What's Past Is Prologue, page 24
Zack and I were both certain the move to Toronto would be permanent. The idea of not having Margot, Brock and their family close by was painful for us, but Margot’s presence at Hogarth & Associates would smooth the way for a merger between Falconer Shreve and the Toronto firm. On a more personal level, we felt that the move would be a step forward for all the members of their family, even Rosie.
* * *
Sawyer MacLeish had decided to stay at Falconer Shreve in Regina. In the months that he was convalescing, Sawyer had plenty of time to think, and he and Zack had grown close — not only working together on the Fairbairn case, but swimming and exercising together. The fitness equipment had finally come out of the boxes and was being put to good use. The dividends were already apparent; both my husband and my third son looked sensational.
The Fairbairn case was an ugly and difficult one, but working together, Sawyer, Zack and Maisie managed to get the best verdict they could have hoped for. Their client was remanded to the psychiatric hospital in North Battleford for treatment. He would remain there for the foreseeable future, but there would be a future for him.
The night the verdict came in, Zack promised me that this was his last big trial. Sawyer had proven to himself and to Zack that he was one helluva lawyer, and Maisie had proven to Zack that she was the one who ultimately should take his place at Falconer Shreve. The day I went to the trial, the judge gave her a tongue-lashing. Maisie waited him out and then turned back to the witness and kept on pummelling until he handed her what she needed to move in for the knockout punch. The first time Zack and I met Maisie, she’d just come from lacrosse. She’d chipped a tooth and her lower lip was bleeding but when she smiled she lit up the room. She was unstoppable.
* * *
After Paul Deranger delivered the valedictory, Mo St. Amand and Madame B-D both made mercifully short speeches and handed out the grade eight diplomas. The students claimed the hot air balloons they’d created and paired up again.
The hall was very warm, and we’d all had enough. But as the students began the walk back down the aisle, the voices of the 5th Dimension again filled the hall. But this time they were singing “The Age of Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In,” the song that promises that a day will come when peace guides the planets and the stars are steered by love.
Zack and I moved close. “That’s nice to believe, isn’t it?” he said.
“It is,” I said. “Maybe if we all try to listen and love more, that day will arrive by the time we have a grandchild who can read the words on the wall hanging in Hebrew.”
Acknowledgements
Thanks to:
Emily Schultz, my editor, for her enthusiastic support and her unerring ability to guide me gently along the path that will lead me to writing a novel that I hope will bring readers pleasure and a fresh perspective on being human.
Sammy Chin and Crissy Calhoun, who once again extricated me from a timeline problem of my own making and who made certain there were no flies in the soup to lessen readers’ enjoyment.
Alex Dunn, Marketing and Outreach manager, who quietly and effectively manages to draw attention to a new book in the age of Covid.
Jessica Albert, Digital and Art Director, who once again created an eye-catching cover for a new book.
Najma Kazmi, MD, for her many kindnesses and her consummate professionalism.
Wayne Chau, BSP, for always making me smile and taking such good care of our family.
Joanne Bonneville, Lynne Bell and Margaret Wigmore for killer cinnamon buns, great recipes and even greater memories.
Ron and Cindy, cherished neighbours who are always there when we need them.
Lindsay and Nancy Hognestad, who grow and share glorious bedding plants.
Ollie, our much loved and loving cat.
About the Author
Gail Bowen is an author, playwright, and teacher. Among her numerous writing awards are a lifetime achievement award from the Crime Writers of Canada and the Distinguished Canadian Award from the University of Regina. Reader’s Digest has called her Canada’s Best Mystery Novelist. In 2018, she was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and the Grand Master Award of Crime Writers of Canada. She lives in Regina, SK, with her husband, Ted.
Copyright
Copyright © Gail Bowen, 2022
Published by ECW Press
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada m4m 1y2
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any process — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission of the copyright owners and ECW Press. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Cover design: Michel Vrana
Brief passages have been included from Kaleidoscope and Burying Ariel.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: What’s past is prologue / Gail Bowen.
Names: Bowen, Gail, 1942- author.
Series: Bowen, Gail, 1942- Joanne Kilbourn mysteries ; 21.
Description: Series statement: A Joanne Kilbourn mystery ; 21
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20220213771 Canadiana (ebook) 2022021378X
ISBN 978-1-77041-692-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-77852-047-1 (ePub)
ISBN 978-1-77852-048-8 (PDF)
ISBN 978-1-77852-049-5 (Kindle)
Classification: LCC PS8553.O8995 W44 2022 | DDC C813/.54—dc23
This book is funded in part by the Government of Canada. Ce livre est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. We acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), an agency of the Government of Ontario, which last year funded 1,965 individual artists and 1,152 organizations in 197 communities across Ontario for a total of $51.9 million. We also acknowledge the support of the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit, and through Ontario Creates.
This book is a Global Certified Accessible™ (GCA) ebook. ECW Press’s ebooks are screen reader friendly and are built to meet the needs of those who are unable to read standard print due to blindness, low vision, dyslexia, or a physical disability.
Gail Bowen, What's Past Is Prologue
