The Girl Who Came Back. Barbara McMahon

haven’t ignored her. We’ve written, spoken on the phone a few times. Not that it’s any of your business.”

      “Did she tell you about the plans she and I talked about for the house?”

      Eliza shook her head, wondering why Maddie hadn’t mentioned that. Of course, the last time Eliza had heard from her had been Christmas. She had written twice since then, but hadn’t received a letter in return. She wasn’t going to share that information with Cade. She’d find out what she could from Betsy when they got together for lunch the next day.

      “If you and Maddie made plans together, why are you siding with the banker?” she asked.

      “I’m hardly siding with Allen.”

      “Seemed like it to me. He wants to sell, you want to buy.”

      “He and I don’t see eye to eye on most things. But if the property goes up for sale, I’ll do my best to buy it. Keep it in the family so to speak.”

      “Or cut Maddie out of the loop. It’s not going to come to that,” Eliza said.

      “Oh no? Why not?”

      “Never mind.” She could see the hospital now. Only a few more minutes and they’d be there.

      He walked in silence as they approached the brick building. Eliza wished he’d leave, but he followed her in to the lobby. She wondered if he planned to accompany her all the way to Maddie’s room, and when he stepped into the elevator beside her, she figured she had her answer.

      She looked at him. “Visiting as well?”

      “I need to know if Maddie’s awake yet or not. Time’s running out.”

      Eliza stared at the closed elevator doors. She wished he was a thousand miles away. Feeling edgy, she willed the elevator to rise quickly. At last the doors opened and she stepped out into the hall of the intensive care unit.

      Cade went a couple of steps before he realized she wasn’t with him. Turning, he looked at her, one eyebrow raised.

      “Cold feet?”

      “I’m not going with you. You don’t need or want me around. You made that clear years ago, Cade. Visit Maddie all you want. When you leave, I’ll go in.”

      “If she’s still in ICU, they won’t let me see her,” he said, ignoring her accusation.

      She shrugged and leaned against the wall, prepared to wait forever if necessary, but she was not going with him.

      Her cell phone rang.

      “You can’t have that in here,” he said.

      “I know the rules.” She fished the phone from her purse and checked the caller before switching it off.

      It was Stephen. She turned and punched the button for the elevator. “I’ll go back outside to call,” she said as the doors slid open.

      Alone on the front grounds a few minutes later, she quickly dialed Stephen’s number.

      “Hello, Eliza. I tried calling you just now.”

      “I know, Stephen. I was in the hospital and couldn’t take the call. What’s up?”

      “I wanted to see how you’re doing. How’s Maddie? Any change in her condition?”

      “Maddie’s still in a coma. I don’t think the future looks all that good. The longer she’s in the coma, the less likely it is she’ll recover.” Eliza didn’t like thinking about that.

      “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know that’s disappointing. Is there anything you can do?”

      “Not really. Be with her, I guess.”

      “Do you know yet when you’ll be returning home? I’ll be disappointed if you can’t make it here this weekend.”

      “I was only planning to come out for part of Saturday and Sunday,” Eliza reminded him. Why did she feel so cantankerous? She should be happy to hear from Stephen. “If I can’t make it, you’ll still have a good time.”

      Her mood had to do with coming home to Maraville. Not coming home, she corrected herself. Coming back to visit. Maraville wasn’t home.

      “I can fly down to join you if you need me,” he said.

      He was sweet to offer. “Thank you, but there’s nothing you could do. Maraville is a sleepy southern town which hasn’t changed much since I left. As soon as I know more about Maddie’s prognosis, I’ll have a better idea when I’ll be heading back.” Much as she would like to see him, she knew he wouldn’t fit in here. And then she’d feel responsible for entertaining him.

      “Call me tomorrow,” he said.

      “I will.”

      She clicked off the phone when he hung up. She should also check in with her boss, she realized.

      Cade strode from the hospital.

      “No change,” he said, not breaking his stride.

      “Cade, wait,” she called as he moved past her.

      He stopped and turned to look at her.

      “Tell me about the loan,” she said.

      “I don’t know the particulars, only that Maddie was having difficulties lately. She mentioned it once when we were talking.”

      “When you two were planning that home for unwed teens?”

      He raised an eyebrow. “What did she tell you about that?”

      “Nothing. I heard it from Betsy.”

      “I thought we had a deal going, but if Allen sells the property, it’ll change things.”

      “But you plan to buy it.”

      “If I can. But to recoup the costs, I’d have to develop at least part of the property. The house is going to take a lot of renovation to make it suitable for group living. If I have to purchase it outright on top of renovations, I’ll have to find the money somewhere.”

      “What do you mean, develop the property?”

      “Build some houses to raise cash.”

      Eliza thought of the woods and meadow area in the twenty-five acres Maddie owned. As children, April, Jo and she had played freely there, their imaginations transforming the forest and fields into magical kingdoms.

      “What are you talking about?” she asked. “Who would buy houses here?”

      “Maraville is becoming a popular bedroom community of New Orleans. Lots of new houses are going up. Maddie’s land is prime. I could build a development there that would cover the costs of buying the property and funding the home I want to establish.”

      “How could you?” Eliza was outraged at the thought.

      Cade shrugged. “There’s a consortium trying to buy up property around here for an exclusive golf and country club. Maddie’s twenty-five acres would be prime land for that. It’s them or me, and I’d rather it be me.”

      “The property is too hilly,” Eliza protested. “It’d make a lousy golf course.”

      “But the house would make a terrific country club, and some of the back acreage could be leveled enough for a golf course. I met a lot of opposition with my proposal. Allen would love nothing better than to see it permanently squashed.”

      “A home for unwed teens. Was Maddie planning to go on living in the house?”

      “She was going to run the place,” Cade told her. “I guess her stroke puts an end to that idea.”

      “After losing her foster care license?” Surely they hadn’t forgotten that, Eliza thought. “Who would let her?”

      “It’s