The Girl Who Came Back. Barbara McMahon

not harmed Jo. Eliza had repeated her argument a hundred times. To Sheriff Halstead. To Edith Harper, Maddie’s best friend, when she’d helped a stunned Eliza pack for the trip to Biloxi. To the new foster parents who had taken her on.

      Being removed from Maraville had been a terrible blow to Eliza. But she couldn’t change the past. She’d survived. Hardships survived made one stronger, she remembered Maddie saying more than once. Living on her own in Boston had shown her she could cope with whatever came her way. Better than cope—succeed.

      “I’ll be spending most of my time at the hospital until Maddie recovers. I’m staying at the motel in town. I’d suggest you and Mr. McLennon wait for her to recover before making any plans about her property.”

      She’d make sure she kept her distance from Cade. He knew he made her uneasy, and seemed to relish the knowledge. She was not responsible for Chelsea’s death. She had told him about the call; it wasn’t her fault Chelsea had overdosed and died. And Cade saying it was didn’t make it so.

      Cade’s narrowed gaze held hers for a long moment before he stepped aside and let her leave the room.

      Without another word, she returned to her car, shaken. After twelve years, she had thought she’d be immune to the man. She was wrong.

      A half hour later, showered and dressed in cooler clothes, Eliza stood by the window of her motel room, feeling refreshed. She idly watched some children play in the park across the street. How they had the energy to run around in the heat was beyond her. Yet she remembered days when she and April and Jo had played on the grounds of the house on Poppin Hill—spraying each other with the hose, sliding on the wet grass. Or lying beneath the huge old oak, talking and laughing.

      Eliza gazed at the children, wishing she could be as carefree as they were right now. She turned away, determined to do what she could to find out more about the situation with Maddie’s house. How could Maddie be in danger of losing it? What would it take to bring the arrearage current? Eliza didn’t have a lot of savings, but she had some. It had taken years to accumulate what she had. Dare she give it all away? On the other hand, Maddie needed help if she was in danger of losing it. Eliza owed her. Or maybe she could locate April and Jo.

      If they were together again, could they recapture the closeness they’d once had? Eliza thought it unlikely. Too much time had passed. They’d made new lives, had different experiences. Still, she’d love to see them both again. She yearned for that special feeling of belonging that she’d taken for granted as a young teenager.

      Even with Stephen and his family, she didn’t feel the same bond. Being married to him would change that, she hoped.

      She slipped on sandals and headed for the nearest restaurant. She’d eat dinner and get back to the hospital to see if there’d been any change in Maddie’s condition. She was losing her optimism after her last visit, but the nurse had tried to encourage her.

      One of the best things about Maraville was its size, Eliza thought as she strolled along the sidewalk. She could walk almost everywhere.

      A few moments later she was standing in the blessedly cool café, grateful that the restaurant wasn’t any farther away. She’d forgotten how heavy the air could be here. She glanced around.

      Ruby’s Café was a haunt from the old days. Many afternoons Eliza and her friends had shared milk shakes and fries, sometimes splurging on juicy burgers with the works. She almost expected to see the place full of high-school kids.

      The café was comfortably full, but given the hour, there were few teenagers. The hostess seated her near the front and Eliza scanned the menu. Maybe she’d give in to nostalgia and have a hamburger with the works.

      “Eliza Shaw?”

      She looked up into the smiling face of Betsy Fellows, a former classmate.

      “Betsy?”

      “I wasn’t sure it was you. Look at you with that sleek hairstyle and slim figure. Wow, you look great!”

      Eliza laughed, standing to hug her high-school friend.

      “I can’t believe you recognized me. How are you?” How cool to run into Betsy her first night here, Eliza thought. If she stayed in town long enough, she’d look up a few other classmates. Those she wanted to see, she qualified, thinking of Cade.

      “Doing great. Waiting tables as you can see. How long are you in town? Let’s get together and catch up.”

      “I’d like that. I’m here because of Maddie, so I’m not sure exactly what my plans are. It depends on her.”

      Betsy’s smile faded. “That’s a downright shame, isn’t it? How is she?”

      “Still in a coma.”

      “I hope she recovers.” Betsy glanced at her pad. “It was awful what happened to you all back then.” Looking at Eliza again, she shook her head.

      Although this wasn’t the time or place to discuss it, Eliza hated to let the adults who’d been in charge all those years ago get off scot-free. They’d had the power and they’d abused it. If nothing else, maybe she could set the record straight while she was in town.

      “Maddie was never the same,” Betsy said. “It was months before she started going out in public again. I remember my folks talking about it. And now this. Just when I thought she was getting excited about life again.”

      “Why’s that?”

      “Because of the new center for pregnant teens.”

      Eliza frowned. “What center?”

      “The one Maddie and Cade talked about building at the house on Poppin Hill.” Betsy seemed surprised that Eliza had to ask. “Cade’s here now,” she said, tilting her head to the left.

      Eliza turned around and looked right into Cade’s dark gaze. He was seated at a table behind her with two other men.

      “I don’t know about the project,” Eliza said, turning quickly away and sitting back down in her chair. Great, now the man probably thought they were talking about him. Which they were. “I thought the bank was about to foreclose.”

      “I don’t know about that. But I know Cade and Maddie discussed a home for unwed pregnant teens. Even brought it before the planning commission for approval. Which it got, provisionally. Maddie was most determined. You remember what she was like when she made up her mind about something.”

      Eliza nodded. So Cade and Maddie were partners in this scheme. Then why was he planning to buy her property if the bank sold it? To cut her out of the loop?

      “I can fill you in, but not now,” Betsy said, keeping a practiced eye on the rest of her area. “It’s hopping tonight. Do you know what you want to eat yet?”

      Eliza ordered and Betsy hurried off to the kitchen. She wanted to know everything, but for the moment would have to be patient.

      Having Cade right behind her made Eliza feel self-conscious. His scathing comments after his sister’s death still had the power to hurt. She pushed the memories from her mind. Their relationship had ended years ago. She wouldn’t let his presence disturb her like this.

      While Eliza was eating, another former classmate stopped by to greet her. That surprised her. Had she been close to other girls, not just April and Jo? Were her memories warped because of the way she was removed from Maraville?

      Bemused, she left the café once she’d paid her bill, and headed for the hospital. The evening had cooled slightly and the walk would be pleasant. Eliza drew a breath of the soft southern air. It felt good to be back. In a surreal way, it seemed almost as if she had never left.

      “Going to the hospital?” a familiar voice asked.

      She glanced over at Cade as he fell into step with her.

      “Yes.” She thought he had left the café before her.

      “I’ll go with you.”