Redeeming Heart

by Pat Simmons

  “I’ve repented.” It was a prodigal-son moment that his entire family had been waiting for. They had warned him continuously that he needed to repent, but he mocked them, preferring his lifestyle of destruction and self-gratification. He bowed his head. His elbows were anchored on his knees.

  “Landon, Landon, Landon,” his grandfather said in a cautious tone. “God knows I want to believe you, but your mockery of seven times seventy leaves me suspect. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you?”

  “I deserve that,” Landon admitted, then began to chronicle his life since being forced out of the condo his family knew nothing about to roaming city to city: New York, Chicago and now St. Louis as he was making his way to Texas.

  “Are you ready to come home?”

  The cliché “home is where the heart is” was true, but he had to find his heart before he could be at home. “Nah, Grandpa. I’m at a place in my life where I’m starting over. I can’t live in Boston anymore.”

  Moses was silent, which made Landon wonder what he was thinking. “That’s your decision alone to make, but you can’t make a new frontier every place you go. Women desire love and respect. Haven’t I proved that with your grandmother—fifty plus years of marriage—then your parents? You’ll never be able to love a woman until you love God first and then your own soul.”

  This time, Landon let his grandfather’s wise counsel sink in—something he had never done before.

  “I know that now. I met someone, and God knows I don’t want to mess it up.”

  “Does this young lady know about your past?”

  “Not yet—”

  “Let’s pray,” his grandfather cut him off, and without any preliminaries began to call on Jesus until Landon ran out of minutes.

  Chapter 16

  Octavia would never grow tired of seeing souls repent. It was the highlight of any church service.

  As she watched in awe, souls flocked to the altar for prayer or baptism. Landon’s shaved face flashed in Octavia’s mind. What was his story? If he was here, would he be in that line? she wondered. Once she was finished with her house showing that afternoon, Octavia would pay Landon another visit.

  After the benediction, Octavia had only enough time for a sandwich from a drive-thru restaurant. With her immediate hunger quenched, she directed her attention on the Colemans. They were first-time home buyers with demands that were unrealistic.

  She and her colleagues preferred listing a property. Other agents besides her would show the home, which would increase the chances of it being sold faster and with less work on the listing agent’s part. As a buyer’s agent, Octavia was solo. There would be a lot of legwork to get the Colemans into a house they would call home.

  The couple didn’t have a lot of money to spend; the commission would be lower and after the agent’s rental fee to the broker for office space, training and materials, the agent was lucky to have lunch money, which was the reason Terri was always hounding her about changing “the company she kept” to upper-end clients.

  The Colemans’ loan had been approved for a ninety-thousand-dollar home and not a cent more. Unfortunately, they were adamant about seeing a house with a listed price of $102,000. They didn’t want to live in the city, but could barely afford residence outside the city limits.

  Octavia believed in options, which was why she dropped by the office the day before to print three additional listings. She had been surprised to see James’s Benz parked outside the agency the day before and even more surprised at the conversation she overheard as she neared the entrance.

  “James, be patient,” Terri stated.

  “I have been, but she hasn’t called.” James’s deep voice was a tie between disappointed and annoyed.

  “Tavie fills up her social calendar with church activities,” had been Terri’s defense. “We can double date again.”

  “No. She was like a mouse caught with cheese last time. She has to want to get to know me. She’s sexy, beautiful and the type of woman with just enough church in her to take home to meet my mother…”

  Octavia frowned and mouthed just enough church. Was that a compliment? That was akin to someone wanting just enough of Jesus to get into heaven. She shook her head. People who didn’t go to church and folks who did never would understand the others’ reasoning. The bigger question was how much of Jesus did James have. She didn’t have time to find out as she fumbled with the knob to alert them that someone was coming in.

  Their heads whipped around. Despite their smiles, guilt was written on their faces.

  James stood. “Octavia, hi. Terri said you were stopping by. I hope you’ll let me treat you to lunch.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m in a hurry.” She eyed Terri then proceeded to her corner desk to print out the alternative listings.

  James followed, grabbed a chair and pulled it to her desk. “Why won’t you give me a chance to get to know you?”

  If Octavia told him that for some unexplainable, foolish reason, Landon had gotten her attention first, he would have laughed.

  “What is there about me that you don’t like?” He toyed with her as Terri pretended to be busy. To any woman, he was the complete package with his looks, suave personality and other possessions. Plus, he smelled good, but she wanted a man to share her passion about Jesus.

  And Landon would? A voice came from nowhere.

  “I don’t know you,” she said, then decided to print out one more listing she hoped she wouldn’t have to show.

  James had handed her another one of his cards and leaned closer. “Call me any time and I’ll answer.” Standing, he smiled at her, and his eyes sparkled. He turned and saluted Terri then strolled out the door.

  “Girl…” Terri fanned herself. “If you don’t go out with him, I may have to leave Andre.”

  Octavia laughed. “Your husband’s not going to let you go anywhere.”

  A day later, Octavia still didn’t know how she felt about James’s description of her. Humph. He wasn’t her problem. She turned down the street where the house was listed and parked. Although she was prepared to hold the Coleman’s hands throughout the process, Octavia prayed she wouldn’t have to show them ten homes before finding them their affordable dream home.

  Her clients honked when they saw her drive up. Octavia unstrapped her seatbelt and got out.

  “Excited?” She greeted them and grinned.

  Before going inside, the trio inspected the curb appeal, which made a big difference in the asking price. There wasn’t much to the flower bed, but the shrubbery was expertly trimmed and positioned for shade.

  At the front door, she punched in the combination code on the lock box, which dislodged the key. She opened the door and allowed the Colemans to step inside first, then together they explored the three-bedroom home, which had been fully renovated. It would make a great home for someone with the right income.

  Octavia read their body language. Mrs. Coleman beamed. “We want it. Can we make them a lower offer?” Her husband wrapped his arm around her waist. They were a united front, staring at her.

  “We can try, but if someone comes with a high offer—”

  “With God, all things are possible,” Mr. Coleman said.

  “Amen.” She couldn’t argue against that. She knew firsthand about faith, miracles and God’s rich blessings. Still, there was a difference between “I want” and God saying, “You’ll get.” After Octavia slipped a contract out of her case, she suggested they pray.

  “Lord, in the name of Jesus,” Mr. Coleman began, “You said if we acknowledge You in all things, You will direct our path.”

  “Jesus, You also said that if we come to You believing… We have been good stewards with the money You’ve given us…” his wife added.

  Octavia was touched by their faith in God. She also knew by helping them to get blessed, she would be too, and she wasn’t talking about the commission. Octavia ended the prayer with Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abunda
ntly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  “By faith,” they said in unison as if they were the Three Musketeers.

  They sat at a table with four chairs that had been part of the few furnishings staged to give the appearance of a home, then Octavia began to write their offer. “The property is paid for and the owner is in a senior citizens’ home. Let’s see what her relatives have to say.” They nodded, stood and shook hands. As Octavia locked up, she knew the hard work was about to begin, negotiating with the seller for a much lower price.

  First, she had other business on her mind as she got in her car and drove to Mac’s Place.

  Half an hour later, she parked in front of the building. She only had one question for Landon. Clearly, he was reared in the church to play those melodies, so what happened between him and the Lord? Getting out her car, Octavia’s heart pounded with each step. It was her second visit to Mac’s Place in one day.

  Another staffer at the front desk instructed her to sign in before pointing to Landon in the common area, tucked away in a corner and reading a Bible. As she crossed the back of the room, Octavia felt the other men’s eyes on her. Creepy. She shivered, not wanting to imagine their thoughts.

  Landon looked so intense that she felt conflicted about disturbing him, but she needed answers. “Hey,” she said softly.

  When he glanced over his shoulder, his face glowed. Something had changed within him that was seeping out. He appeared relaxed.

  “Is now a good time to talk?”

  Landon stood and pulled out a chair. “It will never be a good time to talk about my past, especially with you.”

  She didn’t sit. “Are you hungry? I’m starved. How about grabbing a bite to eat with me?” she rambled on.

  “I’m not hungry, but we do need to talk.” His expression gave her no clues what details he would share. “Let me put this Bible in my room first.”

  She was relieved when he escorted her back to the lobby to wait, away from the prying eyes.

  He returned in no time. As they walked to her car, she said, “I’m glad you’re reading your Bible.”

  “Me too.” He opened her car door.

  “I came by this morning, but you were gone,” she said, fishing for information as he got in and clicked his seatbelt.

  “I attended church with Rossi,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I repented and God reclaimed me.”

  Relief draped her as she chanced a looked at him. “Welcome home. I’m sure the angels in heaven were rejoicing over your soul.”

  “Amen.” Landon choked and shook his head.

  She could only imagine the jubilation of being reclaimed. Octavia hoped she never experienced it. She had been in seventh grade when the Lord called out to her. Her classmates were testing the waters in all kinds of things and encouraged her to do the same. God had spared her from life-altering mistakes. She couldn’t repent fast enough, get baptized in Jesus’ name soon enough and receive the Holy Ghost quickly enough—it was her Nicodemus born-again experience.

  Octavia and Landon were lost in their own thoughts until she drove into Chili’s restaurant’s lot.

  “I’ll get your door.” Landon got out and assisted her.

  The host greeted them and showed them to their table without a moment’s wait. Octavia declined a menu and ordered her salad and water. Landon asked for a soda.

  Once they were alone again, Octavia sighed and folded her hands. “Start from the beginning and tell me about the Landon Thomas I don’t know,” she coaxed.

  Landon looked away, then stared into her eyes. “I come from a large family of Christians who follow the Apostles’ doctrine that Jesus taught them. The Millers—my mother’s side—has preachers, musicians, Sunday school teachers and anything else in service for God. If I didn’t hear the Word at church, I heard it at home or at my grandparents’ house. I fought against it.”

  “That explains your command of the keyboards,” she grinned.

  “It’s your fault,” he argued. “I had to see you dance, but I don’t want to get sidetracked. Rossi said his sermon on the lost sheep was already planned. I had read that passage and heard that sermon preached over the years, but when Rossi brought it, it stung because I knew I was reaping what I sowed.” He inched his hand across the table and chanced pulling one of her hands toward him. “May I?”

  When she nodded her consent, he squeezed her hand and Octavia’s skin tingled. “Before I tell you what I sowed, Octavia, you have to believe me that I am no longer that practicing sinner, but a redeemed saint.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, but her mind was creating all kinds of scenarios: drug dealer like Terri had implied, embezzlement, outlaw…

  Landon’s shoulders slumped and he rushed, “I have children…”

  Blinking, Octavia sat up straight. She sucked in her breath and slowly exhaled. “Child-ren?” He nodded. “Are you married?” she stuttered.

  “No.”

  Was that the right answer or the wrong one? Her heart and head couldn’t agree. He watched her intensely. She opened her mouth and had to force out the next question. “Are you going to marry her?” Why did that question make her heart ache?

  He gritted his teeth and glanced around the restaurant. “Three women have my babies.” What? Octavia felt like someone had slapped her or maybe she was going to faint. Her head began to spin as his voice seemed to echo. Maybe she was dying. She closed her eyes, so it would be quick.

  “Hey,” Landon said softly, coaxing her to open her eyes. “I’m ashamed, because I knew God’s way and ignored it.” Before bowing his head, the shame was visible on his face.

  Somehow Octavia had a hard time believing Landon could be so callous—her Landon. Her hands shook as she began to wipe at the tears she couldn’t control. “Am I your next target? If you have truly repented, then I expect your honesty.”

  “You never were.” It was the first time he smiled and gave her a tender look. “I knew you were hands off when I saw you. It was as if you were under God’s protection. I saw purity in your spirit and knew you were the real deal, and that attracted me to you.”

  Landon reached over and wiped at her tears. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted to see you cry. If you don’t hate me now…” He paused as their server placed their drinks before them, then her salad.

  “Enjoy,” the woman said with a tentative smile, giving them a strange expression.

  Octavia doubted that now. Her stomach was warning her not to feed it. If Octavia had to force feed two bites, she had to put something inside her before she did pass out. She closed her eyes to bless her food, but found herself praying for Landon and the women he’d victimized. When she heard him say, “Amen,” she opened her eyes. “I wasn’t finished.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Staring at her Caribbean salad, Octavia picked up her fork and toyed with the bits of pineapple. “That was deep. I can’t phantom how a person—how you—could be that cruel.”

  He that has no sin, let him cast the first stone, God whispered as in a dare.

  She took a deep breath. “Okay, okay,” Octavia spoke to the Lord aloud. “I guess you’ll be returning to Boston soon.”

  Octavia watched Landon stalling as he stirred his straw in his glass of Sprite, but he never took a sip. “I was a fornicator, liar, deceiver, and any other name you could conjure up that described me.”

  Why isn’t he answering my question?

  He patted his chest. “But this one thing I know for sure, I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

  Octavia recognized that as a verse from Psalm 27.

  “Some things I can’t make right. One of those ladies who bore my children—twin boys—was engaged to my cousin.”

  “You mean she was once engaged to your cousin?” she asked.

  “No. They were engaged at the time.”

  She was done. Her fork missed
her mouth. If Octavia was a violent woman, she would have fork-whipped him in lieu of pistol-whipping him for everything. His whorish ways in God’s house, his innocent babies, and his family betrayal seemed to put him at the top of Satan’s list.

  “Is everything okay?” Their server re-appeared.

  “Can I have a to-go box, please?” Octavia reached into her purse for her wallet. Not only couldn’t she digest her food, but her soul couldn’t digest what Landon was telling her.

  “No, I’ve got this,” Landon said. The woman looked between her and Landon, then hurried away to do her bidding.

  They stared at each other. Judge not, lest ye be judged. The scripture revolved in Octavia’s head, but how could she not? When God saved her, Octavia was determined to be saved for life. When others around her were dabbling in sin, she and her sister were too scared to explore.

  She knew some Christians struggled with issues, but Landon’s past actions could only be described as horrific. How could another human being be so cruel knowing Jesus could return at any time and they could be lost forever? Her brain was hurting as she stood. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Landon never cared what others thought about him—until that moment. Never before had disappointment in a woman’s eyes cut him to the core, rendering him defeated. If he needed anyone to believe in him…God, please let it be Octavia.

  “There’s no excuse for what I’ve done. My conscience had been seared, but the Blood of Jesus is my defense, and my redemption has been restored. If I could take back every deed I did, I would,” he said softly. He never knew condemnation could be this painful.

  Ministers, including Rossi, had anointed his head with oil and prayed mightily. However, the release from his bondage didn’t seem to come until God released His Word through a heavenly langue in other tongues that flowed from Landon’s mouth. The experience had left him spiritually exhausted and conscience free, until now—again.