Faithfully Yours Read online

  “We’ll meet you back at this door with the bus at five,” Jeremy called over the hubbub of noise as the girls jostled for position while Suzy helped Faith down the stairs. “Have fun.”

  “We will,” they chimed in boisterous unison.

  And they did.

  It was a whirlwind of activity inside the mall and the girls quickly disappeared into the throng of shoppers, pairing off in groups of two and three. Faith was tugging at Suzy’s arm.

  “Come on, girl,” she scolded, “we’ve got to get a move on if we’re going to use that free coupon I have for Alfred’s.”

  Gillian scurried along behind them, curious to see what was at Alfred’s. It turned out to be a hair salon. And, wonder of wonders, they had an opening immediately for Suzy to use Faith’s coupon.

  “You go ahead, honey. Let them do their job. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. I’m going to have a cup of coffee while I wait.” Faith spent a few moments consulting with Alfred. “He says an hour. I’ll be back then. All right?”

  Poor Suzy nodded in a dazed fashion as the stylist with bleached white hair tinted purple on the ends escorted her back to the sink. She seemed fascinated by the curious assortment of colors on the back of his head and barely nodded when Gillian told her she’d stay with Faith.

  “Nothing weird, Alfred, remember?” Faith’s voice rang through the salon causing several heads to turn. But Alfred was unabashed. He grinned from multiringed ear to ear and tripped forward in his strange high-heeled shoes to pat Jeremy’s aunt on the shoulder.

  “You know me, Faith,” he said in a normal tone that was totally unlike the high squeaky voice he’d used earlier. “You can count on me.” He stepped back when Faith tried to slip a bill into his pocket.

  “No way, Faith. I got my Christmas gift when you helped finance this place last year. The little girl’s cut is on the house.”

  “Thank you, dear,” Faith murmured, kissing his cheek. “You always were the sweetest child in my Sunday school class.”

  Alfred looked decidedly pained at that, Gillian thought, amused. But he bore it in good form, waving goodbye with his black-nailed pinkie.

  “Now, Gillian, dear,” Faith murmured as they walked away from the salon. The older woman slipped her arm into hers and beamed. “I have a couple of stops to make before we have that coffee.”

  In fact, they made ten stops in all. Gillian watched as Faith purchased a pair of jeans similar to what the girls on the bus had worn. They were in a size far too small to be Faith’s, although the sweater that went along with them was in her favorite pale pink.

  Then there were the toy stores, where they loaded up on a remote-controlled car, a video game, a road race set and two rather heavy construction machines. The ladies’ store sold her an ivory sweater that was far too large for Faith and the jewelery store had a wonderful pair of earrings and matching necklace that Faith declared “just perfect.” There were also several books, two nut trays, a pair of slippers and a man’s sweater in a brilliant peacock blue.

  “That’s for Jeremy,” Faith confided, grinning. “He wears so many dark colors, I think he might enjoy a change.”

  “Yes, I’m sure he would,” Gillian agreed dubiously, glancing warily at the bright yellow slash across the sweater’s front panel. She wondered if she had imagined the sparkle of delight in Faith’s eyes when she paid for it.

  “You know these are going to be too heavy to lug around all afternoon,” Gillian said, hoisting the metal vehicles a little higher in her arms.

  “Oh, my dear, how thoughtless of me. I’ve let you carry everything! We need a locker. Now let me think.” Faith glanced around several times as if getting her bearings. “Over here, I believe. Ah, I was right.” She grinned, delighted with her good memory.

  Once the articles were safely stored, they hurried back to the salon to find a beautiful young woman waiting for them. Suzy’s pale hair had been expertly trimmed close to the head in the back and sides. A straight fall the color of spun gold lay just above her ears.

  “Oh, Suzy,” Gillian breathed excitedly. “You look beautiful. Why, your eyes are just gorgeous!”

  “Of course they are,” Faith agreed. “Those great big baby browns were just hiding, waiting to be discovered.” She scurried over to Alfred who was busily snipping another patron’s hair. Gillian didn’t hear what Faith said, but whatever it was, Alfred let out a shout of laughter and hugged the older woman tightly.

  “Have a wonderful Christmas,” he called out as they left. His voice was back to its strange pitch, she noticed absently.

  “Now I need coffee,” Faith declared.

  Gillian heartily agreed and they treated Suzy to a milk shake. It was then that she noticed Suzy’s beautifully manicured nails. Gone were the torn and dirty ends. They were perfectly filed and buffed to a gleaming natural shine. And the girl had just the tiniest bit of pale pink lipstick on, too.

  Gillian shook her head in amazement. Dear sweet Faith, plain and ordinary as she was, had seen the hidden beauty in this girl as no one else had. It was obvious in the way Suzy now walked and talked, that her self-esteem had been greatly enhanced.

  “Now, dear,” Faith began, laying her hand on Gillian’s arm. “Suzy and I have several things to do. And they’re secret. We don’t want anyone to know. So you just go ahead and do your own shopping. We’ll meet you back here with the others for lunch.”

  Secretly relieved, Gillian argued only a little and finally left them in front of a shoe store contemplating runners for Suzy’s brother. She’d been hoping to do some shopping herself and it looked like this was her opportunity.

  Gillian swept through the mall quickly, choosing a gift for each member on her list with care. She was scurrying back to meet the others when she saw it.

  A snowmobile helmet.

  It was black with red flames on the side and the words “So Race Me” applied across the back. The visor was electrically heated, she was told, to prevent cloudy vision.

  Gillian instantly decided that she would never find anything more suitable and purchased it without a second thought. Even if Jeremy never wore it, and she really hoped he would, he would be reminded of the one time in his adult life that he had let loose and just had fun. Her purchase meant a quick trip back to the locker area, and so she was late meeting the girls.

  A quick look around the food court set her nerves jangling. No Faith. She counted the girls and noted with relief that they were all present. Where had the woman gone?

  “Suzy,” she asked, standing behind her. The girls stopped talking as they noticed the concern in her voice. “Where is Faith?”

  “She said she wanted to get some of those specialty coffee beans,” Suzy told her, glancing around. “She was right over…I don’t see her, Gillian!”

  Gillian felt the apprehension and disquiet that had plagued her all morning build to new heights as she surveyed the milling crowd.

  “Please, Lord,” she begged silently.

  “There she is,” Suzy called out with a gasp of relief. “Over there.”

  As she spotted her friend, Gillian felt some of the tension in her shoulders and neck ebb away. She looked toward Faith, assessing her from Jeremy’s viewpoint and wondered how the other woman was doing. What she saw made her smile with delight The tousled-headed senior was eyeing the Mexican stall next door with a decidedly greedy look.

  “I’m starved,” Jeremy’s aunt announced cheerily.

  Her words proved to be the perfect tension breaker. As they all laughed appreciatively, Gillian stuffed the nagging worry to the back of her mind. Of course it had been a good idea to invite Faith. The girls loved her, and she made no pretence about the obvious affection she felt for each of them. She sat munching on Mexi fries and admiring each girl’s taste and choice.

  “Well, girls,” Gillian interrupted finally, glancing at her watch. “I think we’d better get back at it. There are only four and a half hours until the mall closes!”

 
Amidst the burst of laughter, Suzy moved to Gillian’s side.

  “I’ll keep my eye on her this afternoon,” she offered softly, her pretty mouth spread wide in a smile.

  “Oh, Suzy, that’s very sweet of you to offer,” Gillian murmured, patting the girl’s hand. “But you don’t have to. You go off with the other girls and have a good time.”

  “I know I don’t have to,” Suzy answered. “I want to. And Mrs. Rempel has the best time of anyone I know.”

  “She does, doesn’t she?” Gillian agreed, nodding. “How about this then—you get to shop with Faith until three. We’ll all meet back here for a break, and then it will be my turn. Share and share alike, you know.”

  The rest of the girls agreed to return at three, and Gillian went off to do another round of shopping, this time for her parents. Her father was easy. Anything pertinent to golfing suited him just fine. But her mother was another story altogether, and Gillian was deep in a study of delicate crystal cherubs when she glanced at her watch and noticed the time.

  Three-ten!

  She was late and at the far end of the mall. With as much haste as possible she rushed through the crowd of shoppers, bumping and excusing as she went. The food court was jammed with other people taking a break, and she couldn’t spot the girls anywhere. Fear rose, clutching at her throat as she scanned the table in a systematic pattern, praying for help.

  How could you take a bunch of girls and an old woman into this crowded mall and then let them go off while you calmly spent your time shopping, a little voice inside her head nagged. You’re supposed to be the one in charge; well, then, take charge! Find those girls!

  “Miss Langford?” Gillian wheeled around, puffing out a sigh of relief as she saw three of her group standing near.

  “Where are you seated?” she asked breathlessly. “I couldn’t spot you guys in this crowd.”

  “Uh, well, the thing is, Miss Langford.” The tallest one shuffled and looked down at her shoes. Gillian felt her nerves tauten as she saw the dismal looks on their faces.

  “What’s the matter?” she demanded. Something inside her wound even tighter as she saw how white their faces were. “Where are the others?”

  Only by extreme control could Gillian keep herself from shrieking at them. She searched the masses once more but there was no one she knew standing by.

  “Mrs. Rempel is lost. Suzy’s looking for her. She took the others to help.”

  Waves of foreboding washed over Gillian as she struggled to remain calm.

  “But how could she be lost? Suzy was going to stay with her, she said.”

  Stop condemning the girl, she commanded herself. Suzy wasn’t in charge, you were.

  “Suzy said Mrs. Rempel wanted to rest for a moment. Suzy left her on a bench outside a music store. You know, those areas where husbands can sit and wait for their wives.” Jessica waited for Gillian’s nod of understanding. “Well, Suzy got held up at the cash register, and when she came out Mrs. Rempel was gone. We’ve been looking for her for fifteen minutes. If anyone finds her, they’ll take her back to the food court and wait for the others. Is that okay?”

  The young girl’s uncertainty in the face of this disaster touched Gillian and she patted the narrow shoulder gently.

  “Not just ‘okay,’ Jessica. Very well done. You girls have been a wonderful help. I know you all care about Mrs. Rempel, so let’s concentrate on finding her, all right?”

  They all nodded enthusiastically and paired off to search anew. Gillian strode through the mall, frantically winding up one aisle and down the other. She’d left one of the girls in the meeting place, and the security people had made an announcement, but a half hour later Faith had not shown up.

  When the girls returned at four, tired and worried, and still without Faith, Gillian knew she would have to call Jeremy. The police would have to be alerted, and they would need to make another search before the mall closed.

  “We need to pray, Miss Langford. Mrs. Rempel said she always prays when she’s mixed-up or confused.”

  Gillian smiled. “You’re absolutely right, Suzy, and I should have done that already. Let’s pray now.”

  She shepherded the girls into a little circle, and they all bowed their heads.

  “Please, Lord,” Gillian murmured. “We’re in trouble here and we don’t know what to do. But we know that You know where Faith is and that You are there protecting her. Help us to believe and show us the right way. For we ask in Your name. Amen.” When she glanced up she saw many of the girls wiping tears from their eyes.

  “Okay, ladies. This is what we’re going to do.” She outlined her idea of starting at one end and proceeding through to the other. “Two of you will stand guard at the elevators and escalators. The rest of you go through quickly but thoroughly. Ask the sales people for help.”

  “What are you going to do?” one of them asked her softly.

  Gillian tried not to look as worried as she felt.

  “I’m going to call her nephew and Mr. Johnson at the ski hill.”

  There was a low whistle.

  “He’s going to be furious. And Mr. Nivens gets really hot when he’s angry.” It was the understatement of the year, but Gillian refused to dwell on it.

  “Can’t be helped,” she muttered, slinging her jacket over one arm. “We have to find Faith. That’s the most important thing right now. Ready, girls?” They nodded and raced off to do her bidding.

  It took forever to get the attendant to agree to call Jeremy to the phone. And eons passed before his low deep voice rumbled across the line.

  “Gillian?”

  “How did you know it was me?” she asked surprised.

  “I just knew. Something’s wrong, isn’t it?” He sounded wary and just a little unsure.

  Gillian took a deep breath, breathed a prayer and blurted it all out.

  “It’s Faith. We can’t find her.”

  “What do you mean you can’t find her? Surely you didn’t let her go wandering around alone in her condition. Of all the hare-brained, stupid…”

  “You can holler at me later,” she said, cutting him off. “Right now we need help. The girls and I have been searching for almost an hour and we can’t find her anywhere. She was sitting on a bench, resting. And then she was gone.”

  “What? Grown women don’t just vanish.”

  He sounded ready to lecture her again, and Gillian brushed a tear from her eye as distressing images of Faith in trouble ran through her mind.

  Please God, don’t let her be in trouble.

  “I don’t have time for this,” she told him briskly. “I need to help the girls look. Are you coming or not?”

  “Of course I’m coming.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief and explained their arrangements if someone found the older woman.

  “If you check the food court first, you’ll know whether or not she’s been found.”

  “Fine. I’ll see you shortly.” He sounded as worried as she was, and Gillian could only empathize with his anxiety. She knew how much he loved his aunt.

  “Jeremy?”

  “Yes?” His voice was brusque, and Gillian shivered, thinking of the terrible things that could happen to a woman on the street, alone.

  “Please hurry,” she whispered softly, clenching her hand into a fist. “I’m so scared.” Tears flowed down her cheeks as she pictured dear, lovable Faith alone in the city.

  “I’m coming. I’ll find her,” he assured her grimly. “Just hold on.”

  He arrived twenty minutes later, disheveled and gray with worry. Gillian rushed up to him and, oblivious to Arthur Johnson or the boys clustered round, wrapped her arms around Jeremy and hung on, needing the solid assurance of his strength. Although the girls had been back and forth several times, no one had found the elderly woman.

  “It’s all right,” he muttered, brushing his hand over her hair awkwardly. “She’s fine. I’m sure she just wandered off somewhere to relax for a few minutes. Or got involved i
n looking at something. We’ll find her.” His thumb brushed the tears from her cheeks, and then he gently set her away from him. “Now, tell me what you’ve already done.”

  Swallowing her sobs of worry and frustration, Gillian explained the systematic search of the mall that the girls had conducted.

  “They’re going from one end to the other again now,” she told him. “So far nothing.”

  He thought for a moment and then beckoned the boys nearer. For once Gillian was glad of his rational, organized mind as he brought calm to the situation.

  “Okay guys, here’s the plan. We’re going to start at the opposite end from the girls. Anybody finds my aunt, they bring her right back here. Okay?” They nodded. “Good. Away you go. Check in every fifteen minutes.” He glanced at Gillian. “Is the mall Security in on this?”

  “Yes, I alerted them a while ago. They’ve got several men looking for her with the girls. So far nothing.”

  Arthur stepped forward.

  “I’m going to do some looking for Faith on my own,” he told them. “I’ll talk to some of the people here—see if anyone noticed her.” He patted Gillian’s arm. “Don’t worry, girl. She’s fine. God is watching over her. She’s just forgotten the time.”

  With a smile and a wave he walked off toward an elderly man who sat snoring nearby.

  “Miss Langford?” Gillian turned to find the security guard she’d contacted earlier striding toward her. “Any news?”

  “No. No one’s seen her. This is Mrs. Rempel’s nephew, Jeremy Nivens. Jeremy, this is Peter Brown, the head of Security.“

  “Mr. Nivens, I’m glad to see you here. Miss Langford has been trying to do it all. She could use a little help.” He turned to Gillian. “I’ve checked with Metro. Those hoodlums you reported seeing earlier today are in custody, so they aren’t involved in this. That’s a good sign. I have to admit I was worried about kidnapping for a while there.”

  “Kidnapping,” Jeremy bellowed. “Why would someone want to kidnap my aunt?”

  Mr. Brown explained briefly about the latest group of troublemakers who had recently been haunting the mall.