by Pat Simmons
“You’ve been on fire since you returned from Boston. See, the right connections can make all the difference. Congrats, sis.” Terri paused when Octavia’s phone rang. “We’ll talk later,” she mouthed as Octavia answered the call.
She had barely said hello when someone entered the office lobby and slammed the door. Glancing over her shoulder at the offender, Octavia was surprised to see James. Evidently, he had come to visit with Terri, who was across the room, since Octavia had called it quits more than a month ago. She turned her attention back to her caller, but James stopped at her desk. Ignoring his presence, Octavia patiently answered the potential client’s inquiry.
“Yes, I do remember you from the seminar a few months ago…Your loan approved for what amount?”
“One hundred and ninety thousand dollars,” Mrs. Scales said.
“What area were you thinking about living?”
“My husband and I think Bridgeton and Maryland Heights are centrally located.”
“Good choices.” Octavia made notes, wanting to engage the buyer in small talk, but Mrs. Scales left her contact number and ended the call. With James’s figure looming over her desk, Octavia had no choice but to acknowledge him. “Hello. Can I interest you in some new property listings?”
“I can’t believe you,” he managed through gritted teeth as he continued to tower over her desk, since she didn’t offer him a chair.
She’d had a thing about people talking down to her ever since she was in the first grade. Her teacher, Mrs. Elsberry, stood over her, making sure the entire class knew she had an accident before she could make it to the bathroom. How was she to control a stomach virus? Octavia got to her feet, almost reaching his chin in her stilettos. She tapped her manicured nails on the desk, waiting him out.
Maybe she shouldn’t have baited him, but James had made two mistakes, showing up at her workplace with an attitude, then bringing that attitude for a show in front of the other agents.
“Women are always talking about how they can’t find a good man, and you had one.” He thumped his chest. “But no, instead you go after a bad boy.”
She squinted. What is he ranting about? Octavia counted to ten to nick whatever camp fire he was trying to start with two sticks. “Excuse me.”
This is a test, God whispered. Satan wants you to fail and mock Me. I can keep you from falling.
“I invited you to a weekend getaway to Jamaica with the works.” James fanned his arm in the air. “You turned me down like that.” He snapped his fingers. “I had time to think about what I could have said wrong. I stopped by the office to apologize that I had been out of line not to respect your choices only to find out you had skipped town with some lowlife—”
“Watch it. Stop right there.” She held up her hand as she rolled her neck. “Your tailored suit can’t dress up your lowlife mentality. If you’re referring to the company I prefer to keep, then it looks like you’re going to owe me another apology. Landon has been where you are—past tense. He buried his pride like you should that green suit. His best quality is he has firsthand experience about God’s goodness and—”
“And I know how to talk to a lady,” Landon’s terse voice made heads turned. Where James had made a grand entrance, Landon had quietly walked in. “If you’ve got a problem with me, step outside. I want to hear it.”
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Octavia began to silently pray as she walked up to Landon. “Don’t do this,” she whispered, nudging him toward the door. She turned back and shot James an evil eye, then in one blink, softened her look toward Landon. With little resistance, Landon obliged, but once outside, Landon paced the perimeter around her car and looked at the entrance as if silently daring James to take him up on his offer.
Every stride toward his restoration with God would be tainted if Landon took the first swing. Octavia had let James taunt her, now Landon was falling prey to the enemy. Lord, help us not to make You ashamed. In Jesus’ name, please keep us from falling in the devil’s snare, Octavia prayed, hoping James wouldn’t make an appearance until Landon calmed down.
Blocking Landon’s path, she reached for his hand to hold him still. “Hey, hey,” she said softly. “I like surprises.” She smiled.
“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 surp
rised 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.
Chapter 26
“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 tsked 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 tsked. “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!”
Octavia screamed her excitement as tears fell from her eyes. Terri led her into the small conference room where there were balloons, cake, and in her honor, sparkling juice instead of wine. Her colleagues cheered. Rossi was there as well as Deb and Kai, her fellow praise dancers. Octavia shrieked when a surprise guest stepped from behind Rossi.
