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.”
Acknowledgements
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
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and Livres Canada Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.
J. Kirk Howard, President
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