Page 1 of Rhythm Of Redemption

Chapter one

Lou gripped the metal handrail at the foot of the stairs. “Dani, honey,” she called out in an overly bright voice. “It’s after seven,” she continued in the same upbeat tone. Who knew what kind of mood her capricious daughter would be in this morning? “You’re going to be late.” She prayed it wasn’t the same raging hellcat who’d stormed off to bed last night, slamming every door so hard that she worried the force would dislodge the patch of loose plaster above the kitchen door. She struggled to recall the reason for Dani’s outburst. Maybe it had been the stuffed red peppers she’d served for dinner? Apparently, Dani hated red peppers now. Or perhaps it was because the unwashed shirt laying on the floor of Dani’s bedroom floor was the only one she’d wanted.

Dani made no secret of how much she hated school and resented having to get up at what she called stupid o’clock, just to spend the next five hours bored out of her skull. If she had her way, she’d waste the whole day lazing around, fiddling with her phone, or messing around with her sketchpad and pens. Lou wanted her to knuckle down with her schoolwork, so she could get into a good university and land a decent job. It was a constant source of tension between the pair of them. Dani couldn’t see that all she wanted was to give her a decent start in life, and a degree from a good university could open a lot of doors for her in the career world. She didn’t want her daughter’s life to be the constant struggle hers had become, always scrimping and penny-pinching just to get by. She wanted Dani to have financial security and independence, all the things she didn’t, and not have to rely on anyone else the way she had.

Perhaps if she had finished her degree instead of listening to that shiftless dreamer she’d married, then things would have been different. But she hadn’t, and they weren’t. Now, instead of having the high-flying corporate career she’d dreamed of, she was running herself ragged. While juggling a failing business since Steve abandoned them for a girl half his age, she was trying to single-handedly raise her daughter.

Their move to Ibiza was meant to have been a fresh start after their business had collapsed and they’d been forced to sell their home to cover their debts. By the time the creditors had been paid, the only thing they’d been able to afford was a run-down finca on the Balearic Island of Ibiza. Lou hadn’t been sure about the move. Dani was happy at the local school. They didn’t know anyone there and since neither of them spoke Spanish, what would they do for work? That, according to Steve, was the beauty of it. They could renovate the finca and surrounding out-houses and run it as a B&B. Two birds, one stone. He’d made it all sound so easy. The reality had been anything but.

“Dani,” she shrieked from the hallway, her fingers tapping restlessly against her forearms. “I swear to God … if you don’t get your-”

Dani appeared at the top of the stairs; her cute button nose scrunched up in concentration as she descended while trying to keep hold of her phone wedged between her lips, fixing her wheat-coloured hair into a ponytail. “Okay, okay, I’m here,” she snapped, her hair swinging as she made her way down the stairs. “What’s the problem?”

Lou followed her into the kitchen. “You, you’re the problem. You’re going to be late. Again.”

“Just chill, will you? It’s fine.”

“No, Dani, it’s not fine.” Lou exhaled slowly, desperately trying to avoid another confrontation. “You’ve already had two warnings this month about your timekeeping. One more and you won’t be able to use the school bus for a month.”

“Who said?”

“Mrs Ellis.” Lou’s head tipped back and stared heavenward, taking a deep breath before letting it fall forward. Didn’t Dani ever listen to anything she said?

Dani rolled her eyes at the mention of the headteacher’s name. “When?”

Lou knew that if there was one thing Dani disliked more than early mornings and school, it was Mrs Ellis. And judging by her frequent calls about what she considered to be Dani’s shortcomings, the feeling was entirely mutual. “The last time she phoned to complain about your tardiness.” Dani stared at her as if she was speaking alien, her brows drawn down in confusion. “When the bus driver had to wait fifteen minutes for you.”

“Oh, that.” She waved her hand dismissively, completely unfazed by the revelation. “She’s always complaining about something.”

“I’m sorry.” Lou fixed her daughter with what she hoped was a stern frown. Dani just wasn’t taking this seriously. “But I have to agree with her on this one because when you’re late, you make all the other kids on the bus late.”

“Like they care.” She helped herself to some bottled water from the fridge. “They don’t want to be there any more than I do.”

BEEEP.

“No, but their parents care. School fees aren’t cheap, you know, and if I was in their shoes, I’m not sure I’d be happy about it either.”

“So, you think it’s my fault?”

Yes. “That’s not what I said.”

“Why do you always do this?”

Lou stared at her in confusion. “Do what?”

“Blame me.”

“I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. You said it’s my fault that the bus is late.”

Is that really what she said? “What I meant was that if the bus has to wait fo-Never mind.” Was it really worth arguing over?

BEEEEP.

“Argh.” Dani grabbed her school bag hanging on the back of the chair and raced towards the front door. “Great, now we’re going to be late, and I’ll get the blame again. Thanks, Mum.” She slammed the door shut behind her, dislodging a dinner-plate-size chunk of plaster from the wall and sending it crashing to the floor.

What the hell just happened? How had she become the bad guy here?

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