Last lullaby

by Alice Walsh

Arrogant son of a bitch, Lauren thought.

  Bram looked around the packed courtroom. “I swear I had nothing to do with the murder of Jade Roberts or the attempted murder of my colleague, Dr. Collins. When I learned Anya was involved, I was horrified. It was not something I condoned.”

  “Dr. Warren, this is only the preliminary hearing,” the Crown reminded him. “You are not on trial here.”

  Your turn will come, Lauren thought, bitterly. And when it does, I hope they throw the book at you.

  —

  After the hearing, Lauren accompanied Claire to a downstairs room where a former student was watching Ariel. Lauren was surprised Claire had left her baby even for a short time. Since Ariel’s return, she hovered over her as if she were a soap bubble that would disappear at any moment.

  The sitter was crouched on the floor encouraging Ariel to walk to her. At nine months, the baby had already taken her first step. When Claire and Lauren came into the room, Ariel took two steps toward Claire before falling on her bottom. Claire gathered her up in her arms. “Thanks for watching her, Haley,” she said.

  “No problem, Dr. Ste Denis. She was an angel.”

  After Haley left, Claire sat down at a small wooden table, Lauren across from her.

  “I didn’t think it was possible to be this happy and this sad at the same time,” Claire said. Tears filled her eyes as she looked down at Ariel. “How am I going to explain about her father? What he did to our family was monstrous.”

  “You must feel betrayed,” Lauren sympathized.

  Claire’s lips tightened. “I don’t know if I can ever forgive Bram.”

  “It’s going to be difficult,” said Lauren. “And you don’t have to forgive him, but you do need to move on.”

  Claire smoothed back Ariel’s dark hair. “I will do that for her sake.”

  “Have you given any thought to going back to work?”

  “Next year…maybe. Right now, I’m enjoying every moment with Ariel.” Claire tightened her hold on the baby. “I’ve been emotionally absent for most of her short life. Now, I have a chance to be a real mother.” She shook her head. “If it wasn’t for you, Lauren, Ariel might be in Alaska now.”

  “I doubt that,” Lauren said. “Bram and Anya’s relationship had soured. Bram did a terrible thing, but he’s not a cold-blooded murderer. After he learned that Anya had murdered Jade, he realized he had painted himself into a corner.”

  Ariel began making little cooing sounds that made them both smile.

  “So, what’s happening with you and Daniel?” Claire asked.

  “He’s coming to visit Bailey in a couple of months. I’m actually glad that he’s in her life, though I’m not sure if he’ll ever be in mine.” Lauren shrugged. “But I can live with that.” Taking the conversation in another direction, she asked, “Did you see the interview Erika Jansen did with the CBC?”

  “I did,” Claire said. “Mitch says he expects Candlewood Lane to be a hit. I’ve never been more proud of Erika.”

  “She always was a shining star.”

  “Yes,” Claire agreed. “My heart aches for her, though. I know the pain she must be feeling. After all her loss, I hope she can find some happiness in her career.”

  “She deserves to be happy,” Lauren said. “A lot of our students are doing well. Did I tell you that Bailey and I dropped by Patrick’s preschool while we were in St. John’s last week? It won’t be open until the end of summer, but he’s there getting things ready.”

  “Good for him. I’ve always liked Patrick. He was great with Ariel.”

  Lauren looked at her watch. “I should probably be going,” she said. “I have a client at eleven.”

  Nodding, Claire gathered up stuffed toys, a sippy cup, sweater, and other things that belonged to Ariel. She kissed Ariel on the head before snugly pulling on her hat and placing her in her stroller. “I was told that we should leave by the side door to avoid the press,” she said. “It’s this way.”

  The door opened into a narrow alley. “The coast is clear,” Lauren said, looking around.

  No sooner had the words left her mouth than a small wiry man came to stand beside her. His horn-rimmed glasses gave him a scholarly look. “I’m Stephen Coleman,” he said. “I wonder if you’re up to doing an interview.”

  Both Claire and Lauren stared at him. The Hawk? Somehow, Lauren had expected him to be much larger.

  “How do you feel about your husband’s testimony?” he asked.

  “I’m moving on with my life,” Claire said curtly. “That’s all I have to say.” She gripped the handles of Ariel’s stroller and began to hurry out of the alley.

  “Do you hate your husband for what he did?” Coleman called, going after her.

  Claire quickened her pace, pushing the stroller purposefully ahead of her. She was walking so fast, Lauren could barely keep up.

  “Have you spoken to Dr. Warren since he’s been charged?” Coleman called.

  “I have no comment,” Claire said. She kept walking, not looking back once.

  About the Author

  Alice Walsh writes fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. She studied early childhood education, has an MA in English, and has worked as a preschool teacher and creative writing instructor. Her juvenile novel, Pomiuk: Prince of the North (Beach Holme), won the Ann Connor Brimer Award. Her recent picture book, A Change of Heart (Nimbus), was shortlisted for the 2017–18 Hackmatack Award for Non-fiction. Alice grew up in Newfoundland and currently lives in Nova Scotia.