Redeeming Heart Read Free Page B

prayer through, his maternal Miller clan could.
    “It’s a ten-minute wait,” Octavia informed
him after speaking with the hostess. “I’m running to the ladies’
room. Be right back.” She began to strut away before spinning on
her heels. “Oh, and don’t be a fool and leave without a good hot
meal.” She lifted her brow, then gave him a point blank expression.
“And you don’t come across as a fool.” She sashayed away.
    How quickly she was summing him up, but
Octavia had no idea that he called the shots—except when he was
hungry.
    He took a seat in the lobby across from a
couple giving him a curious stare. He ignored them in the same way
he had been dismissed many times on the streets when he asked for
spare change. It was humiliating and humbling. That had been a
sight to see: Landon Thomas begging—a scenario that his estranged
family would probably enjoy, recalling the last family gathering
where he had been called a fool to his face.
    Landon had been summoned to his maternal
grandparents’ home in Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, not far
from Dudley Station.
    “You’re a disgrace to this family. If any
child could’ve been switched at birth, you’re the leading
candidate,” said Moses Miller, the patriarch of the clan. Landon
had stared at the older and darker version of himself. His
grandfather’s hair was no longer gray, but white.
    With a calm demeanor and from the comfort of
a worn oversized recliner, Moses had rebuked him with such venom
that Landon had been caught off guard. He had never seen the
seventy-eight-year-old elder so angry as he shook his head. He
twisted his mouth as if he was trying to discharge a nasty
taste.
    No one came to his defense. His parents,
aunts, uncles, cousins all seemed to watch with interest. Not one
to let anyone see him sweat, Landon was about to take advantage of
the pause when his grandfather’s tirade continued.
    “Landon Thomas, this family—your family—can
no longer excuse or support your bad decisions. You were born with
a good name, and you’re not even thirty-two and you’ve managed to
ruin it!” He pounded his fist on the arm rest. “How many demons are
you going to allow to feast off of you?”
    “Grandpa, even God said to forgive seven
times seventy. I’ve tried to live right, but the temptation is too
great… He knows I’m weaker.” Others could pretend they were living
holy, if they wanted to, but Landon planned to be true to himself.
He stuffed his hands in his designer pants. He was tired of playing
church. He knew the scriptures as well as any other family
member.
    Moses waved his arthritic hand at him.
“Enough. ‘ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that
grace may abound? May it never be! We who died in sin, how could we
live in it any longer?’ If you don’t believe me, pick up your
Bible that has your name engraved on the cover. Flip to Romans
six…”
    There was no need for him to do that. Landon
was just exercising his free will. Longevity ran in his family. He
had time to serve God, but as Shakespeare said, “To thine own self
be true.” Landon had done everything in his power not to groan. He
made six digits, had a luxury car, condo and money in the bank. All
his physical and financial needs were met.
    “Grandson, a few days ago God spoke to me.
You can’t imagine how surprised I was when He revealed to me that
you hadn’t backslid yet—despite the trail of mess you stirred—but
you were in process. That’s a warning, Landon. I advise you to take
heed.”
    That meeting had been more than a year ago
and since then, God had taken away his livelihood and possessions
as a way of punishing him.
    “Our table is ready.” Octavia reappeared with
a smile, so he tucked away the past and allowed her to lead the
way.
    This time he kept his eyes off Octavia’s
backside. Sleeping around wasn’t on his priority list. As true to
her word, the hostess seated them close to the door and handed them
a