Redeeming Heart (6 page)

“This is not a ‘hey girl’ moment,” Terri
warned. “It’s an ‘are you out of your mind?’ followed by ‘are you
okay?’ moment after that stunt you pulled today. Please tell me
that homeless guy didn’t hold you at gunpoint—or rather fork point
since you fed him.” Terri didn’t give Octavia space to explain,
ranting on and on. “And let me go on record and say, you’ve lost
your mind!”

Yeah, well, Octavia thought so too—at first.
She could have been raped as some female real estate agents had
been in the past because the listing agent didn’t make sure the
house was secured. It had truly been a “but God” moment. She lifted
one hand in silent praise before turning into the driveway of her
beige brick ranch house. The stone-covered double pillars and the
arch entryway created a stately welcome home after a long day. The
foreclosure home had been a good investment.

As Octavia parked in her garage, Terri gasped
for air. She smirked, hoping her friend used her inhaler before she
upset herself. “Listen, granted I was afraid…” She paused.

Despite how many testimonies she had shared
with Terri, her friend couldn’t believe God would waste His time
talking to ordinary people like them. Terri labeled herself a
Christian as if it were a multiple-choice answer on a quiz. Her
faith walk was questionable. That was reason enough for Octavia to
hold her tongue about what God had told her about Landon. Lowering
her garage door, Octavia got her things and crossed the threshold
into the kitchen. She deactivated her home security alarm, then
rested her keys and purse on the counter. “He was harmless. Plus,
the police were going to arrest him.”

“And you stopped them? He probably would have
appreciated a bed and three meals a day!” Terri raised her voice.
“Besides, that’s police protocol for someone who breaks and enters
into a property without their name on the deed.”

Octavia rubbed her feet as she kicked off her
shoes before making her way to her bedroom. The only thing she
wanted was a cool shower to wash away the perspiration from the
day’s humidity. “I’m fine, really,’ she tried to reassure her so
they could end the call.

“Hmm, well, the next time you send me an
S.O.S. text that someone is in one of our unoccupied properties,
you’d better let the police do their job! Then when I call back,
you’re calm and casually give me some man’s name whom I’ve never
heard you mention before—I can count your male friends on one
hand—riding shotgun in your car. Of course, if you let Andre and me
introduce you to some of his friends…”

Not this same argument again? Octavia
groaned. Whether they were in a Wendy’s drive-thru line or shopping
for pantyhose in Target, Terri would bring up her matchmaking
services. “What does another man have to do with any of this?” Her
friend’s reasoning never made sense, so why did Octavia even bait
her? “Thanks, Terri. I appreciate you and your hubby looking out
for me. God knows who I need in my life and He knows what type of
man I want. The Lord is my matchmaker.”

Terri huffed. “Right. Now, back to the Mr.
Wrong you let in your car today; it’s a good thing you didn’t offer
him room and board. Tavie, sometimes, I think you’re too
generous.”

“I did.”

“You what?” Terri shrieked in her ear. “Your
mind is gone. Are you sure he didn’t hit you over the head with an
empty beer bottle or something?”

Fits of laughter exploded from Octavia’s lips
until tears streaked her cheeks. “Girl, Landon is at Mac’s Place,
not mine—you know Brother McCoy’s mission shelter to help men get
back on their feet.”

Terri didn’t muffle her sigh of relief. “You
had me going. Now I can enjoy my dinner, but this conversation
isn’t over. At least he doesn’t know where you live.”

“Girl, I forgot to tell you—”

“Don’t even say it, Octavia. You may have
acted crazy today but I know you ain’t stupid. Bye,” Terri ended
their call.

Once Octavia had showered and slipped into
something comfortable, she grabbed the phone to call her younger
sister, Olivia, who was attending law school in DC. She wanted to
get her take on the day’s events. Octavia wasn’t surprised, but
definitely disappointed when she got Olivia’s voice mail. “Call me
when you get a chance—it’s not an emergency,” she said, then
disconnected.

Five years younger, Olivia shared the same
mannerisms as Octavia. They were the same height with the same
light brown skin. Only Octavia inherited the blondish-brown hair
that easily identified her. Olivia’s hair was jet black like their
father’s and longer.

Octavia smirked when she thought about Landon
again. She might not have a crisis to tell her sister about, but
today was definitely not the norm in her life as a realtor. The
first thing Olivia would want to know is if Landon was cute.
“Definitely!” She blushed for noticing.

Saturday morning at Mac’s Place, Grady took the
honor of introducing Landon to the thirty-plus other men during
breakfast. Their ages and ethnicities varied, so did their
demeanor. Some appeared content in their plights; others seemed to
resent it. Landon guessed he was somewhere in the middle.

As a combined effort after each meal, the men
were expected to sweep the floors, wipe off the tables and perform
other household chores to earn their keep. When the kitchen was
restored, his options were watching a program on the community
television voted by a majority, stepping outside for a smoke or
taking part in a card game.

Spying the pair of community computers in the
corner, Landon headed in that direction. Until yesterday, he had
been in a hurry to get to Texas—Houston, Dallas, Austin, it didn’t
matter, as long as it was far away from home. That was before
Octavia knocked him to his knees—literally.

He logged onto the computer and began job
searches in St. Louis, thinking about Octavia. She was sincere,
sassy and witty. Landon chuckled. She purposely planted a seed in
his mind that she was inviting him to her house. The joke had been
on him. He grunted, then refocused on getting gainfully
employed.

“You look deep in thought,” a deep voice said
over his shoulder.

Landon stiffened. How could someone sneak up
on him like that without him sensing their presence? Since he had
been in “transition,” Landon tried to stay in tune with his
surroundings and possessions. He may have been called a “pretty
boy” growing up, but looks were deceiving. He knew how to defend
himself whether with a fist, kick or weapon. Certain neighborhoods
in Boston dictated that.

Turning around to face the intruder, Landon
blinked. An unrecognizable man towered over him. At first glance,
his dark skin reminded Landon of his cousin from back home, which
made him do a double take. Unlike Garrett’s, there weren’t any
darts shooting from his eyes. All Landon saw was kindness.

This stranger with close-cropped hair and a
clean-shaven face was dressed in a high-end polo shirt and slacks.
He wore an intangible air of confidence. Landon tried not to stare
at the man’s shoes which would only remind him of the dozens he had
lost because he couldn’t pay rent on the storage unit.

Landon got to his feet to match the man’s
height, only to be a couple of inches shorter at six-two. As his
nostrils flared, Landon unsuspectedly inhaled the man’s cologne.
That was another thing he had to forfeit—his designer colognes.
Whoever this interloper was, somehow he didn’t fit the MO of the
other residents there—his eyes were full of life.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” He gave him a
ready smile and stuck out his hand. “Rossi Tolliver.”

He gripped it. “Landon Thomas.”

Grinning, Rossi peered at the computer
screen, invading what little privacy Landon had.

That gesture put Landon on the defensive.
Although he hadn’t slept with a woman in more than a year—sixteen
months, if he was counting—he wasn’t desperate to visit porn sites,
if that’s what Rossi was trying to verify and Landon was about to
tell him that, too.

“I recognized that company’s logo,” Rossi
explained. “So you’re looking for a sales position?”

“Senior advertising rep,” he emphasized
senior
, not entry level. He needed to make a lot of
money—some financial obligations he couldn’t let go of.

Rossi nodded, grabbed a chair nearby and made
himself comfortable. “Do you need any help updating your
résumé?”

Who was Rossi Tolliver? Landon took his seat
again. “Résumés don’t land jobs; people skills and networking open
doors.”

“Sounds like you’ve had a lot of doors shut
on you lately.”

The man had no idea, but Landon was a private
person. What little he had shared with Octavia the day before was
more than he had divulged with anyone since he had been on the
road. Landon squinted. “Are you my caseworker?”

“Oh no, Mac and I are friends, and I drop by
from time to time. He thought I should introduce myself to you.”
Before Landon could ask why, Rossi continued, “Do you have any
plans for Sunday?”

Folding his arms, Landon grunted and gave him
a pointed look. “Not for church.”

“I see.” Rossi scratched his jaw. “Since
you’re searching for employment, there’s a networking event
tomorrow afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel. I think you should
attend.”

An opportunity. Landon’s heart leaped with
hope, then reality set in. “Thanks, but I can’t go looking like
this,” he said as Rossi scanned his attire and asked his shirt,
pants and shoe size. “I may not have much left, but I’ve been able
to hold on to one shirt and slacks, and my dress shoes…” They
definitely needed a good hand polish. He fingered his curls. His
appearance also needed enhancing.

“I tell you what, why don’t you tag along
with me to my barber? I’m sure he could fit you in. Bring your
clothes. There’s a one-hour cleaners nearby.”

Swallowing, Landon’s heart soared again.
Suddenly, he had a good feeling about things turning around. Landon
grinned and shook Rossi’s hand. “Deal.”

Rossi stood. “Let’s do it, bro.”

Octavia sold the house on Corbitt to a young couple
as a starter house. When she walked in this morning, she couldn’t
help but be reminded of Landon’s presence. He also reminded her of
a valuable lesson: never go into a property without her cell phone
and a can of Mace, even if it was supposed to be secure. Well, the
Mace was her idea. She was tempted to call Brother McCoy to check
up on him—no—she actually wanted to see him, but she would wait a
couple of days. Even though she enjoyed his company and was rooting
for him to get back on his feet, Octavia didn’t want to come across
as if she was chasing behind him.

She had to get her mind off the man, which
invaded her thoughts off and on for most of the day. She text Terri
the good news and within minutes, her friend called with congrats.
They chatted a few minutes before Terri said her goodbye, so she
and her husband could enjoy their movie night.

Having her fill of movies and books, Octavia
tried Olivia again. Voice mail. Knowing her sister on a Saturday
night, she was probably hanging out with one or more of her
sorority sisters who attended the same church.

When Octavia attended Xavier University in
Cincinnati, Ohio, she hadn’t thought about pledging a sorority.
Besides studying, Octavia had been active with the church’s youth
ministries. Fast forward ten years, what happened to those
friendships? She really craved the bond of a girlfriend sisterhood.
Maybe it was her loneliness talking again.

How did Landon handle the loneliness? She
couldn’t imagine being homeless, yet she admired his upbeat
attitude. Didn’t he have family and friends who cared about what
happened to him?

To fill her boredom before bedtime, she was
about to watch a home decorating show when her father called. She
smiled. Thank God for family. “Hi, Daddy.”

“How’s my favorite daughter?” Octavia laughed
at his standard greeting. Melvin Winston said the same thing to
Olivia. “Have you sold any million dollar mansions this week?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, it’s coming. God is faithful.” Her
father brought her up to date with what was going on in his
retirement community, with her step-mother—who was sweet, but a
quiet woman; the opposite of her mother whose gregarious
personality was contagious—and his concern about his daughters’
finding happiness. “I think I should be a grandpa.”

“I think you should keep praying that God
will send you a godly son-in-law—” she teased.

“Who will love and treat my favorite daughter
as a princess,” he stated.

That was the extent of their conversation
about her lack of viable candidates. She spoke briefly to her
step-mother, then they signed off until next time.

The next morning, Octavia woke hyped. She
always was when her praise team would perform before morning
service. She prayed, showered and ate. When it came to dressing,
Octavia stared at her hair in the mirror.

The bouncing curls she had days ago were limp
and wouldn’t hold up on another hot summer day. She quickly brushed
her hair up into what she called a ballerina’s ball on top of her
head. She applied light makeup only because of the mixer with other
agents, loan officers, banks and mortgage companies she was
attending after service. Otherwise, she wore very little makeup in
the summer.

Her A-line dress was simple in style; its
white color gave it elegance. Next, Octavia slipped into her heels
with the double straps at her ankles that complemented the twin
ones across her toes. All this fuss for attire she would have to
change once she got to church. She chuckled.

Grabbing her purse, lightweight shawl and
Bible, Octavia headed out the door. As she hummed to her favorite
gospel songs while she drove, she thought about her recent praise
dance rehearsal, which made her think about Landon again.