The greyhound stood stock still, staring at her. At least he wasn’t trembling violently.

Harry appeared at the back door with a smile and a wave. Excited by her progress with the neurotic dog, Alice called out, “Hey, Harry! It worked!”

Brutus took off like a shot, diving under some bushes.

“Oh God. Sorry!”

Harry laughed. “Don’t worry. Expecting a twirler to be quiet and sedate is a lot to ask.”

Alice almost said, “I’m so not in a twirling mood,” but Harry would pick up on that and then he’d ask questions she didn’t want to answer. Besides, the whole point of going out with the family was to forget the last few days. “Yes, but life with a twirler is never boring,” she quipped instead, faking upbeat until she felt it. She suddenly noticed Harry looked different. Neater? “Have you got new glasses?”

He took them off and looked at them in surprise. “No. Why?”

“You look different.”

“I got my hair cut. Holly told me it wasn’t surfer dude cool just dad messy.”

She laughed. “That’s harsh.”

“Was she right?”

“You need to ask? We both know she has an aesthetic eye.”

“Now who’s being harsh? Anyway, she insisted I go to that new unisex salon. I’m still in shock at the price. It’s the most expensive haircut I’ve had in my life. What do you reckon? Was it worth it?”

Alice tilted her head and studied him. Without the shaggy mess, his salt and pepper hair sat thick and neat, giving him a distinguished yet casual look. Alice wondered if this was closer to the hairstyle he’d sported before grief settled over him. It suited him and he looked good.

“You never know, it might just earn you a casserole or two from the mothers at school,” she teased.

He gave a dismissive wave. “I’ve been getting those since I arrived in the bay.”

Really? “Well, in that case, now you’re neat and presentable, you’ll be fending off invitations to the school trivia night.”

“Been doing that since well before the haircut.”

Women were asking Harry out? Alice didn’t know why it surprised her other than she’d never thought about him in terms of dating. But she supposed for divorced women in their forties, Harry was probably a catch. Except, Harry had clearly given her the impression he wasn’t ready for another relationship.

“So, you’re dating?”

“God, no. Just eating a lot of casseroles and enduring some long evenings at community fundraisers.”

“You could always say no.”

“That’s not as easy as swiping left, Alice.”