LITMIR.BIZ

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this as if it was a big step forward but Kala felt sad at the thought of how small Rose’s life had become. They waited for a second door to be unlocked from the inside. The caseworker looked sideways at her. “When I started working here, the inmates with mental issues were in the minority. Now, I’d say close to seventy percent have mental issues. We don’t have nearly the resources to deal with the crisis.”

      “Has Rose been in solitary?”

      “No. She lives in one of the residences with four other women. They cook for themselves and have some freedom to move around. Rose has been a model inmate but makes no effort to develop relationships.” Linda paused for a moment. “She works every weekday in the prison shop sewing underwear for male inmates in other pens.”

      “It’s good that she keeps busy.”

      Kala wasn’t surprised that Rose had kept people at a distance. From what she remembered of Rose on the rez when they were younger, she’d been a tough teen with no liking for people. Linda led her down a green corridor that fed into a large room with a guard behind bulletproof glass at one end. He nodded at them and Linda raised a hand in greeting. Tables and chairs were bolted into the floor at discreet distances from each other. The room colour was a slightly brighter shade than the green corridor, but still depressingly institutional.

      “Take a seat and a guard will bring Rose to you. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that the guard is listening in on your conversation through the mic under the middle of table. I don’t expect any trouble, but you can signal the guard for assistance at any point. I’ll return in twenty minutes to take you back to the front desk. Remember, no touching.”

      Kala took a seat facing the guard and thought about the last time she’d seen Rose. It had been over a year ago in the rundown apartment where she and her twelve-year-old daughter Dawn were living. Kala had spent months tracking them down but the reunion hadn’t lasted long. A week later, Rose took Dawn and joined a new boyfriend to hold up a liquor store before fleeing into the west. The police picked them up in the prairies and Kala became Dawn’s guardian because there was nobody else. Rose had refused to see her or Dawn before or after sentencing … until now.

      She heard the door behind her open and waited as a guard escorted Rose to the seat across from her. Kala was surprised to see Rose dressed in regular clothes — a blue sweatshirt, jeans, and running shoes — having envisioned an orange jumpsuit as seen on television prison shows. Rose was skinnier than she remembered, her cheeks hollowed out and grey strands in her long black hair. She kept her eyes downcast, hands folded in her lap.

      “How are you doing?” Kala asked. She wanted to reach across the table and hug her friend, but knew she could not.

      Rose didn’t say anything for a few moments. She kept her head lowered but finally said, “Three squares a day. Who can complain?” She raised her eyes to look at Kala and for an instant, Kala saw the cocky grin that used to come so easily. It didn’t last long. “How’s my kid?”

      Anyone who didn’t know her would think that she didn’t care all that much, but Kala knew otherwise. “Dawn is good. Maybe I could bring her next time?”

      “No!” Rose shook her head and lowered her voice. “No, not here. I don’t want this place tainting her and I sure as hell don’t want her seeing me locked up.”

      “I think it would help her if she saw you. She misses you.”

      “Has she said that?”

      “Not in so many words, but she’s struggling, Rose. She’s keeping everything in. She sees a counsellor but hasn’t opened up.”

      “She is my kid. Tough to the end.”

      “Well, sometimes tough is just hiding a whole whack of hurt.”

      “I never said it wasn’t.” This time, Rose lifted her eyes and stared into Kala’s. “I need to ask you a favour.”

      “Name it.”

      “My ex, Dawn’s dad,” she spit out the word, “I heard that he got early parole but seems nobody thought to tell me. I need you to find out when he got released and track where he goes on the outside.”

      “If you told me his name, I’ve forgotten. What was he in for?”

      “Bastard’s name is Paul Dumont but the only one who still calls him Paulie is his mother. Everyone else calls him Fisher because it was all he ever wanted to do when he was a kid. Fish for pickerel or lake trout and he was good at it. Too bad he ever left the bush. Fisher got fifteen years for dealing drugs and B & Es in North Bay although I think the judge gave as long a sentence as he could because he assaulted a cop when they tried to arrest him. Last I heard he was in Millhaven.”

      “Okay. I’ll look into it. Anything else?”

      “Fisher’s bad news, Kala. Not the murder-your-sister kind of bad news, but he can’t hold a job and if there’s trouble anywhere to be found, he’s right smack in the middle of it. I need you to keep him away from Dawn.”

      Kala felt a coldness spreading through her. “Has he threatened to do something?”

      Rose dropped her eyes and stared at her hands. She spoke without emotion, as if she’d long ago given up on anything turning out in her favour. “Fisher doesn’t threaten. He sneaks up on you when you least expect him and robs you blind.” She raised her eyes to Kala’s. “The only thing I got worth stealing is Dawn. I need you to make sure he doesn’t get his hands on her.”

      chapter three

      Tristan opened the door for Vivian and helped her manoeuvre a pile of snow that had drifted onto the driveway. “Watch your step,” he said as he let go of her arm. “I’m not sure if your high-heeled boots were the best choice for this trip.”

      She laughed. “I’ve been wearing high-heeled boots since I turned thirteen, and that’s not going to change. Bring it on, winter.” She spread her arms wide and tilted her head to look at the sky before turning her face to smile at him. Her black hair curled over her shoulders and glistened with melting flakes.

      He watched her step her way carefully up the snowy path to the front door of his parents’ house before he hauled their suitcases out of the trunk. The snow had gotten heavier as they pulled into Kingston, a result of the lake effect. He was glad he didn’t live here anymore and wasn’t looking forward to the next few days. He’d promised Vivian they’d be back in Edmonton by the weekend, but really, the promise was for himself as much as her. She had no idea how much he hated this damn town and the memories. He’d always downplayed the worst of it.

      Her footsteps were filling in with snow already as he tromped up the path. He entered the front hallway and dropped the suitcases. Vivian was sitting in the chair, taking her boots off with Clemmie jumping up and down, pawing her leg. Adam was bent over the dog, trying to pull him off, apologizing and telling the dog to get down at the same time. Vivian yanked off her boot and opened her arms to let Clemmie into her lap. “It’s okay, Adam,” she said as the dog licked her chin. “Seems I haven’t lost my touch with animals.” They both turned to look at Tristan.

      “Hey,” Adam said and closed the space between them to give Tristan a hug. “Good to see you, although not the best circumstances.”

      “No, but we knew this day would come. I’m just sorry Dad won’t get to see his new grandchild.”

      “That’s right,” Adam said, letting go of him and turning to look at Vivian. “You’re what, four months along?”

      “Four months and two weeks, but who’s counting? I’m getting a little bump.” She rubbed her stomach through the fabric of her blue coat and smiled up at Adam.

      Tristan felt the familiar nugget of happiness in his chest, still finding it hard to believe that he was going to be a father. He’d almost given up waiting for Vivian to be ready for a child, but she’d surprised him with the news in October. He’d been ecstatic since she told him that the ultrasound

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