The Cruelest Month

It is Good Friday, and the villagers of Three Pines are hiding Easter eggs for the children to find on Sunday. As Clara Morrow hides eggs, she remembers when the tradition began a few years ago. They had hidden chocolate eggs around the village green, only to find them eaten the following morning. They realize that bears come out of hibernation in the spring and were almost certainly in the village the previous night. Every year since then, they have hidden painted wooden eggs that the children trade in for chocolate.

While Clara is hiding the wooden eggs, she finds a duck’s nest of real eggs and shows it to Madeleine Favreau and Monsieur Béliveau. They discuss the séance that night, arranged by Gabri. Madame Isadore Blavatsky, a psychic who is staying at the bed-and-breakfast, has agreed to hold a séance. Hazel, Madeleine’s roommate, has decided not to go. After they leave, Clara reflects on Favreau and Béliveau’s new relationship, happy for them, as Monsieur Béliveau lost his wife two years ago and Madeleine is in remission from cancer.

Soon after, Clara hears Gilles Sandon and Odile Montmagny arguing about going to the séance.