The Girl Who Came Back by Barbara McMahon

Author:Barbara McMahon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2006-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

ELIZA DECIDED TO WAIT until after her visit with Allen McLennon to tell Stephen about her catering assignments. She wanted to know what she was up against on Maddie’s behalf. Stephen was a lawyer. He liked facts, not supposition or speculation. She wanted to have answers to his questions.

Dressed in her suit despite the heat of the Mississippi morning, Eliza was prepared to do her best. She had already talked to her bank in Boston about transferring funds as soon as she opened an account in Maraville.

She picked up Edith and they arrived at the bank shortly after it opened. Eliza quickly established a checking account for herself. She would need it for her new business venture, as well. After calling her bank in Boston with the new account number, she asked to see Mr. McLennon.

“Miss Harper, Miss Shaw. What can I do for you ladies?” Allen asked when his secretary showed them into his office a short time later.

“We’re here to discuss Maddie’s outstanding loan and the payments that are in arrears,” Eliza said. “I’ve talked things over with Edith Harper, who as you probably know has power of attorney for Maddie while she’s incapacitated.”

Edith pulled out a sheet of paper and laid it on the edge of the desk. “I’m acting for Maddie until she’s well again.”

Allen glanced at the paper, then looked at Eliza. “Ordinarily I don’t discuss a client’s business affairs with anyone other than the client or the legal representative, but in this case, I can tell you the bank is starting foreclosure proceedings. The loan payments are months behind. And given Maddie’s current situation, I don’t expect to see her resuming payments. Business is business.”

“I’m able to make a substantial payment toward the arrearage. Cade Bennett will be here this afternoon with another payment. That should bring the account fully current. Next we’ll see how to get the loan paid in full.”

Allen frowned. “We’ve already started the process.”

“Then stop it,” Edith said.

Eliza nodded. “I wouldn’t think the bank,” she emphasized the word, knowing full well Allen was the one with the power, “would want the bad publicity that would arise from taking an ill woman’s home away from her—all for a few thousand dollars. Especially when that house and the acreage surrounding it are worth much more than the loan amount. Just think of the speculation if the bank then sold the house and left the woman homeless. Sounds like unfair business practices to me. I wonder what government agency regulates that.”

“Business is business,” he said testily. “The consequences of falling delinquent on the loan were clearly stated in the agreement. Now, if there is nothing else.” He rose.

Eliza remained seated. “My fiancé is an attorney. I’ll have him look into the various options we have at this time. Perhaps through him I can get another loan and pay this one in full. Or, worse case, we could sell some of the land ourselves and pay off the loan that way. At least we would know we’d made the best deal and Maddie wouldn’t lose her home.

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