blush, I reckon they’re connected with your overwhelming need to twirl.”

“Not at all.” Why did he always notice this sort of stuff about her? Why couldn’t he be oblivious like Dan?

“Let me know if the plans fall over.”

“They’re not going to,” she mumbled pettishly to Harry’s retreating back.

Her phone rang and she didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Alice, it’s Flis Carter.”