by Pat Simmons
But Landon couldn’t wait. He needed a job now. He walked the street until almost dust until he found a shelter. The conditions were awful and smelly, and questionable characters made him sleep with his eyes open. The next morning, he found a cheap motel to shower and iron the few clothes he had, but he needed a shave desperately, so again, he hit the streets until he saw a Walgreens, which commercials boasted were on every corner. They lied. With credit cards maxed and collectors hounding him when he left Boston, he had little cash, which gave him two options.
Hiding his shame, Landon stood outside the store, politely asking for donations for toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. Some people had pity and gave him a total of twelve dollars and some change. With the sun becoming unbearable, he went inside to search for clearances. Anything would be a bargain with the little pocket change he had for a watch and electric shaver. Looking around, he eyed the selection. Landon had never been a thief, but he’d never been in desperation mode either. If he was going for an executive job, he needed the toiletries to look and smell the part. He realized there was an art to stealing, and he was an amateur.
Cameras and possibly employees had him under surveillance. “How do they pull this off?” he questioned himself, referring to shoplifters.
“Can I help you, sir?” a young store clerk said, who had suddenly appeared at his side. Landon didn’t even notice the short male with Popsicle-red spiked hair. His name tag read David.
Landon cleared his voice. “No…well, yes. I’ve been unemployed for a while. I need a job real soon. Can you recommend some places?”
The young man looked perplexed. “Ah, I’m still in high school. Let me call the manager. He’ll know if Walgreens is hiring,” he said as if it were a bright idea.
“Wow, I never thought of that. Can I fill out an application?” Landon gave the pretense of feeding into the youth’s eagerness.
Grinning, the teenager disappeared. Landon had to make a decision and quick. The Remington Flex 360 Diamond series rotary shaver looked tempting at eighty bucks, but he decided to play it safe with the Phillips Norelco razor that was half the cost. As he tried to quickly stuff it under his shirt, his heart pounded with remorse. Stealing did not give him an adrenaline rush. When he turned around the clerk had returned with a sheet of paper in his hand. The gleam in his eyes was replaced with disappointment. He had been busted after one attempt.
“If I call my store manager, you’ll go to jail,” David stated as if he were the one scolding a child. Even as Landon towered over him, he felt small.
Removing the razor, Landon handed it over. “Here man.”
After accepting the merchandise, David stepper closer. “My church donates food and clothing and other necessities. We’ll even come and pick you up for a meal.”
“Nah, that’s okay.” He walked out the store with nothing but the cost of his pride.
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin… do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” I know that you need them, God said, speaking portions of Matthew 6.
Landon ignored Him. Right, he thought mockingly. Landon couldn’t pray more; he was all prayed out after he lost so much at once—his family’s forgiveness, lucrative employment, a spacious condo and a luxury ride.
That had been his first hand at shoplifting. Since that time, he’d swiped small items, all in the name of survival, which he had planned to do later that night for soap and toothpaste before returning to his hiding place that Octavia had discovered.
“Hey,” Octavia shook his hand, “you zoned out on me.” She searched his face as if trying to tap into his thoughts.
He cleared his throat and summarized his story with, “In my travels from city to city, I left a trail of clothes as I tried to rid myself of excessive baggage. The end.”
What about your spiritual baggage? God asked. Why are you holding on to that?
Landon’s answer was simple. He didn’t know how to let go. People always said they couldn’t forgive themselves, so in all honesty, and God knew it, Landon didn’t even try. He thought about his worldly possessions. “Suffice it to say, all I have now is that one suitcase.” That contained three pairs of pants, six pairs of designer boxers, four T-shirts, and six polo shirts. He knew because he counted them daily.
Resting her dainty chin on her fist, Octavia said, “Uh-oh. This doesn’t sound like the old comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy.”
Landon shook his head. “I’m hoping for a happier ending than Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” He shrugged and glanced around the restaurant.
“So you need life’s basic necessities.”
“For now, but I’m a go–getter. I plan to land with both of my feet on the ground.” Despite the odds, Landon never lacked confidence. “What about you? I know you’re a real estate agent.”
“Yes, and I’m part of the Elite Realtist agents. It’s priceless to watch the smiles when someone buys their first home. It’s literally a gift from heaven, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.
She captivated Landon when she talked about her passion about what she did. She was enchanting and very beautiful. Despite his hunger, Landon was irked when the server interrupted them with their salads. Seconds later, he was sucked in by Octavia’s eloquent grace over their food.
“Lord, we thank You for all things—good and bad—and this meal You have provided. Please bless and sanctify our food and help us to remember those who are hungry, and bless them as You have blessed us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
How many times had he said grace and never thought about others? Even now when there were others in the same boat as him? “Amen.”
Octavia didn’t say another word as she attacked her food, which was fine with him as he woofed down the juicy steak with as much finesse as possible for a hungry man.
When the conversation did resume, their banter was light hearted—nothing personal, but engaging.
“I should’ve said it earlier, but I’m sorry for scaring you.”
Octavia laughed and patted her chest. “Yes, that was definitely a calling-on-Jesus moment.”
The waiter returned and Octavia ordered dessert for them both after he declined, not wanting to drain her of her generosity. Although he wasn’t a fan of ice cream, the scoop of vanilla with a chunk of brownie never tasted better. Her eyes sparkled as she watched his gusto.
As he dabbed the corners of his mouth, Octavia asked for the bill. He didn’t know which disappointed him more: a woman picking up his tab, going to church or ending the temporary escape she gave him from his present state. But she didn’t make him feel like a charity case. Smiling brightened her already gorgeous face as she casually asked, “Do you need a place to stay?”
Landon blinked. He definitely wasn’t expecting that. How naïve was she? “Are you offering?”
“I am.” She seemed to be smug in her answer. “Who knows? I can be entertaining an angel and may not know it.”
Baby, I’m far from an angel, Landon refused to say. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem.” She stood and gathered her purse. “We still have to stop by my church first.”
“Not a problem,” he dittoed. So what if he had to brave a few hours in church while she did her thing? It would beat the scolding heat. At least he wasn’t about to sit through a Sunday morning sermon. There was no message that God could deliver to him. Landon felt like he had been kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Didn’t matter, it was the treat coming after church that he looked forward to.
Chapter 4
Nothing was going to happen. Octavia knew it; Landon didn’t. Smiling, she left him to his musings as she drove off the parking lot. A chime on her phone alerted her to Terri’s text.
Rolling her ey
es, Octavia ignored it. She had already given her friend/mentor/play big sister/mother hen/crook in the neck an edited version of what happened while she was in the ladies’ room.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Landon’s head bob and then she heard a light snore. Poor thing. No doubt, he would appreciate a warm bed. In no time, Octavia turned into Jesus the Great Shepherd Church’s parking lot. It was bare, except for the janitor and members of the praise team’s cars.
She cut the engine and stared at Landon before nudging his shoulder. “We’re here. Ready?”
He snapped awake and grumbled, “No. Thanks for asking.” He got out first, and with a proud stride came around to her door and assisted her.
His persona was that of an heir to a fortune. Despite the present condition of his clothes, they appeared to be good quality fabrics. The question nagged her again. If God’s grace was tangible like clothes and shoes, when and where did Landon fall from it?
“So when was the last time you were in church?”
“A while.” Landon shrugged. “I haven’t kept track.”
That sense of humor again—Octavia was starting to expect it. Landon was easy to be around. She was comfortable. On a first date, she was usually guarded around a man, but this wasn’t a date. Still, she liked Landon—as a person, not boyfriend.
In the foyer, the pictures and plaques on the wall seemed to draw in Landon. “Those are from community outreach events,” she said, pointing at photographs of children at summer camp, vacation Bible school and an elderly health fair. She steered him inside the sanctuary where the other two praise dancers were talking in front of the pulpit. Landon went no farther than the back row, and he immediately took a seat.
Octavia waved as she approached Kai Kelly and Deb Beavers. The trio rehearsed once a month and danced every other Sunday.
“Who is that?” Kai whispered when she was within hearing distance, peeping over Octavia’s shoulder. Men didn’t go unnoticed at any church, including hers.
Although their church had an evangelistic and community outreach team that ministered to shelters and families, Octavia wasn’t sure how receptive they would be to Landon’s plight. She did a speed dial through her mind for an acceptable excuse. “That’s Landon. I saw him at one of my properties—” versus found him, she thought. “—and we chatted. He’s tagging along because we grabbed a bite to eat.” She exhaled. “Now, come on, Sister Nosey, let’s change so we can practice.” She looped her arm through Kai’s.
Kai wouldn’t budge. “Is he married? Children? Job? What kind of car? And yeah…saved? He looks like a hunk from here.”
Octavia shook her head. The two had had conversations in the past about men in the dating pool. Unfortunately, Kai was of the mindset that if the man didn’t make more, possess more goods and had a better paying career with a higher education level than her, then he was disqualified from the pool. Octavia always argued, “What about love?” but she never won with her.
Deb squinted at the back of the sanctuary. “He looks kind of suspect to me. Maybe he’ll look better in the light.”
I wouldn’t count on it. “Come on, let’s dance.” Octavia playfully nudged her. Landon Thomas definitely wouldn’t make the cut. In the back dressing room, Kai was like a mouse with a piece of cheese—she wouldn’t stop asking about Landon. “Listen, I’ll introduce you after practice.”
They changed, re-entered the sanctuary and poised at the altar as they waited for the engineer in the sound room to play the first of two of gospel songs by artist LaRue Howard for them to interpret in dance.
Shutting out everything around her, Octavia worked through the routine. If Landon didn’t feel the presence of the Lord through this song, then his bones were truly dry. “Lord, let him live again,” she whispered, referring to Ezekiel 37.
***
The sound of congas filtering through the overhead speakers reminded Landon of home. Reared in a musical family, everyone could either sing or play an instrument, many of them both. Only two people in his family played the congas, one being Jamal—Garrett’s nephew. The boy could put any adult to shame with his artistic ability. As the music crescendoed, Landon zoomed in on the expression of Octavia’s smiling face. It glowed as if God had dusted His anointing on it.
The ladies’ movements were as soft and effortless as ballerinas, and hypnotic. It didn’t matter that the preacher wasn’t on the premises. Landon’s spirit was fighting against the praise dancers’ overpowering message. He shivered when the artist repeated, “The Majesty is here…”
Without trying, his mind painted the picture of a faceless person sounding a warning alarm to announce the presence of royalty. As the music faded, Landon stopped squirming in his seat. Wiping his self-trimmed mustache, he didn’t realize he had broken into a cold sweat. He should get up and wait in the hall for her, but his body wouldn’t cooperate.
What am I doing here? He knew better than most that everyone that cried, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we do such and such in Your name,” wasn’t going to heaven. His family made sure every offspring of Moses Miller knew the consequences of Matthew 7:21-23. Although Landon didn’t want to go to the first death in hell, he couldn’t bring himself to live in a straitjacket, denying himself of the pleasures of the world. Why couldn’t he forget all those scriptures?
My yoke is easy! God’s voice seemed to walk through the pews toward him.
Landon shivered. “It wasn’t for me, Jesus.” He bowed his head. Who was more disappointed—him or God? Landon had exercised his free will, and God was wreaking havoc into Landon’s life for it.
I’ve given you relief from the heat while you are living. In hell, there is no relief. God’s words were forceful.
Looking up, Landon scanned around the sanctuary. Besides Octavia and her two friends, who weren’t paying him any attention, there was no one else in the sanctuary. The skin on Landon’s back seemed to sting as if he were shirtless outside in the heat of the day instead of inside the cool air of the church. Then the agonizing sensation lessened.
O taste and see that I am good and My mercy endures forever. Yet, hell exists for sinners who won’t repent. God’s whisper faded as if He were a breeze passing through.
And there lay his problem. He didn’t have it within him to repent—no desire, no conviction and no guilt. Landon was a third-generation Apostolic believer, yet he enjoyed playing the rebellious one against his cousin Garrett whom he had betrayed. Their parents often muttered that their relationship was like Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25. He often wondered if a backslider could truly be redeemed.
Landon needed a distraction from the whole praise dancing that was messing with his head. Sitting back, he stretched his arms across the back of cushioned seats that formed pews. He scrutinized the sanctuary that could easily accommodate a congregation of a couple thousand. A series of track lights were positioned overhead. The podium was of a clear material, simple and functional. A row of chairs for minsters was behind it. Greenery adorned the elevated baptismal pool waiting for converts. Clearly it was the centerpiece of the sanctuary.
When the music stopped and the lights dimmed, Landon thought the show was over. He exhaled.
“Landon,” Octavia’s voice breathlessly echoed from the stage, “how did we look?”
“Ah.” He struggled to his feet and leaned on the back of the chair in front of him. “Perfect.” He was ready to get out of there.
Folding her arms, her stance said she didn’t believe him.
“I think I was off,” the dancer with long braids said matter-of-factly. “Let’s go through it one more time.”
Of course, Octavia agreed, so Landon gritted his teeth and slid back into his seat. He endured two more practices without them asking his opinion. How long had they been at it? Wasn’t the sun setting soon? If his things hadn’t been locked in her car, Landon would get out of there and keep walking until he found a hidden cubicle to lay his head for the night.
Suddenly the music stopped. Leani
ng forward, Landon crossed his fingers and held his breath. Was it over? When the women disappeared from the stage, he exhaled. Countless minutes later, they reemerged. Octavia seemed refreshed from her gospel workout. The other two in the group followed her. He stood.
“Landon, this is Kai,” Octavia said, pointing to the woman with the braids, “and this is Deb.”
While Deb was the tallest and a looker, her smile was forced. Kai, on the other hand, had a pretty smile, and that was where the attraction stopped. “That’s nice of you to sit through our rehearsal. My husband doesn’t have the same patience.” Deb paused. “So Landon, what do you do for a living?” She scanned his wrinkled shirt.
“He’s in between jobs,” Octavia intervened. “If you and Cedric hear of any vacancies, pass it on to me.”
“Well, ladies, it’s getting late. I’ll be happy to escort you to your cars.” Landon released his killer smile, but if he didn’t get to a free dental clinic soon, he may lose a tooth to a loosened filling.
Kai beamed. “Thank you, Landon.” She dragged out his name. “One should never turn down security.”
“Or an iron,” Deb murmured, but Landon heard it.
An elderly man in work clothes met them as they were leaving the sanctuary. Clearly, Landon’s presence had surprised him. “Hello.” He frowned, then turned to the ladies. “You sisters truly have the gift of dancing. Let God keep using you. I didn’t want to stop the music.”
The unseen conductor, Landon surmised.
Thank you, Brother Jeffries,” Octavia said, then turned to him. “Ready?” she asked as if inviting a man to stay at her home was a normal occurrence. How could she leave the anointing behind? She was making it easy for him to seduce her, but something about Octavia made Landon want to be a gentleman, protect her and see her smile—all this in less than a day of knowing she existed.
Landon didn’t understand it as he escorted Kai and Deb to their vehicles before accompanying Octavia to hers. Once she was behind the wheel and strapped in, Octavia paused before starting the ignition. Landon wondered if she was having second thoughts about inviting him into her home.
