She thought about how Holly was drawing her way through her grief and how Harry was using Alice’s painting of the old Clarendon homestead to remind him of how far he’d come. “I want my work to be about using art to improve people’s lives on an everyday basis, not helping someone with a lot of money elevate his social status. And I want to do it here in Kurnai Bay and the surrounding district. It’s my safe place. I’ve got you and Dad and Libby. I’ve got friends.”

Her mother’s mouth tightened. “You mean Dan?”

“Yes, and you need to apologize to him. He’s been amazing this week. But he’s not my only friend. There’s Missy at Pirellis’ and Jim from the Gazette.”

“And Harry Waxman?” Peter asked.

A rush of heat scuttled through Alice as it did every night at nine o’clock. So much for the new HRT patches she’d been using for a week. “And Stacey at the nursing home and many others. Sure, I came back to the bay because I was hurting, but I was over Lawrence by Christmas. I know you’re worried I’m spinning my wheels and at first that was probably true, but it hasn’t been for months. I’ve learned that I didn’t lose everything in Melbourne. In fact, I’ve gained far more by coming back here.”

“So, it’s an active choice?” Karen asked, clearly struggling to let go of her vision for Alice.

“It is.” Alice thought about tonight and twirling with her nieces. “And now I know I can’t have babies, I want to be close to Lucy and Indi and share their childhood. And if you still need proof this is where I belong, it’s this: even in the middle of all this turmoil, I’ve experienced moments of joy. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted for me?”

“She’s right, Kaz,” Peter said.

Alice threw him a grateful smile. “And now I’ve fully committed to the bay, it’s time I moved into my own place.”

“You don’t have to,” Karen said.

“Yeah, Mom, I do. I love you to bits, but we drive each other nuts.”

“If you were just a little tidier …”

Alice laughed. “If you were just a little messier.”

“We’re always here.”

“I know. I’ve always known, but today when I was twirling with the kids, I came to truly understand how incredibly lucky I am to have you both.”

The three of them sat, lost in their own thoughts, and then Alice broke the silence.

“Mom, I didn’t lose the newborn baby photos of Libby and me, did I?”