Alice studied the drawing then the pink-beaked pelican before returning her gaze to the drawing. She pointed. “Try shortening it here. Draw the line that’s there and not the one your brain’s telling you should be there.”

“Like this?” The girl rubbed at her original line and redrew it.

“Exactly like that.” Alice wondered why the girl wasn’t at school. She was about to ask when she heard running feet behind her. A boy materialized by their sides, his face flushed and his body bouncing with excitement.

“Holly! Dad’s bought chips! Hurry up, Dad!” he called down the jetty before spinning back and realizing Alice was there. “Hello. Who are you?”

Alice tried not to laugh as his energy crashed into her. “I’m Alice Hunter.”

The boy’s green eyes widened. “My name’s Hunter too.”

“It’s a pretty cool name.”

“Yeah. It was my grandpa’s name and my mom—”

“Hunter! Stop lallygagging and let the lady get back to work.” The male voice came from behind her as did the seductive aroma of salt and hot fat.

“She was helping me with my pelican. Look! I finally got the beak right.” Holly scrambled to her feet, thrusting the sketch book at her father.

“And her name’s Hunter too!” Hunter popped around to stand between Alice and his father. “How cool is that?”

The man’s gaze swung to Alice, clearly confused as to why she’d have a male name.

Unable to offer her hand due to the buckets and mops, she introduced herself. “I’m Alice Hunter.”

He nodded but didn’t volunteer his name. “I hope the kids haven’t been bothering you.”

Something about the weary way he said it made her rush to reassure him. “Not at all. In fact it was me who stopped to chat. Your daughter’s got an amazing eye.”

“She really has.” He smiled at Holly. “She didn’t get it from me, though. I struggle with stick figures.”

“Do you want some hot chips, Alice?” Hunter reached for the white paper parcel, clearly unable to wait any longer. “Dad bought heaps of chips, didn’t you, Dad?”

“Dad” was looking distinctly uncomfortable about the idea of sharing his lunch with a stranger.

“Thanks for the lovely invitation, Hunter, but I’ve still got some work to do before I eat my lunch.” She smiled at Holly. “Maybe when you’ve finished your pelican you might want to try drawing one of the seals that play under the pier. They’re pretty cute with all those whiskers.”

The girl smiled shyly. “Okay.”

“Enjoy your chips!” As Alice walked away, she heard the children’s father say, “Come on, you seagulls, let’s eat these before they get cold.”

Alice pushed open the office door and immediately heard yelling then took in the stricken face of Missy, the young receptionist. She realized the angry voice belonged to Nick. The closed door to Nick’s office was doing little to dent the sound.