Read Online The Lies We Tell by Elizabeth Dunk - Free Book Online Page B

awake. What you doing in your father’s office?”
    “How did you know that’s where I was?”
    “I know angle of light from this bed. Saw it over the years.”
    Todd picked up his mother’s hand. “Just thinking. About Dad.”
    “What thinking?”
    “How mad I was at him, for dying before I had a chance to fix things with him. I was going to tell him that I’d go to business school.”
    “You wouldn’t.”
    “I wasn’t going to actually do it, just let him think for a while I was. Give him something to be happy about.”
    Maria squeezed his hand. “Never understood you. Paul, straight away. You like me.”
    “I was so mad that he was taken from me, and I blamed Sia.”
    “Now?”
    “It wasn’t her fault.” He wasn’t going to tell his mother everything — not now — but it felt good to say it.
    “I know.”
    Todd kissed her cheek again.
    “Sia very pretty.”
    “Yes, she is.”
    “Good daughter.”
    Todd laughed. “Don’t marry us off just yet, Mum.”
    “Night, love.”
    Todd settled his mother down, and went back to the office.
    “Goodbye, Dad.” He turned off the light and went to bed.
    Waking on Mary and Jim’s couch, it took a moment for Sia to realise why she was there and remember the events of the night before.
    She sat and stared at the carpet, trying to make a decision on how to face the day. In the end, one step at a time seemed the best move and so she went into the kitchen for breakfast.
    Everyone was already up. The four kids were sitting along one side of the table, chomping on fingers of toast and slurping chocolate milk. Jim was at one end, tucking into bacon and eggs while Mary was at the stove, cooking some more.
    Sienna sat with her back to her sister. Sia took the seat next to her and frowned at the slight swelling around Sienna’s jaw.
    “How is it?”
    Sienna took a sip of coffee and winced. “Sore, but I’ll live.”
    “Here you go.” Mary put a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Sienna. She smiled at Sia. “What can I get for you?”
    “Just coffee will be fine.”
    “Not just coffee. You need food in your stomach to face the day.”
    “All right, bacon sandwich.”
    “Done.” Mary turned back to her cooking.
    “What are you going to do?” Sienna said.
    “I need to go to the station and see what I can do about bailing Dad out.” Sia frowned. “Hope it won’t cost too much.”
    “What about the exhibition?” Jim said. “You’ve got to take the paintings to Sydney today.”
    The weight she’d felt lifted last night settled heavily back on Sia’s shoulders. “I can’t,” she said. “I’ll give the gallery owner a call and tell him they’ll be late.”
    “I can’t see that he’ll be happy with that,” Jim said.
    “It’s the only way.”
    “No, it’s not,” Sienna said. “I’ll take care of Dad, you take the paintings to Sydney.”
    “No.”
    “Then you take care of Dad and I’ll take the paintings to Sydney.”
    “No. You need to rest today.”
    “I’ll take the paintings,” Jim said.
    “No. What if Mary needs you?”
    The phone rang. Jim answered and almost immediately was holding it out.
    “It’s for you, Sia. Col Hamilton.”
    Sia took the handset — it seemed someone else was going to decide her actions for the day.
    “Hello?”
    “Ms Collins, I need you to come down to the station this morning.” Col’s formal speech made it clear this was an official call.
    “Sure,” Sia said. “Just let me shower and change and I’ll be right down.”
    “Sia. I not only need to speak to you about the events of last night, but also about what happened ten years ago.”
    Sia ignored his last words — she’d deal with it. “I’ll be there in less than an hour.” She disconnected, and looked at Mary and Sienna, watching her expectantly. “There, day decided. I’m going to the police station and the exhibition can wait.”
    “No it can’t.” She swung around. Todd stood in the kitchen door, Jim hovering behind him. He