The Lies We Tell Read Free

between him and his father had descended into bitter, biting comments about lack of appreciation, lack of understanding, ungrateful sons and dictator dads.
    When the robbery occurred, Todd Lansing Sr.’s agitation had been extreme. He’d lost the little patience he possessed and no one in the family could do well enough. The fact that someone had entered his inner sanctum and stolen from him seemed to have undermined his entire view of the world.
    Within a couple of days, the rumours that Sia Collins was responsible had circulated. Then the police had returned Dad’s stolen items and confirmed that Sia confessed. Todd’s rage, on behalf of his father, had been instant.
    His father had gone very quiet. He’d taken to spending all his time locked in his office, refusing even to come out for meals.
    A week later he was back again and his insistence on Todd going to business school was stronger than ever. As much as he felt for his father and the stress he was under, Todd wasn’t prepared to settle for a life that he knew was entirely wrong for him. The fighting became worse.
    Another week passed, and Todd had decided on a compromise. Let his father think he would do as asked, at least until this whole situation with the robbery was behind them. He’d got home from school; confident he could make his father happy for a while at least.
    Only to find his father slumped on his desk, already cold.
    Todd touched the desk. That had been a hollow time for the family. They’d each locked themselves away in their hearts to deal with the grief.
    Sia’s conviction for the robbery had galvanised them all. When she was given a good behaviour bond and sent back to school, Todd had decided it was a terrible miscarriage of justice. He’d turned on the girl he’d once considered a friend and she was driven out of school.
    Then Todd had decided to become a police officer, in order to ensure that people like Sia would be caught and pay for their crimes.
    Only now here she was, walking into his family as if nothing had happened, simply expecting to be forgiven for what she had done to them.
    Never.
    The doorbell rang. Something within Todd told him who it was and when he stepped into the lounge room and saw the shadow of the slight person standing on the other side of the glass, he wasn’t surprised.
    Perhaps his thinking of her had summoned her. He’d make sure he didn’t do it again.
    He turned and walked back out of the room. Damned if he was going to open the door, and allow her into his family’s home. The doctor had agreed with Paul — that Sia’s lessons were good for Maria — but anyone could give her painting lessons.
    He’d made a few enquiries about other art teachers and so far had come up with none. He’d have to get serious — pay someone to come from Sydney if need be — to save his family from Sia Collins’ particular brand of poison.
    It made sense to do so in his father’s office. At the desk where he’d died, from the pain Sia had caused him.
    Todd had made three unsatisfactory phone calls when he became aware of a disturbance in the house.
    “No.” His mother’s voice came to him clearly. “Shan’t.”
    He was out of his seat before he had a moment to question his reaction. When he did, his intellect agreed with his reflexes — he needed to act.
    At the door to the sunroom, he frowned at the scene before him. Maria had folded her good arm across her chest and she would have been pouting if her face could form the expression. At her feet crouched Sia, mopping up a spill of wet paint. Paul sat in the corner, reading a magazine and ignoring it all.
    “You can’t make me,” Maria said in the blurred voice that still brought a tear. It was so wrong, to see her so damaged when she’d always been the tower of strength in their lives.
    “Of course not,” Sia said, wiping the last of the paint away and standing. “You’re an adult, I can’t force you to do anything. But you’re also not a quitter