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said Kala.

      “Tail end of pneumonia. Plus I got run down and have something called anemia. I’ll be fine when the warmer weather comes.”

      “Have you seen a doctor?”

      “There’s a free clinic. I’ve been a couple of times. Dawn and Rosie are looking after me just fine.”

      “We were searching for Annie after her partner died.”

      “She used to panhandle near the restaurant where I worked. I ran into her one time when I left the clinic and she helped me home. I told her to stay if she wanted. She was kind of broken up because her old man up and died when they were drinking together and she hated being alone. Also, she thought she might get blamed. I told her just to lay low with us.”

      “Where’s Dawn now?”

      “Today’s a PD day but she went to the youth centre for the afternoon. She likes to play basketball and they have an arts program that she likes more than breathing. She’s real good at drawing. She should be home soon.”

      They were quiet for a moment. Rosie leaned back against the cushion. “Whatever happened to Rascal, your little dog? You sure were crazy about that mutt.”

      “A few weeks after you left, one of the boys where I was living let Rascal off his leash. He was hit by a car on the highway and died.” Kala faltered. “I ran away right after and hid in the bush, but Roger found me just before dark. They let me live with him for a while but then found another family for me in Regina. I lived with them for a few years and they moved to a town in Ontario. I went to school in Sudbury and became a cop.” She didn’t mention the years in between.

      Rose’s eyes studied her. “A cop. I guess that makes sense. We both had to make up for what we done somehow.”

      “It was my fault. I got in the van. If it hadn’t been for me, we never would have killed that man. I needed to find you to make sure you were okay. I need to make it right.” It was the guilt she’d had to live with her whole life, the sorrow she’d never been able to say out loud.

      Rose half rose from the couch. She shook her head. “Nah, it was his fault. We were just two kids who didn’t know any better. It took me a long time to realize that. It took me having Dawn. You have to let it go, Sun. I have.”

      “You should blame me, Rose. I got us into that trouble.”

      “You don’t get it, do you? That man got us into that trouble. He set his own fate when he drove us up that dirt road and did what he did to us. You and me, we were just victims. We did nothing we need to be ashamed about. Nothing.”

      The door opened behind them and a cold draught of air pushed in from the unheated hallway. Kala turned. Dawn was in the foyer, hunched over taking off her rubber boots. When she straightened, she spotted Kala. Dawn hung her jacket on a hook and walked into the living room carrying a rolled up paper. She sat on the couch by her mother’s feet.

      “I made you a picture, Mama,” she said and handed over the gift. She kept her eyes on Kala. They were Rose’s black eyes partially hidden by straight black bangs. The rest of her hair was pulled into two braids. She was tall and slender in jeans and a faded black sweatshirt with a rip in the sleeve.

      Rose unrolled it and held it so Kala could see. Dawn had drawn a sunset over the river in pen and ink. It was detailed for a girl of twelve.

      “This is different than your paintings, but I love it too,” said Rose.

      “I have a new teacher.”

      “Thank you, my sweet child. Meet my cousin Sunny. You were named after her.”

      “Hi Dawn. My name is actually Kala, but your mom and I decided to be cousins with new names when we were about your age.”

      “What was your new name, Mom?” Dawn’s eyes danced at the thought.

      “Lily.”

      “Lily. I like that name. I wish I had a cousin or a sister,” said Dawn. “Maybe I can find one like you two did. How are you feeling, Mom?”

      “Better today. Annie brought some supper home. Why don’t you go eat and get your homework done?”

      “Okay. You only smoked two today?”

      “Yup. And only half of each.”

      “Good. That’s real good. Nice to meet you, Kala.”

      “Nice to meet you too, Dawn.”

      “Honey, take the picture and tape it up with the rest.”

      Dawn took the rolled up paper. “Okay, Mom. Are you going to eat too?”

      “Not yet, but save me a few bites.” Rose watched Dawn walk away from her, then looked over at Kala. “You didn’t ask about Paul and me but you probably wonder. Paul’s doing a stretch at Kingston Penitentiary. He got six years for armed robbery but should be out soon. We’re waiting for him.” Her eyes challenged Kala to judge her. The defiant Lily from their childhood had returned.

      “Your daughter is beautiful. She looks like you did at that age.”

      “She’s why I cleaned up and went straight. Paul wouldn’t though. He liked stealing stuff from people who wouldn’t miss it. I had a job in a restaurant until I got sick. I’m going to find another one when I get my strength.”

      “Can I come see you again?”

      “Are you sure you want to? A lot of years have passed and we were just kids.”

      “You’re still my blood cousin. You’re the only family I got.”

      Rose looked at her with the old mocking smile. “Yeah, come by. We’re not going nowhere for a while. It might be nice to have some family again.”

      Kala stood. “I’ll come see you tomorrow.” She already had plans to go shopping for food. The old Lily would never ask for her help, but she was going to give it anyhow.

      35

      Saturday, February 25, 10:00 a.m.

      Saturday morning the sun broke through at close to eight o’clock. Streaks of pink light gradually strengthened in brilliance until the winter sun climbed to its lookout over the Ottawa Valley. Temperatures had plummeted during the night and continued to fall during the early morning hours until they reached a frigid minus twenty-two degrees Celsius at ten a.m. when Kala made her way to the Elgin Street Diner for a late breakfast. She’d already spent an hour in the gym, showered, and done a load of laundry. Finding Rose had left her energized and eager to get started on improving their lives. This was what she’d dreamed of from the moment she’d watched Lily walk away from her for the last time that fall day on Birdtail reserve.

      First she’d get some breakfast before shopping for food to bring to Rose’s apartment on York Street. She hoped to take Dawn later for new boots if Rose would let her, but knew she had to go carefully. Rose wouldn’t like being treated as a charity case. Rose. She was still Lily in Kala’s mind, but she could appreciate Lily’s need to carve out a new identity with a new name. Hell, she’d done much the same herself.

      The restaurant was full and she had to wait ten minutes for a table. She followed the hostess to the back of the noisy room and sat at a table for two, facing the front windows. The waitress came right over with coffee and Kala ordered her usual breakfast fare — eggs over easy, homefries, sausage, and brown toast. Kala settled back in the chair and lifted the white mug to her lips. Her eyes scanned the room and doubled back. She squinted over her coffee cup, then her heart jumped like she’d had a hit of adrenaline.

      Hunter Underwood was sitting directly across from her at a table with a blond-haired woman dressed in a tight red sweater and silver chains around her neck. They were leaning into each other, deep in conversation. Hunter’s eyes were fixed on the woman and he was listening intently to whatever it was she was waxing on about. He’d tied back his hair and wore a pressed

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