Page 84 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
Gran gasped.
“I thought they’d be pleased to see that we were finally getting some traction, but it seems I was wrong.”
“Oh, Liam.” George looked like she might cry.
“Are you saying we have no funds available?” Liv asked. How could they stay open? And she hated to be thinking of herself, but how would she be reimbursed? Her credit card was close to maxed out.
His gaze found hers. “We’ll pay what you’re owed.”
“How?”
“I spoke to Tim, my accountant, and we have an assurance from the bank that whatever has already been paid on the Hall’s account can be paid. The freeze started Monday, and will continue until there’s an audit.”
“But an audit takes months,” Marge said.
Months they didn’t have.
“Does this mean there is no electricity?” Gran asked.
“There has to be. They can’t stop that. Not when you live here,” Liv said.
He glanced at her oddly. “I should mention that to the solicitor.”
“This is your home, isn’t it? I can’t believe anyone would be so mean hearted to kick you out.”
“Are they wanting us to close the Hall?” Gran asked.
“By not giving us the funds they pretty much are ensuring that happens.”
Liv frowned. “But what does that mean about income the Hall is already receiving? Can they access that too? Or can the Hall use those funds to stay afloat until the audit is completed? And who decides who does the audit?”
Again he gave her an unclear look. “More good questions. I’m afraid I don’t have the answers yet.”
“It sounds like they have another agenda,” Tobias said.
“One hundred percent,” George muttered. “Why would they want to sell this place?”
The air held an eddying of questions and despair, something that threatened to suck away Liv’s own hope. Then she shook her head. “No.”
“No what?” George asked.
“No. We’re not going to give in. I refuse to believe that we’ve accomplished so much just to see it shut down like this. So, no.” She studied Liam, willing him to look at her. “Liam.” He finally lifted weary eyes and faced her. “I know that this seems a lot right now, but I really feel like this is a battle that God wants us to win. He cares about this village. He cares about you and George and this place. So I think we need to pray.”
“Pray?”
“Exactly so.” Tobias glanced around the room. “Let’s commit this entire situation to God.”
By the time Tobias had finished praying, her heart felt freshly bolstered for the fight. She lifted her chin. “So, what are our biggest expenses? Electricity?”
Liam named a figure that made her wince.
“Other things?”
He, George, and Gran listed a long line of things ranging from toilet paper to tractor tyres. Liv wrote them down. Glanced at Liam again. “They can’t mean to cut off the insurance, right?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Check it. Actually, don’t check it. Inform them that it’s not in their best interests to lose the estate and its potential sale if the building is burned in fire. Which is another reason the electricity needs to be kept on, right?”
