Redeeming Heart (20 page)

“I don’t.” Landon scowled and looked at the
door again.

“I’m not talking about James, but you. Please
don’t let the devil steal your joy. You have nothing to prove.
You’ve done that with God. I made the choice to go with you.” James
didn’t need her, but Landon did.

He grunted and eyed the door again. “The
moment I heard a bellowing voice and saw who it was directed at, I
made a choice that nobody was going to talk to you like that. Yes,
I’m serious about my salvation this time, but that doesn’t mean I’m
going to sit back and let the devil be the life of the party.”

“And what were you going to do, beat James
with your fists? He’s an attorney—think lawsuit. He could have you
charged with assault and battery,” she said, trying to reason with
him, rubbing his arms. She could feel the tightness in his
biceps.

“Would you prefer I use my pocket Bible to
beat him down?” Landon didn’t flinch.

At that moment, James strolled out of the
building. Terri was behind him, and some of her colleagues were
gawking out the window. Octavia stood in front of Landon in a weak
attempt to hold him back as he and James engaged in a stare-down
duel.

“I’m done here,” James spat. “I don’t have to
fight over a woman, especially not one whose standards are lower
than mine.”

Landon made one step forward, and Octavia dug
her nails into his arm to hold him back. “Think of your children.
Set an example,” she whispered.

He growled before shouting, “Man, you’re out
of your league. You don’t know Octavia’s worth. She’s one of those
women whose standards are so high that any man would fight for
her.”

James said nothing as he slipped behind the
wheel of his Benz and sped off. Octavia put both hands on Landon’s
face, pulling him away from watching James’s tail lights. Once she
felt she had his attention, Octavia smiled. “Thank you for saying
that.”

“I meant that because it seems as if I’ve
been fighting to have you before we even met.”

Instead of her heart fluttering, it did
somersaults. “You’re trying to make me cry again?”

Completely relaxed, Landon smirked. “Go
ahead.” He taunted her with a nod. “I’ve got a remedy for
that.”

Giggling, she glanced over her shoulder as
Terri shook her head before stepping back inside. She turned back
and softly scolded him. “Humph. I can handle myself. I’ve got God’s
protection.”

“Hmm.” He twisted his mouth and stared at her
with so much intensity that she shivered. “He sent me.”

She wanted to melt in his arms, but she
restrained herself. “Really? God sent you in Minister Rossi’s car?”
She attempted to joke, but Landon didn’t seem to share in her
humor.

“When you texted me, I wanted to say
congratulations in person, and I was willing to ride on the
Metrolink, then transfer on the bus to tell you. Rossi had pity on
me and let me use the company car. I have no candy, flowers
or—”

“You’re the best gift.” She stood on her toes
and puckered her lips. They weren’t in a closet, but she felt he
needed to be rewarded for good behavior. He delivered the softest
peck that made her want more.

The brief encounter seemed to leave both of
them dazed. “I’d better go. I have to work tonight.
Congratulations, baby.”

Octavia noted his swagger as walked back to
Rossi’s car. If Landon Thomas had no class, then no class was the
new black.

***

As soon as Landon was out of Octavia’s sight, he
pounded the steering wheel in frustration. Fighting over a woman
was beneath him, but so was begging for spare change when his
residence was any available park bench. “Jesus, please forgive me
for almost stumbling,” he mumbled.

Once his repentance was out of the way,
Landon did an instant replay of the scene. His reaction to the
other man surprised even him. In his old world, women had fought
over him to his amusement, but he had never felt that territorial.
He couldn’t claim Octavia with nothing to offer—no car, no home, no
steady employment to woo her, but she was the exception to the
rule. He would beat down man or beast that tried to disrespect
her.

But you have her heart,
God whispered,
reminding him that she chose him over the other dude.

Yes, she made it seem as if it didn’t matter
and that’s what caused him to love her more. That thought kept him
grinning until he pulled into the business park where Rossi’s
company was located. He dropped the keys off at the receptionist’s
desk and strolled back to his office. With the incident forgotten,
it was back to business as usual. He had one remaining project he
had to review for a local chain of cafes before sending it to the
lead executive on the campaign.

At the end of business day, he and Rossi
walked together to the elevator. “So was Octavia surprised by your
visit?”

“Yep. Me, too.” Landon didn’t go into any
details. “Thanks for letting me use the car.”

Rossi nodded as they stepped inside and
pushed the button. When the doors opened, Landon declined Rossi’s
offer for a ride to Walgreens for his evening shift. The brother
had done so much for him; Landon could never repay him.

In the lobby, they usually parted ways: Rossi
veering left to the employee parking lot, Landon going toward the
front entrance to the bus stop less than a block away, but this
day, Rossi fell in step with him. “Do you have a plan?”

“What do you mean?” Landon kept walking. He
had seven minutes until his bus arrived. The trek would take him
four, but Landon didn’t want to lose track of time if the driver
was ahead of schedule. Either they would have to pick up the
conversation the next day or Rossi would follow him to the bus
stop.

Rossi seemed to do the latter. “I know that
trip to Boston was a turning point in your life. Have you decided
how Octavia fits into your plans?”

Landon rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t
have an easy answer for how to give the children and Octavia equal
time. Right now, everything I’m doing is to re-introduce myself to
the children as their father. I’m working to pay child support
again, to return to Boston to see them…”

“Bro,” Rossi looked down the street, “Here
comes your bus. Someone has to be a priority. Even in a marriage,
the wife has precedence over the children. I’m not saying you want
to marry Octavia or she’ll marry you, but either way, make a
decision and follow your heart.” He pivoted on his heel and
strolled back in the direction of the building as Landon boarded
the bus.

Rossi didn’t even have a wife, so what did he
know about a woman being a priority? He nodded at an elderly
gentleman before snagging the seat next to him. As the bus turned
to exit on the Poplar Street Bridge into downtown St. Louis, Landon
thought about family again. Landon’s reconciliation was in the
works in regards to his children, but there still was another
wronged party. He had put off contacting Garrett. His cousin called
Landon’s apologies “disingenuous,” and Garrett had been right.
Landon had been going through the motions, not taking full
responsibility that he had lured Brittani away from her fiancé,
preferring to spin the story that Brittani had seduced him.

That night, on his dinner break, Landon would
make the call. Garrett no longer lived in Boston, but had relocated
to Philly soon after Landon and Brittani’s secret was out.

Forty minutes later, Landon stepped off the
bus. Walgreen’s parking lot was packed, and when he cleared the
doors, cashiers manned two registers trying to shorten the long
line. He hurried to the back and clocked in. Slipping on his smock,
which had his name badge pinned to it, he checked his appearance,
then walked out front.

With a new cash drawer in his arms, Landon
relieved the weary-looking pregnant woman. “I’m glad to see you,”
Amanda said and didn’t stick around to chitchat.

Customer traffic was non-stop for hours
before Landon could take his dinner break. His mother had gotten
Garrett’s number from his aunt, so it was now or never he decided
as he popped in a TV dinner and punched in Garrett’s number. His
heart pounded, when who he assumed was Garrett’s wife, Shari,
answered.

“Hello?”

Clearing his throat, he asked to speak to
Garrett. Of course, she asked who was calling, and of course, there
was a pause when he told her. Although Shari muffled the phone,
Landon could hear Garrett in the background refusing his call.
Really, what did he expect—open arms as their grandfather had given
him? Evidently, Shari won the tug of war and Garrett got on the
phone.

“Yes.” His cousin made it clear he didn’t
want to talk to him.

Landon didn’t go for the “hey cuz” greeting.
He had lost that privilege. “I’m sorry.” Garrett was quiet, so he
continued, “I was home over the weekend.”

“So I heard. I’m glad my family and I don’t
live there anymore.”

“I repented, Garrett—
really
repented.
God accepted my forgiveness and chased the devil out of my temple
and filled me with His Spirit. I cried and spoke in tongues so
long, I was hoarse. As God gives me strength, I’m going to try and
be a better son, grandson, brother, father and cousin, if you’ll
let me.”

Unless his family told Garrett about his
homelessness, Landon wasn’t about to use that as a trump card to
garner sympathy. “Anyway, thank you for taking my call—or rather
thank Shari. If our paths ever cross in the future, please remember
that I’ve changed.”

There was silence, so Landon waited. He had
eloquently apologized to the family in the past. This time, he
didn’t have a prepared speech.

“I’ll remember. Take care, cuz.” The call was
done, but the endearment was remembered.

Landon blinked away moisture from his eyes.
Garrett hadn’t called him cuz in a long time.

“What’s the latest?” Olivia asked, waking Octavia
from her slumber. Octavia didn’t have to ask Olivia what she was
referencing. She should have never told her sister about the
showdown between James and Landon and the sweet brief—too
brief—kiss they shared. Since then, Olivia had been hounding her
weekly for an update about Landon as if Octavia’s life was a
reality TV show. Unfortunately, the lunches they carved out for
themselves began to fade with Landon’s need to study for his
fatherhood class and the increase of luncheons she attended to
network with more affluent clientele.

It had been a long day and an even longer
evening with the homeowners’ seminar. Octavia yawned and eyed the
time. Eleven-fifteen. She groaned. She really needed the rest.

“Can you believe Landon completed his father
initiative program? That went fast. They had a ceremony for the
graduating class last Friday morning and several of us attended. I
was so proud of him. It was as if he was receiving a master’s
degree. Two days ago, a big PR firm downtown offered him a
permanent job. We all took him out to celebrate. He’s saved up
enough money to fly back to Boston next weekend to see his children
before he starts.” Octavia took a deep breath. She would miss him.
“That about wraps it up.”

Silence. Silence and more silence. Finally,
Olivia mm-hmmmed. “Thanks for updating Landon’s bio, but I was
hoping for something that included you and Landon.” She
tsk
ed her disappointment.

So would she. Octavia stretched and slid
deeper under the light covers. She tried not to make any demands on
the man who was trying so hard. “Landon knows I’m here for him, but
he’s putting all of his energy on seeing his sons and daughters. He
doesn’t have time to invest in ‘us’—not now. Maybe never.” Why did
doing the right thing make her heart ache?

“Can’t fault a man for being a man. Are you
planning to take the trip again with him?”

“Nah, he’s a big boy. I think he’s got this.”
She had to change the subject. “Hey, I do have some exciting news!
I’m $210,000 away from making the Million Dollar Club!” That made
her giddy. God was giving Landon the desires of his heart and doing
the same for her—only she had tweaked her request.

“Go sister, go sis…” They laughed. “So,
Landon…” Olivia switched back, and Octavia groaned. “Do you regret
loving him?”

Octavia had never told him, but she was sure
he knew. She let her heart settle before answering. “No, but Landon
Thomas will be a hard act to follow. I can’t imagine another man
measuring up to him. He knows God in a way I can’t begin to
comprehend.” She sighed. “Maybe one day when I’m telling my nieces
and nephews that you’re going to give me—”

Her sister shrieked, then laughed.

“Seriously, I’ll be able to tell your
children about a pure love that came from the heart, no
materialistic things to cause a distraction, no lust, no letting
others sway you, just putting yourself out there to see if there
could be that one fish in the water. No regrets, sis. No
regrets.”

Olivia said, “I’m glad you’re my big
sister.”

Wiping away a tear, Octavia curved her lips
upward. “I’m glad you’re my sister, too. Of course, my relationship
with Terri has suffered, so I chalk that up as a casualty. There’s
a line girlfriends should respect.”

“That’s too bad.” Olivia
tsk
ed. “I
always thought she had your back.”

“Yeah. As long as she thought she knew what
was best for me.”

“As long as you’re all right. If Landon
wasn’t a father of four, I would hurt him, but those babies need
their daddy, so he’s safe.”

“Bye.” Octavia laughed and rolled over. She
prayed that someday Landon would be recognized for a father of the
year award, because from where she sat in the bleachers, he was
sure trying to earn it.

On the day Landon boarded the plane to
Boston, Octavia received the congratulations from Terri.
“Welcome—you officially have one million and one hundred thousand
dollars in home sales!”