These days, Karen read the Gazette every Friday afternoon going directly to the Dear Alice column to try and work out what on earth was going on with her younger daughter and her life. Since their argument when she’d told Karen to butt out, Alice had told her less and less. She came and went from Pelican House giving few details, although always politely letting her know if she’d be home for dinner and continuing with her share of household tasks. Karen was depending on Peter, and to a lesser degree, Libby, for information, but neither of them had mentioned an art project. So how did Dan know?

“I think I would have remembered reading that, Dan. Better yet, I’d have remembered if Alice had told me. Exactly how do you know?”

He shifted in his chair, squirming like a student put on the spot. “Alice mentioned it.”

Something about the way he said the words told her the conversation hadn’t been bar chit chat at the RSL. Karen didn’t know which was worse—Alice securing yet another short-term job keeping her in Kurnai Bay or Alice dating Dan. She sat down. “Tell me you’re not dating Alice.”

“Jeez, Karen. Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Can you blame me? Your track record’s hardly reassuring and Hil despairs of you ever settling down. After what Lawrence did to Alice, she deserves—”

“A friend,” Dan said with uncharacteristic firmness. “And that’s what we are. Good friends who have fun together.”

His declaration didn’t reassure her. “Surely, it would only be a special friend she’d tell about her new job ahead of her family?”

“Maybe she wanted to tell someone who thought it was good news.”

His softly spoken words stung. “Alice needs a real job and a real boyfriend, Dan. Not a string of temporary positions or a temporary man.”

“I know you changed my diaper a few times, Karen, but we’re not kids anymore. Alice tried security and it vanished on her. Right now, she’s embracing temporary.”

Anger propelled her to her feet. “And you’re encouraging her because it suits you!”

Dan’s almost permanently relaxed demeanor tensed and he glanced out the window as if needing to glimpse blue sky, green trees and turquoise sea. “Alice and I have only ever been honest with each other, Karen. I get that as her mom what you consider temporary scares you, but not everyone can be tied down.”

“Of course you’d say that! Your life’s a series of short-term jobs and convenient relationships. Why did this have to be the year you chose to winter in town instead of working on the ski fields?”