Tumbled Graves (27 page)

Kala extended her hand. “You have my word.”

“She's out back playing with Mia and Tom. I was keeping an eye on them from the kitchen. You can just follow the flagstone path around that side of the house.”

Leanne said, “I'll take them.”

Kala and Dawn followed her to a closed gate and a six-foot-high wooden fence. They stepped inside and Kala stopped by the steps. The yard had several oak and poplar trees but the rest was grass. A boy and girl who looked to be about seven were rolling a beach ball to the blond-haired girl Kala had seen in the photos in Ivo's study. They'd cut Violet's hair into a pixie cut but Kala still recognized her. Violet was giggling and running between the boy and girl, clutching onto the ball. They pretended to try to catch her. All of a sudden, Violet spotted Leanne standing near the fence. She threw the ball onto the grass and ran on chubby legs into Leanne's outspread arms. Leanne picked her up and hugged her hard before turning her to face Kala.

“Violet, meet my friends Kala and Dawn. Can you say hi?”

“Hi.” Violet fixed them with her blue eyes. She scrunched her face. “Is Mommy coming soon?”

“No, sweetheart.” Leanne gave her a kiss. “We just stopped for a minute. I'm going to come back for supper.”

“Later!” Violet squirmed out of her arms and waved at Dawn and Kala before racing back to the join the others.

Leanne looked at Kala. “Randy and I are going to give her a good life. We owe that to Adele. I promised her.”

Kala nodded. She reached her arm around Dawn's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “I know what that feels like,” she said. “Thanks for putting my mind at ease. It's time Dawn and I get on our way home.”

K
ala
didn't know what to do with herself. The house felt empty and confining so she put on her running shoes and sweater and took Taiku down to the beach. She threw a stick into the lake for him to retrieve for half an hour or so before they walked the length of the shoreline and back.

The sun was into its descent and the shadows were lengthening when they made it back to the house. She sat on the steps of the back deck with Taiku resting in the grass. He seemed as lost as she felt. A slight wind had come up off the lake and was keeping the bugs at bay. She'd sit until darkness came before going in for supper. Her appetite had disappeared but she knew she had to eat because she had to work in the morning.

A few moments later she heard a car pull into the driveway. It would be too much to hope for that Tamara Jones had had a change of heart and brought Dawn home, so Kala remained seated. Getting up to greet them would take more energy than she possessed at the moment. She lifted her head to watch whoever it was come around the corner of the house.

Taiku bounded across the lawn to greet their guest. He made his way to her with Taiku loping along beside him. Kala stood at his approach.

“Sir, I hadn't expected to see you here.”

“Don't get up.” Rouleau looked around the property. “This is my first visit. What a lovely spot near the water and away from town.” He sat on the steps and she lowered herself beside him.

“Would you like a beer or tea?”

“No. I'm fine sitting here enjoying the evening. How are you?”

She felt tears fill her eyes and she gritted her teeth. When she was okay to talk without crying, she said, “I'm just fine. Back at work tomorrow. Thanks for approving a couple of more days of leave.”

“You more than earned it.”

They sat without speaking and the sun sank lower, turning from yellow to orange and red above the trees. Kala wondered how nature could be so perfect when her heart was breaking.

“Gundersund called.” Rouleau said after a while. “He said that Dawn was taken to a foster family today.”

“Why would he worry you with my problems?”

“Because we care about you. You're important to us. Did that article have anything to do with the decision to remove Dawn?”

“The counsellor said I was an unreliable person in a dangerous job. She wasn't happy that I'd been a homeless alcoholic, so yeah, I guess the article had an impact on her decision.”

“Then she's a fool. Your past has made you a good role model and you are one of the most reliable people on my team. I wish they'd come to me. Are you going to fight this?”

Kala looked straight ahead toward the lake. “I would if I thought I could win. Maybe I should let her be with a family that can care for her. I've convinced myself that this might be for the best.”

“How does Dawn feel?”

The question that Tamara Jones had said was unimportant. Kala smiled. “Dawn refused to go at first. Tamara almost met her match but Dawn gave in when Tamara told her that I'd signed the forms and agreed she should leave. When Dawn asked me, I didn't deny it.” Kala rubbed her eyes. “The look of betrayal. I'll never forget it.”

“We can go over the social worker's head. Make a complaint.”

Kala knew it would be hard on everyone, especially Dawn. The odds of winning her back didn't make it worth the pain. “No. Dawn will settle into a stable family and I'll do what I always do. Put this away and keep on going. I'm good at shutting off places and people. I've been doing it all my life.”

“If there is any way I can help …”

Kala shook her head and Rouleau wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He didn't say anything but he didn't drop his arm either, even when she kept her back rigid and her eyes on the horizon.

“I'm sad for you,” he said. “For all that you've had to endure. I admire your strength but sometimes … it helps to be sad for yourself too. To let yourself grieve. We all do it and it helps us get through. You aren't alone, Kala. You will never be alone as long as I am on this planet. You're the daughter I would have liked to have had.” He paused, then chuckled. “And Dad is thrilled to finally get a granddaughter.”

She began to laugh but the sound turned into a sob. She rolled sideways into his shoulder and cried for the first time in a very long time. Rouleau held her without speaking and she wept for Dawn and Bennett, Adele and Ivo, and the child she'd never been allowed to be. When she finished, Rouleau was still there, strong and comforting, like the father she'd imagined but never had.

“I'm better now,” she said, wiping her eyes with the back of one hand. She turned and looked up at the sky. Complete darkness had descended — the kind you only get in the country — but the stars were poking through and the moon was casting silvery light on the lake. Taiku came over and rested his head on her thigh.

“Let me take you for supper,” Rouleau said. “I haven't been eating much and could use the company.”

Kala turned and tried to make out his face in the dark but couldn't see more than an outline. She pictured the sadness in his eyes at the funeral. The connection she felt with him was unexpected but gave her a reason to stay in Kingston for a while longer.

“Okay,” she said as she got to her feet. “I think I could use the company too.”

I once again owe a debt of gratitude to the Dundurn team, with special thanks to my editor Jennifer McKnight, publicists Karen McMullin and James Hatch, and cover designer Laura Boyle. Vice-president Beth Bruder and president Kirk Howard continue to publish quality Canadian books and to support the mystery genre, for which I also give thanks.

Thank you to publicist Maryglenn McCombs, who helped with promotion as I work to bring my books to the American audience. She has become a friend. Also, thank you to my colleague Françoise Trudeau-Reeves for not only buying all of my books but for helping with the French translation in
Tumbled Graves. Merci bien.

I would like to name every friend and family member and reader who has supported me, propped me up, and cheered me on, but I would need pages and space does not allow. I raise my glass to each of you with my deepest appreciation. Love to my hearts: Ted, Julia, Lisa, and Robin.

 

Copyright © Brenda Chapman, 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except for brief passages for purpose of review) without the prior permission of Dundurn Press. Permission to photocopy should be requested from Access Copyright.

All characters in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Editor: Jennifer McKnight

Design: Jansom

Cover image: © grybaz/istockphoto.com

Cover design: Laura Boyle

Epub Design: Carmen

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Chapman, Brenda, 1955-, author

Tumbled graves / Brenda Chapman.

(A Stonechild and Rouleau mystery)

Issued in print and electronic format

ISBN 978-1-4597-3096-0 (pbk.).--ISBN 978-1-4597-3097-7

(pdf).--ISBN 978-1-4597-3098-4 (epub)

I. Title.  II. Series: Chapman, Brenda, 1955- .  A
 
Stonechild and Rouleau mystery

PS8605.H36T84 2016 C813'.6
C2015-902893-0
C2015-902894-9
 

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, and the
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through the
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and the
Ontario Media Development Corporation
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