Page 49 of Rhythm Of Redemption

Disentangling himself from Dani's arms, he retrieved a brown paper bag from his rucksack. “Here,” he said, handing it to her. “I've got you something for your birthday and sorry about the wrapping. You know I'm lousy at it.”

“Thanks,” she responded, holding up the cheap stainless-steel bracelet adorned with delicate abalone shell inlays. “I love it.” Lou couldn't help but notice the faint glimmer of disappointment in her daughter's eyes. It was exactly the same as the others she’d collected over the years, now relegated to the depths of a forgotten drawer.

“Well, put it on then,” Steve urged, his hand reaching out to take Dani's arm. His gaze flickered towards Lou, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “Woah, nice watch. Business must be going well … very well.”

Lou clenched her jaw, refusing to let Steve's comment rattle her. Since he’d walked out on them, she had worked tirelessly to build a new life for herself and Dani, without any help from him or anyone else. She didn't owe him any explanations.

“Mum didn't get it, it was a birthday present from-” Dani began before Lou swiftly interrupted, determined to keep Steve in the dark about Logan. Her personal life, just like her business, was none of his concern.

“From a friend,” Lou interjected, her voice carrying a firm resolve. Her eyes remained locked on Steve, a veil of secrecy shielding her true emotions. The less he knew, the better. “Are you hungry? There's leftover pasta and salad if you want some.” Shifting the focus seemed like the safest route, even if it meant extending hospitality to him.

“No,” he replied, pulling out a chair and settling down. “I'm starving.” His eyes lingered on Lou, searching for something, a flicker of recognition. “You look different. Have you changed your hair?”

Lou avoided his probing gaze as she filled his plate with cold meat, pasta, and salad, placing it in front of him. She grabbed a beer from the fridge and placed it beside his plate. “Cheers,” he said, lifting the bottle and taking a pull. “So, Dani, how are you getting on at school?”

Lou's eyes silently pleaded with Dani, urging her to play along. “She's doing really well,” Lou chimed in. “Everything's fine, isn't it?”

Dani, though confused, nodded in agreement. “Um, yeah.”

Lou grasped at any conversation topic, but with so many things off limits, her options were becoming limited. “How long are you staying?” she asked, hoping for a definitive answer.

Steve's response left her unsettled. “I don't know yet. It depends.”

The uncertainty of his reply unsettled her. “On what?” she pressed.

“You know, this and that,” he replied vaguely.

BEEEEEP.

“That's my ride,” Dani interjected.

“You're going out?” Steve's disappointment seeped into his voice. “But I've only just arrived.”

“Well, maybe if you'd given us some notice,” Lou retorted, a forced smile masking the bitterness in her tone.

“I have to go. I need to help set up for tomorrow,” Dani explained, her sense of urgency evident.

BEEEEEP

“What's happening tomorrow?” Steve asked, his curiosity piqued.

“My art exhibition … Sorry, Dad, I've got to go. Bye, Mum,” Dani hurriedly explained before darting out of the room, leaving Lou and Steve behind.

Once the sound of the car engine faded into the distance, Lou turned her gaze towards Steve. “Why are you here?” she asked, her suspicion evident.

“I've already told you,” he replied, his eyes shifting uneasily to his empty bottle. “Could you pass me another beer?” He pushed his now-empty plate away, his restlessness palpable. “And I want to spend time with Dani.”

Lou's eyebrow arched in disbelief. “Yeah, right. And there are no more beers. That was the last one.”

“She is my daughter, remember?” Steve retorted, a defensive edge creeping into his voice.

“Oh, that's rich,” Lou shot back, her voice filled with resentment and frustration. “You didn't even remember her birthday.”

Steve's response came all too quickly, as if he’d rehearsed it. “Of course I did. I've just been busy, and I wanted to give her a present in person.”

Lou stared at him, her mistrust clear. She could always tell when he was lying—his lips moved. “So, you suddenly remember you have a daughter after months of neglecting her?”

“I've left Truda,” he abruptly interjected, shifting the conversation's focus.

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