The Girl Who Came Back

The Girl Who Came Back
Barbara McMahon

Home, Sweet Home?When Eliza Shaw was sixteen, her life was torn apart. False accusations meant the only home she'd ever known–a foster home–was destroyed, and she and her two foster sisters were separated. That same year, tragedy struck Cade Bennett, Eliza's first love, and it ruined their relationship.Twelve years later Eliza returns to the small Mississippi town where she grew up. Seeing her childhood home brings back emotions Eliza hasn't felt in a long time, and she begins to search for her former foster sisters. Eliza can't ignore the feelings she still has for Cade, either, even though he blames her for his sister's death. But as the truth about the past begins to emerge, Cade and Eliza find themselves growing close. Maybe you really can go home again.

Eliza’s fear for Maddie grew

What if her foster mother didn’t recover? What if the stroke put an end to the Maddie she knew? Eliza was filled with a sense of impending doom. She had to get to Mississippi. She’d let things go far too long without making a real attempt to reconnect with Maddie.

Eliza had spent so many years alone. It was one thing to remain aloof, to protect her heart from further bruising, but the reality had led to a solitary existence. She’d made a mistake as a teenager, and it had left her wary of getting close to anyone—afraid of hurting someone and being hurt herself.

Maddie had done her best for her girls. Eliza saw that now. Was this the end? Was Maddie alone in the hospital, living her last few days with no one to visit, to talk to her, to love her? Eliza couldn’t allow that. It was said that you could never go home again. But for her entire childhood, Maddie had given Eliza her best. She was the only mother Eliza remembered, and now she needed Eliza.

What was she waiting for?

She picked up the phone and punched in the number of an airline.

Dear Reader,

We all had best friends in childhood. Some of us are lucky enough to stay in the same town and continue those friendships all our lives. Others have moved away. What happened to those best friends? Do you sometimes wish with all your heart you could once again be close to someone who knew you back when you were five? Do you long to share confidences and learn what’s going on in her life?

The three girls from Poppin Hill were best friends. When a tragic incident separated them, they went their own ways. Now, ten years later, a family emergency is calling them back, one by one. Will they find that special friendship they remember so fondly? Or have the years and distance put too much in the way to reconnect with that unique bond?

Come and see how Eliza makes the first step by returning. And discovers that, as Dorothy said, there’s no place like home.

All the best,

Barbara McMahon

The Girl Who Came Back

Barbara McMahon

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To my great-aunt Eleanor Fuller.

Thank you for all the memories and family stories and for

giving me the Miller Family Bible! I love you.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

PROLOGUE

Twelve years ago

“COME ON BACK TO MY PLACE,” Shell said, revving the car and careering recklessly down the narrow road. The trees crowding the edges of the country lane whipped by in a blur.

“I need to get home.” Today had been a mistake. Eliza had known that almost the moment she’d agreed to go with Shell, but she couldn’t back out. Getting even with Cade should have made her feel better, but she’d been annoyed with Shell all day. She should never have given in to him and played hooky from school to go to New Orleans. Dammit, she was tired and hungry and feeling more than a little guilty. Now she had to sneak back into the house so Maddie didn’t give her grief for skipping school.

April was supposed to tell Cade that Eliza had cut classes to go to New Orleans, and with whom. If Cade could fool around with Marlise, Eliza was justified in having some fun with Shell.

Only she hadn’t had fun. Shell had been all over her, and fighting him off had become a full-time job. Now they were almost back in Maraville, and Eliza was counting the minutes until she could shake off this loser.

“Come on, baby,” Shell said, putting a hand on her bare thigh.

The guy never gave up. She slapped his hand away. May in Mississippi was warm, but she’d also worn the shorts to make a statement. Pulling her leg away, she glared at him.

“I need to get home. Maddie will skin me alive if she finds out I skipped school.”

“If? You mean when,” Shell said, sneering. “Like old man Douglass isn’t going to tell at some point?”

For sure the principal would call and complain about one of Maddie’s foster children again. He called so often, he probably had her number programmed into his phone. Usually it was about Jo, but once in a while about April. This would be the first call about Eliza. Didn’t matter. Her foster mother would be infuriated.

Still, it’d be worth it if Cade got the message. If he could play around, so could Eliza.

“Damage has already been done,” Shell said, smirking at her. “Might as well go all the way.”