A month later, Octavia accompanied Landon on a weekend trip to Boston. Olivia tagged along to act as their chaperon to enforce the “let your good be not evil spoken of” clause when it came to dating and a Christian woman’s reputation. Once their plane landed, the Miller and Thomas families enforced their own rules with bedroom assignments at his grandfather’s house instead of at the hotel where Landon had originally booked their stay.
His grandparents entertained her and Olivia with stories and baby pictures and so much food. It was a relaxing night, which Octavia appreciated because she didn’t know what the next day would bring.
Saturday morning, Octavia woke to the aroma of biscuits, eggs and sausage. She and Olivia quickly showered and dressed and then greeted everyone in the kitchen as Landon was coming through the door with a single flower.
His demonstration of love received oohs and ahhs from his family. Once everyone had stuffed themselves, Landon was ready to see his children. Octavia did her best not to display her apprehension about seeing Landon’s exes again.
Their first stop was at the Kees: Reba, Martin and Alyssa. His daughter was glad to see him as she hugged and kissed him.
“You remember, Miss Octavia,” he asked Alyssa. “Well, I’m going to marry her,” Landon said with pride and love in his eyes. The child’s parents clapped and offered congratulations. “Are you going to be my extra mommy?” Alyssa asked her.
Huh? Stepmother she expected, but extra mommy? Once Landon explained to her where the term originated from, she smiled. “Yes, I will.”
That earned Octavia a hug. “If it’s okay with you—” she glanced at Reba—“we would love for her to be in our wedding. You and your husband are invited to come as well.”
Alyssa grinned and jumped on one foot. “Can I, Mommy?”
“Of course,” her parents answered in unison.
The child gave her and Landon a group hug and kiss.
Octavia enjoyed the visit and the pleasant conversation. She felt relaxed and encouraged that Reba would guide her in her parenting skills with Alyssa. When she, Olivia and Landon left, mother and daughter seemed disappointed.
The next couple of stops proved to be more challenging. Unlike her first visit, Landon’s other daughter, Cherie, greeted him with a hug with little coaxing. Not only was she a little suspect of Octavia, but so was her mother—the same woman who refused her in her house the first time.
“Is that the crazy one?” Olivia asked under her breath.
Octavia nudged her to be discreet. “There’s one crazier than her,” she mumbled. “So let’s pray.” And all three did as they entered Kim’s house. Octavia could feel the presence of demonic influences around them.
Octavia called on the name of Jesus so the demons would tremble and flee. While Landon was distracted with Cherie, Octavia tried to get to know the child’s mother. It didn’t help that Landon introduced her as his fiancée, which seemed to put Kim on the defense.
“This is a nice place,” Octavia complimented as she scanned the living room and the other she could see.
Kim shrugged. “It’ll do. It’s the best my money can buy. Maybe, now that Landon is paying his share again, Cherie and I might move.”
Octavia tried to engage Kim in movies, hobbies, fashion, but the woman’s one word and brief answers suggested she didn’t want to be bothered. Octavia watched as Landon said his goodbye to Cherie at least three times. It was apparent he didn’t want to leave. At the door, Landon gave Cherie one more kiss and faced her mother. “I would like for my daughter to be in my wedding.
“Humph, I’m not coming to St. Louis,” Kim snapped.
“I’ll come and get Cherie,” Landon said in an even tone as if he were trying to hold it together. Octavia didn’t know if she should reach for his hand as a sign of moral support, or if the gesture would set Kim off, so she and Olivia remained quiet and praying.
“You pay for everything, and I’ll think about it.”
After saying their goodbyes, Octavia listened to Landon’s heavy footsteps from the door to the car. She exchanged glances with Olivia before reading Landon’s body language—he was tense. After they were strapped in and ready to drive away, Landon took a deep breath before starting the ignition. “That woman is going…” He gritted his teeth. “She’s going to push the wrong button, and I’ll—”
“And you’ll what?” she said softly. Octavia reached over and linked her fingers through his. “Cherie’s mother will be in our lives permanently. You and I will pray that God will intervene and soften her heart. It might take a while or it may come instantly, but we’re a praying team.”
“You’re right, babe.” He glanced at her, then squeezed her hand before bringing it to his lips where his mustache tickled her skin.
She spoke positive words and quoted a few scripture verses to comfort his spirit. Soon, he shared some of the funny things Cherie asked him. The mood was jovial as they parked in front of the last residence about thirty minutes later. After this stop, he promised to take her and Olivia sightseeing. What a difference a trip made.
“Yay, yay,” Olivia said as if she was a kid herself.
It was déjà vu for Octavia when Brittani opened the door. The woman still wore the same attitude, but on a different day. Octavia summed her up in one word: bitter. The boys, on the other hand, weren’t shy about seeing their father and were ready to go outside and play, so that’s what they did as she, Olivia and Brittani stood on the porch and watched for about twenty minutes or so. Brittani wasn’t pleased that Octavia was engaged to Landon and she wasn’t happy that Octavia had brought her sister. Brittani was just plain “not happy.”
Brittani wore an engagement ring, but that didn’t seem to keep the contempt from her eyes. “Landon, do you mind if we speak in private?” she asked.
Not only did Landon seem annoyed by the interruption, but the twins made their displeasure known.
“We can watch the boys,” Octavia offered.
“You do that.” Brittani jutted her chin and went inside the house as Landon followed. Octavia learned “private” to Brittani meant “behind her back instead of in front of her face” as her voice was anything but a hush. “She’d better not mistreat my boys when they come to visit.”
“Both crazies are tied in first place,” Olivia mouth and giggled.
“Watch it, Brittani,” She overheard Landon say in a low, but stern voice. “For the sake of our sons, I want us to have a working relationship, but we’d better set the ground rules now. Octavia doesn’t deserve your meanness. If you would take the time to get to know her, I think you’d like her, but I don’t care, because I love her. Don’t you ever—I mean ever—disrespect us again. Did I say ever?”
“And what are you going to do about it?” she sassed him.
“Trust me, you don’t want to find out…” Landon walked out of the house. He smiled at Octavia, then urged the boys to play another round of catch as if he hadn’t spoken a cross word minutes earlier. This time, Brittani stayed inside.
Octavia relaxed, but she knew her marriage to Landon would include a lot of prayer and fasting for the sake of tranquility for the children. As she watched father and sons horseplay, Octavia wondered in Landon’s case, who had been the seducer and prey. Landon thought it was him, but maybe he had been Brittani’s prey all along, and it would bruise Landon’s ego to point out how he had been used. She snickered at the probability, but he would never, ever, ever hear that from her.
Soon it was time to go, and they were back in the car. Landon was out of breath, but he was glowing with happiness. Watching him interact with the children, a thought came to Octavia. She lowered her voice so Olivia couldn’t hear. “Babe, have you considered moving back to Boston, so you can be closer to the children? It definitely would be cheaper, and I’m…okay with that.”
Landon stared at her. The love shone from his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I have. I thought about it long and hard, and prayed for direction. God spoke to me and told me if I take you as my wife, you would be my priority.” He leaned over and brushed the softest kiss against her lips. “Thank you, baby, for offering.” Before pulling back, Landon pecked a few more kisses on her lips, then mumbled, “Come on June 24th.”
Octavia smiled. Yes, their wedding couldn’t come soon enough.
“Excuse me, there’s a child in the car,” Olivia said from the back seat, and they all burst out laughing.