BREEANNA BASCOMBE HAD BEEN UP ALL NIGHT.
Tiana*, her six-month-old daughter with big brown eyes and a light-brown complexion-a spitting image of Breeanna's ex-boyfriend Dayne Sitladeen-wouldn't stop crying. She tried everything. It was one of those nights when the last thread of patience snaps and so does a sleep-deprived parent: Breeanna yelled at Tiana.
It didn't work, of course. It just made Breeanna feel worse. She continued rocking and shushing Tiana until the baby eventually gave in to sleep.
The past few months hadn't been easy on Breeanna. Ten months prior, in May 2019, Sitladeen, a Toronto rapper known as Yung Lava, disappeared when he became wanted for the first-degree murder of 26-year-old Blain Grindley. Two of the men also wanted for the murder had surrendered, but Sitladeen left Breeanna without any clue about where he was headed or what he had done. At the time, Breeanna was pregnant with Tiana, the couple's second child.
She wasn't upset that Sitladeen was gone. They had broken up months earlier because of Sitladeen's lying and cheating and run-ins with the law. They met in 2014, when Breeanna, then 21 years old, was working at Conair, a hair-product manufacturer, to support her dream of being an actress. She saw a light shining over him, as if God had selected him for her. She was head over heels. But that feeling was long gone. Now, when Breeanna saw his face on the evening news as she nursed her newborn and tried to move on with her life, she was, frankly, over it.
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Chatelaine (English).
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Chatelaine (English).
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
3 Toaster Ovens That Just Might Replace Your Actual Oven
This Cuisinart toaster oven is anything but toastersized. Its two racks are big enough to cook a 13-in.
Our Test Kitchen contributors dish on their favourite gift-worthy baking essentials.
Heavy-gauge cookie sheets are always the right choice. You can scrub them clean, they don't warp and they conduct heat evenly.
Sweet Dream
DEAD SIMPLE DESSERT
The Gift of Good Wine
The thought behind the selection counts for way more than what's in the bottle.
Just Roll With It
I AM DEEPLY OPPOSED TO DESSERTS that are fussy in preparation or decoration and lacking in taste payoff. But a yule log, also known as a bûche de Noël, is as spectacular to eat as it is to look at. This airy, cream-stuffed sponge cake is hands-down my favourite holiday dessert. (Ask anyone who has ever been to my house in December!) A glossy ganache bark, a handful of sugared cranberries and a few sprigs of rosemary make this seasonal stunner look like it came from a fancy bakery, but it's actually totally doable at home.
Vanilla Times Three
How to get the most bang for your buck from your beans, paste and extract.
"Finally, We're Being Heard"
For decades, members of an ultra-secretive Christian sect in Canada experienced abuse at the hands of those in power. Now, they're telling their stories-and I'm telling mine, too.
Challah Is For Lovers
Learning to make this bread was my way of connecting to Judaism. Learning to love the process changed me for the better.
Rewriting History
For decades, Tanya Talaga has told overlooked, underreported stories about Indigenous people. But in her latest project, the Anishinaabe journalist is telling her own.
Quebec City
This charming old-meets-new destination is perfect for a laid-back weekend filled with spectacular views, trendy shops and delicious food.
