Part 30 (1/2)
She stared at her face in the mirror as she swiftly braided her hair. Her eyes had shadows under them, but she didn't look tired. She simply looked...like herself. If there was any change at all, it was in the expression in her eyes, as if there was a spark that had been missing before.
But if her face was the same, her body bore the signs of his lovemaking. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pink and slightly raw from contact with his beard stubble, her nipples so sensitive from his mouth that the soft fabric of her bra rasped them. There were several small bruises on her hips, where he had gripped her during his climax, and her thighs ached. She was sore enough that every step reminded her of his possession and awakened echoes of sensation that made her acutely aware of her body.
It was much earlier than usual when she drove to the marina, but she needed the distraction to take her mind off Robert. If she was lucky, Sherry would bring Virgil by to spend the day with her.
Craig was ga.s.sing up a boat when she arrived. When he had finished, he came in and rang up the sale, putting the money in the cash drawer. ”How come you're in so early? Have a nice time last night?”
Her nerves jumped, but she managed a composed smile. ”Yes, we did. We went to a private club for dinner and dancing. And I came in early...just because.”
”That's a good enough reason for me.” He brushed his dark hair out of his eyes and gave her an urchin's grin. ”I'm glad you're going out with him. You deserve some fun, after the way you've worked to build up this place.”
”Thanks for swapping s.h.i.+fts with me.”
”You bet.”
Another customer idled up to the docks, and Craig went out again. Evie picked up the morning mail and began sorting through it. The junk mail and sales papers went into the trash. The bills went to one side, to be juggled later. One letter was from a New York bank she'd never heard of, probably wanting her to apply for a credit card. She started to toss it without opening it, but on second thought decided to see what it was about. She picked up the penknife she used as a letter opener and slit the envelope.
Thirty seconds later, her brows knit in puzzlement, she let the single sheet of paper drop to the desk. Somehow this bank had gotten her confused with someone else, though she couldn't think how they had gotten her name on one of their files when she had never done business with them. The letter stated, in brisk terms, that due to a poor payment record they would be forced to foreclose on her loan unless it was paid in full within thirty days.
She would have ignored it except that the amount noted was the same as what she owed her bank for the loan against the marina. She knew that figure well, had struggled to get it down to that amount. Each payment brought it even lower. She didn't know how, but obviously her file had gotten into this other bank's computers, and they wanted her to pay fifteen thousand, two hundred and sixty-two dollars within thirty days.
Well, it was obviously something she would have to clear up before it got even more tangled. Evie called her bank, gave her name and asked for her loan officer, Tommy Fowler, who was also an old school friend.
The line clicked, and Tommy's voice said, ”Hi, Evie. How're you doing?”
”Just fine. How are you and Karen doing, and the kids?”
”We're doing okay, though Karen says the kids are driving her crazy, and if school doesn't start soon she's going to get herself arrested, so she can have some peace and quiet.”
Evie chuckled. The Fowler kids were known for their frenetic energy.
”What can I help you with today?” Tommy asked.
”There's been a really strange mix-up, and I need to know how to straighten it out. I got a letter today from a bank in New York, asking for payment in full on a loan, and it's the same amount as the one I took out from you, on the marina.”
”Is that so? Wonder what's going on. Do you have your account number handy?”
”Not with me, no. I'm at work, and all my bookkeeping is at home.”
”That's okay, I'll pull it up under your name. Just a minute.”
She could hear the tapping of computer keys as he hummed softly to himself. Then he stopped humming and silence reigned, stretching out for so long that Evie wondered if he'd left the room. Finally a few more keys were tapped, then more silence.
He fumbled with the receiver. ”Evie, I-” Reluctance was heavy in his voice.
”What's wrong? What's happened?”
”There's a problem, all right, hon. A big one. Your loan was bought by that bank.”
Evie's mind went blank. ”What do you mean, bought?”
”I mean we sold off some of our loans. It's a common practice. Banks do it to reduce their debt load. Other financial inst.i.tutions buy them to diversify their own debt load. According to the records, this transaction took place ten days ago.”
”Ten days! Just ten days, and already they're demanding payment in full? Tommy, can they do that?”
”Not if you've fulfilled the terms of the loan. Have you...ah...were you late with the payment?”
She knew he must have her payment record there in front of him, showing that she had been late several times, though she had never fallen a full month behind and had always gotten back on schedule. ”It's late now,” she said numbly. ”I had an unexpected expense, and it'll be next week before I can.”
She heard him exhale heavily. ”Then they're legally within their rights, though the normal procedure would be to make an effort at collecting the payment, rather than the full amount.”
”What do I do?”
”Call them. It should be fairly easy to straighten out. After all, you're a good risk. But be sure to follow up by letter, so you'll have a record in writing.”
”Okay. Thanks for the advice, Tommy.”
”You're welcome. I'm sorry about this, hon. It never would have happened if we'd still held the loan.”
”I know. I'll see what I can do.”
”Call me if there's anything I can do to help.”
”Thanks,” she said again and hung up.
Her heart was pounding as she dialed the number on the letterhead. An impersonal voice answered and nasally requested her business. Evie gave the name of the man who had signed the letter, and the connection was made before she could even say please.
The call was brief. Mr. Borowitz was as brisk as his letter had been and as impersonal as the operator. There was nothing he could do, nor did he sound interested in trying. The outstanding amount was due in full by the time limit set forth in the letter, or the loan would be foreclosed and the property forfeit.
Slowly she hung up and sat there staring out the window at the blindingly bright day. The lake was crowded with boaters, people laughing, having fun. The marina was busy, with owners cleaning their craft, others using her ramps to launch their boats, still others idling in for gas. If she didn't somehow come up with over fifteen thousand dollars within the next thirty days, she would lose it all.
She loved the marina. Because she and Matt had been playmates before they had become sweethearts, she had spent a lot of time here even as a child. She had spent hours playing on the docks, had grown up with the smell of the water in her nostrils. The rhythms of the marina were as much a part of her as her own heartbeat. She had helped Matt work here, and later, after his death, had taken over the lion's share of the work from his parents. When they had left the marina to her, she had channeled all her energy and efforts into making it prosperous, but it had been a labor of love. The marina, as much as her family, had given her a reason for going on when she had been doubtful that she wanted to even try.
This was her kingdom, her home, as much or more than the house in which she lived. She couldn't bear to lose it. Some way, any way, she would find the money to pay off the loan.
The most obvious solution was to borrow against the house. The amount of the debt would be the same, but it would be stretched out over a longer period of time, and that would actually lower the payments. She felt giddy for a moment as the shock and horror lifted from her shoulders. She would be in even better shape than before, with more free cash every month.
She called Tommy again and got the ball rolling. He agreed that a mortgage was the perfect solution. He would have to get an okay on the loan, but he didn't foresee any problems and promised to call her as soon as permission came through.
When she hung up, Evie sat with her head in her hands for a long moment. She felt as if she had just survived combat. She was shaky, but elated at her victory. If she had lost the marina... She couldn't let herself imagine it.
When she finally lifted her head and looked out the window, driven by a need to see her domain still safe and secure, still hers, her face broke into a smile. Business was good today. So good, in fact, that Craig desperately needed a hand and was probably wondering why she wasn't out there helping him. Evie bounded to her feet, energy restored, and rushed out to help him with the sudden glut of customers.
ROBERT ARRIVED AT the marina just after seven that evening. It had been busy all day, and she was on the dock selling gas and oil to yet another happy, sun-roasted boater. Alerted by a sensitivity to her lover's presence, Evie looked around and saw him standing just outside the door, watching her. She lifted her hand. ”I'll be there in a few minutes.”
He nodded and stepped inside, and she turned her attention back to her customer.
Robert watched her through the big window as he stepped behind the counter. He had been notified that she had received the letter and called the bank that he had arranged to buy her loan, and that, as instructed, they had been totally unwilling to cooperate on the matter. Glancing down, he saw the letter lying on top of the stack of mail, the single sheet of paper neatly folded and stuffed back into the envelope.