Chapter Nineteen
Auburn hair and a wide smile showed between the sign and the window edge. Alyssa.
The door opened, and Alyssa stuck her head in. “Hey, I hope it’s okay for me to pop in for a few minutes. I saw the two of you in here talking.”
Priscilla hoped her wan smile didn’t match Gabe’s sickly one, but she feared it did. The reporter was the last person either of them wanted to see.
Everything Priscilla had done yesterday to hide the FDA sign and protect Gabe’s reputation had been for naught. Her heart sank. Perhaps this was God’s way of showing her she’d been guilty of a cover-up. Hadn’t she accused Matthew of letting people believe something other than the truth? Now she had to face the same failing in her own life.
“Is something wrong? You both look so glum. Any connection to this?” Alyssa pointed behind her to the sign. “What’s going on?”
Priscilla and Gabe exchanged looks. From the worry in his eyes, he was hoping she’d answer. But just like Gabe, Priscilla remained speechless.
Alyssa’s gaze bounced back and forth between them. “All righty, then. Let’s start with something else first. I had a few more questions for Gabe, and I could have called for the follow-up, but I hoped I’d catch you here.” She fastened her gaze on Priscilla.
“Me?” she squeaked. Tension had tightened Priscilla’s vocal cords.
“Yes, you.” Alyssa flashed Priscilla a brilliant smile. “I had something I wanted to tell you.”
Priscilla had been too caught up in Gabe’s concerns to pay much attention to the reporter. Now, though, Priscilla couldn’t help marveling. The strain lines had disappeared from Alyssa’s face, and she had a glow about her. She’d had some good news. A promotion, perhaps? But why tell me?
Beaming, Alyssa announced, “Thanks to you, I dusted off the Bible my grandpa gave me as a graduation present. Last night, I started reading the book of John. I’d forgotten a lot of that stuff about God’s love and forgiveness.”
Priscilla rejoiced. Alyssa certainly had gotten good news—the Good News of the Gospel. Priscilla could take no credit for this; it was all God’s doing. He’d touched the reporter’s life.
Priscilla thanked Him she’d been given the opportunity to play a small part in God’s plan. The Bible would do more to draw Alyssa to Him than any words Priscilla could say.
“If you ever want to talk about what you’re reading,” Priscilla said, “I’m always available. I love discussing the Bible.”
“Thanks. I do have some parts I’m not sure I understand, but right now, I’m on work time, so I need to do my job.” Alyssa glanced behind her and nodded toward the sign. “What’s going on with the FDA? This looks serious. I can’t run the lifestyle piece if the business is closed.”
She directed a pointed look in Gabe’s direction, and he shrugged. “It’s a long story.”
Priscilla sent him an encouraging smile. He’d answered one question without much hesitation. Maybe if Alyssa asked him slowly and allowed time for Gabe to think, he’d be able to respond.
“Oh, good.” Alyssa plopped down on the low counter where Tim wrote the receipts. “I love stories of any kind.”
But Gabe had clammed up. He sent Priscilla a pleading glance.
“Why don’t you tell her what we suspect?” Priscilla suggested.
“Suspect?” Alyssa brightened. “This is sounding better and better.” She tucked her legs up and wrapped her arms around them.
Gabe turned to Priscilla. “She needs to know about why the sign’s there.”
Priscilla shot him an are-you-going-to-tell-her look, but he only shook his head.
“The FDA received a complaint that Gabe’s milk had been mislabeled.”
“And?” When Priscilla didn’t answer right away, Alyssa went on. “I may not be an investigative reporter, but even I know the FDA doesn’t shut down a business for that. They send you a notice. Give you some time to fix things. Unless you repeatedly ignore the warnings or something bad happens. Even then, they’d recall the product.”
“Something bad did happen,” Gabe said flatly, but when Alyssa pressed him on it, he gestured toward Priscilla.
She was glad he’d responded to another question. Maybe over time, he’d get more comfortable. Meanwhile, he’d asked her to assist with yesterday’s interview, so she’d help out now, but try to get him involved.
Priscilla explained about Fleurette’s niece and her allergies. She also told Alyssa about Defarge wanting to buy the business. “The inspection is based on false charges. We’re hoping this mess will soon be cleared up.”
Although, considering what Gabe had told her a short while ago, that might not happen. If they forced him out of business, the results of the inspection might not matter.
Alyssa frowned. “You’re saying this woman, Fleurette, gave her niece cow’s milk even though she knew the little girl was allergic? Who would do that?” Alyssa held up her hand. “Wait a minute. Don’t answer that. I’ve seen enough news to know parents and relatives often do terrible things.”
“I find it hard to believe.” Priscilla never had time to read the newspaper, which was just as well. The only time she saw TV was when she was shopping in some of the larger stores. Then she walked past as quickly as possible.
“I agree the attack happening in a doctor’s office is suspicious.” Alyssa tapped a finger against her lip. “That definitely sounds planned.”
“I thought that too,” Gabe said.
“And her husband’s in on it?”
“He’s the one who wants to buy the business. We haven’t told you what happened today.” Priscilla recounted what Gabe had told her.
Several times he interjected comments, and Priscilla left longer pauses after Alyssa asked a question to allow Gabe to gather his thoughts. Alyssa seemed skilled at drawing him out. It was her job to interview people, and she was good at it. Gradually, he relaxed and added more to the conversation.
“You did tell this to the FDA inspector, didn’t you?”
Gabe sighed. “I tried, but he made it seem like I was trying to pass the blame.”
“Hmm.” Alyssa nibbled a fingernail for a moment, a faraway look in her eyes. “What if I asked one of the investigative reporters to look into this?”
* * *
Gabe didn’t say it aloud, but having someone investigate would be a dream come true.
“Would you?” Priscilla’s delighted expression touched him. She seemed to genuinely care about his business and him.
“Why don’t you give me all the information you have on these two, and I’ll see what I can do.” Alyssa hopped off the counter.
“Danke.” Gabe stood and led the way to his office.
With all three of them in there, the room seemed overcrowded. Alyssa’s position at the front of the desk forced Priscilla close to him. His arm nearly brushed hers as he bent to retrieve Defarge’s file from the desk drawer. Her sweet scent drifted to him, enticing him to move nearer.
Ignoring the magnetic pull, Gabe extracted the correct folder. He set it on the desk and opened it, angling the file folder so the buyer’s records remained private. He shouldn’t give away a customer’s personal information. As a business owner, people entrusted him to keep their accounts safe.
“I don’t feel right giving out his address.” Discouraged, Gabe closed the file folder. No matter how much he wanted the truth to come out, he couldn’t do something dishonest.
Alyssa pulled her phone from her pocket. “Henry Defarge,” she muttered as she thumbed some keys. “New Jersey business records search. Got it. I’m going to guess he calls his business after himself.” She glanced up at Gabe, a question in her eyes.
He didn’t nod, but his eyes must have given him away.
“Thought so,” she said. “Does ‘Defarge Enterprises, Incorporated’ sound right?”
Again, Gabe didn’t respond. Alyssa studied him closely.
“All righty, then. I have it,” she crowed. She tapped a few buttons and scrolled down. “Here it is. President, Henry Defarge. Vice President, Fleurette Moreau.”
Her head still bent over her phone, Alyssa jotted information in her notebook. She glanced up once. “Is this the right address and phone number?” She rattled it off.
She’d gotten it correct. Gabe had spent hours searching for Fleurette’s information. Alyssa had discovered Henry’s in a few minutes.
“Okay, that takes care of the business address, but I really want their home address. He has a website, so ICANN might have that data, unless he masked it.”
“Huh?” Gabe had no idea what she was talking about.
“He had to register for a domain name. People often do that long before they start their businesses so they use their home addresses. Many people never change that data.” Alyssa nibbled on her lower lip as she tapped away with her thumbs. “Aha, he used a Philadelphia address. I’m going to guess that’s his home address and phone.”
Gabe stared at her. He caught Priscilla’s eye, and she shrugged. Whatever Alyssa was doing, it seemed to be working. She’d collected the information in record time.
“Excuse me,” she said as she slid past Gabe to the worktable behind him. Then she pushed a button on his answering machine and repeated a string of numbers. “I’m guessing Fleurette was the last person to call?”
Answering that wouldn’t be giving away personal information, would it? “She was,” he said finally.
“Thought so.” Alyssa wrote the numbers in her notebook. “I’m hoping this is her cell phone. The 445 area code has only been around for a short while.”
“How do you know all this?” Priscilla sounded amazed.
Alyssa laughed. “I have to track people down for interviews. You get to know the tricks.” She pulled business cards from a small container in her pocket and handed one to each of them. “If you think of anything more I should know, or if either of them calls or stops by, let me know.”
Gabe set the card on his desk, but Priscilla slid hers into her pocket.
“We will.” Then she pointed to Alyssa’s notebook. “Can I see that?”
“Sure.” Alyssa tipped the pages in Priscilla’s direction.
Priscilla glanced over the page, and her lips moved as if she were memorizing some of the information. Gabe’s stomach clenched. She wasn’t planning to contact or visit them, was she?
So far, the couple’s threats had only been verbal, but both of them had been ruthless. Anyone who’d risk her niece’s life wouldn’t hesitate to harm a stranger. He’d never let Priscilla put herself in danger.
* * *
Priscilla skimmed the notebook page for the information she wanted. Defarge’s business address. She read over it several times to commit it to memory.
When she lifted her head, Gabe’s eyes held a warning. Warmth flooded her at his protectiveness. He must think she planned to meet with Defarge. She smiled to reassure him she appreciated his thoughtfulness. Priscilla only wished deeper feelings lay behind his concern.
“I’d better be going.” Alyssa scurried out the office door.
“I should too,” Priscilla said. She wanted to get home for supper to keep Mamm from worrying. And she needed to flee her wayward thoughts about Gabe. She followed on Alyssa’s heels.
Alyssa stopped so suddenly Priscilla almost ran into her. “I forgot. I came to ask Gabe two questions.”
Priscilla waited while Alyssa poked her head into Gabe’s office and asked her questions about camels. To Priscilla’s delight, Gabe answered both of them without needing her help. The next time they talked, she’d point that out to him. He’d gained some confidence.
Alyssa turned to go, then spun around. “Oh, I’m going to put your profile on hold. I want to wait until the FDA investigation is over and Defarge has been exposed.” She sighed. “It’ll mean scrambling to finish a different lifestyle story for this weekend, but I want to put your business in a good light.”
At Gabe’s deep thank you, shivers ran through Priscilla. Why did he affect her this way?
Wrapped up in her reaction to Gabe, Priscilla could barely speak. She managed her own thank you and a quick goodbye before getting into her buggy.
The whole way home, she rejoiced. She could hardly believe how God had answered their prayers today. Priscilla had no idea what Alyssa could do to prove Defarge’s wrongdoing. But just the fact the reporter intended to look into the situation gave her hope.
* * *
Gabe sat in his office after everyone had left. He should be milking, but instead he ran over the whole conversation in his mind. He replayed every detail of Alyssa’s fact-finding mission and marveled at how rapidly she’d discovered all the information she needed. He sent up a prayer of thanksgiving that God had brought her into their lives.
Their? He’d automatically included Priscilla as part of his business life. She also seemed to be edging into his personal life. Something he needed to guard against.
He pushed back his chair. Maybe milking could erase these longings. Why had God allowed this temptation? Perhaps like Job in the Bible, he needed to strengthen his faith and trust the Lord.
No matter what he did, though, memories of Priscilla haunted him. Bringing his camels across the street, he pictured her coming down the hill after Alyssa. Sitting on the stool in the barn, he sensed her standing as she had last night, looking over his shoulder, her gaze warm and intense. Carrying the milk buckets to the refrigerator, he saw her taking the milk up the hill and hiding the sign from the reporter.
Everywhere he turned, she’d left her sweet presence behind. Dear Lord, please keep me from temptation.
After he’d finished milking the cows, he cleaned up. He’d promised to eat supper at his brother’s house tonight to keep him informed about the FDA inspection. Part of Gabe wanted to skip the meal and reminisce about Priscilla’s smile, her gentle words, her caring touch on his arm.
He shook himself. He’d prayed to eliminate those distractions. Being with family would keep him from dwelling on Priscilla. He and Saul could talk business, and his sister-in-law and nephews always provided lively conversation.
He crossed the road and walked past his barns toward his brother’s farm. He peeked in at his camels and cows. If only he could adopt their calm, cud-chewing attitude. Lately, he’d been so frazzled.
In one way, Priscilla proved to be a calming influence, but in another, she stirred too many yearnings. Longings for the impossible.
Gabe clutched his suspenders. Priscilla again. He couldn’t even concentrate on the peacefulness of his farm animals without Priscilla’s face, her voice, her memory intruding. Except he couldn’t truly call it an intrusion. Every second he spent with her, every minute he dreamed of her was precious.
Forcing himself into a brisker pace, he headed up the driveway to Saul’s house. His sister-in-law, Mary, greeted him at the door.
“Kumm esse,” she said, ushering him to the kitchen table. “Everything is ready.”
Gabe squeezed onto a bench between his two youngest nephews and across from Tim. He could help the little ones if they needed it. Mary sat in her usual place beside Saul, with the baby on her lap.
As soon as the silent prayer ended, Saul pinned Gabe with a probing glance. “I noticed a certain girl seems to visit the store pretty often.” Saul waggled his eyebrows.
Tim piped up. “Her name’s Priscilla.”
“Priscilla, huh?” Saul shot Gabe a questioning glance.
“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Gabe protested, but his fiery face gave him away.
“She’s really nice.” Tim dug into his mashed potatoes.
“She is?” Saul’s smile widened. “I’m glad you think so, but I’m more interested in your onkel’s opinion. So, Gabe, is she nice?”
Gabe kept his attention on the slice of roast beef he was cutting and ignored his brother’s digs.
“Saul,” Mary chided, “stop teasing Gabe and let him eat his food. When he’s ready to tell us about his girl, he will.”
Even Mary, who seemed to be on his side, believed he was involved with Priscilla. If only they knew how far from the truth that was. Or was it? A one-sided crush was not a relationship. And he shouldn’t even have let his feelings go that far.
“Sorry.” Saul sounded far from apologetic. “It’s just that Gideon Hartzler mentioned you avoid all the girls at the singings. I’m glad to see you’re considering dating again. I worried you’d never get over Anna.”
Get over Anna? He could never do that. Never.