Page 11 of Rhythm Of Redemption

“What do you mean?” She ran her index finger along her lower lash line.

“Well, every year it’s the same. Last year it was, I can’t believe you’re going to be fifteen.” She rolled her eyes as she said the words in a sing-song voice. “And the year before that, you said the same thing about me being fourteen. You’ll probably be saying the same thing when I’m forty.”

“You can mock.” Lou snivelled, a little disappointed that her daughter didn’t share her sentimentality. “But I’ll speak to you when you have children of your own.”

A look of disgust flashed across Dani’s face. “No way.”

“No way, what?”

“There’s no way I’m ever getting married and having kids.”

Whereas Dani wasn’t the kind to gush and goo over babies, and it wasn’t something they’d ever talked about before, she was surprised to find her daughter had such strong opinions on the subject. “Why not?”

Dani ignored the question, seeming to focus all her attention on the cartoon-like character she was sketching.

“Come on, tell me, why don’t you want to get married and have a family?”

“I can’t believe you, of all people, are asking me that. I mean, seriously?”

Lou frowned. It wasn’t like Dani to be so cagey. If she had something to say, she usually came right out with it. Unless ... she was worried about hurting her feelings. “Dani.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “You do know that just because we split up, it doesn’t mean the same thing would happen to you if you got married? It’s not hereditary or anything.” She tried to lighten the mood.

“Funny.” She pulled a face. “It doesn’t matter anyway, because I am never getting married or having kids. The last thing this family needs is another messed up kid.”

The penny dropped. “Is ... is that what you think happened? That we messed you up?”

“Well, we weren’t exactly the Waltons, were we?”

It stung to hear her daughter talk about their family life like this. Surely things hadn’t been that bad. “I admit it wasn’t always plain sailing, and yes, I suppose we argued occasionally.” Occasionally? Who was she kidding? That’s all they ever seemed to do. Most of their rows were usually over money, with her accusing Steve of overspending on things they didn’t need and him accusing Lou of being a nag and a killjoy, but they’d usually happened after Dani was in bed. “Just because me and your dad didn’t get along with each other, it didn’t mean that we didn’t love you.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” She flipped her book closed and got to her feet.

“Dani, you do know that both your father and I love you, right?”

The nod of Dani’s head was so imperceptible; she barely noticed it. There was nothing she wanted more at that moment than to pull her daughter into her arms and hold her tight, but there was something in her daughter’s expression and rigid posture that warned her to keep her distance. “I know. Why don’t we go into town and pick up some things for your party next weekend?”

Dani’s body relaxed a little. Lou could tell she was considering it. “And we can grab a burger afterwards.” To hell with the cost.

“On one condition.”

“What?” It was Lou’s turn to stiffen, expecting Dani to say something along the lines of she’d have to walk in front of her or behind her or disappear altogether if they ran into someone she knew.

A small grin tugged at the corners of her lips. “I don’t have to have anything pink.”

“Deal.”

Dani had showered and changed in record time, allowing them to get most of their shopping done before the shops shut for a siesta. She just had a couple more things to pick up before heading off for their burger lunch.

Even though it was a special birthday, she couldn’t afford to spend a lot on Dani’s present. She’d sent Steve a couple of texts to remind him about Dani’s birthday, but since he hadn’t replied to either, she assumed he was either arranging his own present or simply wasn’t interested.

Lou didn’t visit Pasteleria de Catalinaoften. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to spend all day, every day, in this little slice of spun sugar heaven? Her rare trips to Pasteleria de Catalina were the only times that she was actually grateful she was so poor, otherwise, she’d have been the size of a house. This woman wasn’t just a master baker, she was an artiste. Not only did her cakes taste divine, but they also looked like fine works of art worthy of a place in any gallery.

She’d only popped in to change the size of Dani’s birthday cake to accommodate the extra guests, but somehow, she’d been side-tracked by a display of miniature chocolate bombs Catalina had been inspired to create after her recent trip to Greece. They called out to her from across the bakery, their silky deliciousness luring her towards them. Oh my god, she wanted to shriek after biting into a fig and ouzo ganache ball of deliciousness wrapped in a dark chocolate hug, but it wasn’t that kind of place. Dare she take another? Her eyes darted left and right, scoping out the area. Catalina was busy with a couple of women discussing wedding cakes and everyone else just seemed to be going about their own business, completely oblivious to her presence. She sneakily reached for another, then another, rolling her eyes heavenward as she stuffed the tiny balls into her mouth. Reaching for a fourth, then a fifth, she almost jumped out of her skin when her fingers brushed someone’s skin. “I am so sorry,” she got out between coughing fits, spraying the pale blue shirt of the man next to her in chocolate spittle. Great, now everyone was staring at her. She swallowed quickly, trying to hide the evidence. Panic surged through her as a vice-like grip tightened around her throat, constricting her airways. She staggered backwards, her arms flailing as she struggled for her next breath. Her vision blurred as she felt herself falling. She felt someone catch her, their arms encircling her, and a feeling of pressure being exerted somewhere between her ribcage and naval until something shot up her windpipe and out of her mouth.

She gulped at the air, drinking in the oxygen, and filling her lungs as someone guided her into a seat. “Can someone get her some water?”

Lou’s stomach lurched. You’ve got to be kidding?

“Ay dios mío.” A woman clutched her chest, her other hand on Logan’s arm. “I thought she was going to die.”

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