Be careful, stay calm, ask the right questions, and don’t jump to conclusions. Landon’s breath caught. He counted to three, watching her before he exhaled and mustered a slight chuckle he wasn’t feeling. “Explain.”

  “Well, we know Granny Lonna didn’t steal them. The sales and the items balance, so our records are okay, but if she has been buying them yearly, why do I only see one entry for her? I’ve been working on a discovery for months, and nothing seems off.”

  “Think before you speak because you won’t be able to take it back,” God whispered.

  “Landon?” Gina said his name twice, but his mouth was glued together.

  “Babe, I know if there is a discrepancy, my lovely woman will find it.”

  Exhaling, Gina wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  Good save, God, because that’s not close to what I was about to say.

  “Come on. Let’s get ready to go there now.”

  This was a mystery that should have been solved on day one. But Gina would never hear Landon say that—he hoped, at least.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Unknowingly, Gina was tortured by not going to see Granny Lonna as Landon had said. The reason was that his grandmother had unexpected visitors who overstayed and tired her out. Now, she was resting for a few days.

  That was a week ago, and Gina felt he was essentially holding his grandmother hostage.

  “Who knew love would be so complicated?” Denise tsked as the two sisters prepped the meat at their parents’ house for the grill.

  Gina exhaled and shook her head. She still couldn’t believe it. “Talk about bad timing. He told me how I had made a believer out of him to support charities—our charity.” Her heart ached to discuss it.

  “Well, sis, I don’t know what to tell you. You said he came into the relationship with an attitude, and you two seemed to have worked around it, so...” Denise shrugged, giving advice on relationships without being an expert.

  Her sister desired a relationship but avoided them for fear of getting hurt. Gina had become the test case. “Only God can change a person’s heart.”

  “Which God did do,” Gina snapped, then apologized and huffed. “Those unaccounted for pieces are messing with my head.”

  Denise was about to hug her, but Gina stepped out of the way. “Don’t you dare until you wash your hands.”

  The sisters laughed, and then Gina sobered. “I know it’s not mismanagement, but it’s bugging me.”

  “What mismanagement?” their father’s voice boomed from the doorway.

  The sisters exchanged glances before Gina answered. “There’s no mismanagement, Daddy...” She felt like a little girl again. “It’s about the Black angel ornaments Landon’s grandmother has.”

  Ray walked into the kitchen, carrying a blue oven pan filled with barbecued meat. “What does that have to do with mismanagement?” Resting it on the counter, he waited for an explanation. Whenever he wore his small, black-framed glasses, he looked intimidating.

  “It’s not,” Gina quickly answered. “We were talking about Landon’s grandmother’s cute little bungalow in a retirement community. Her front rooms look like a scene from Santa’s showroom, with amazing Christmas decorations and knickknacks. I recognized three pieces from the children’s home inventory.”

  Her father frowned at her rambling.

  “Our records only show she purchased one piece, so why does she have three?”

  “Maybe they didn’t come from Every Day is Christmas charity. It could have been a gift,” her mother, who had begun to peel potatoes, offered as an explanation.

  “True.” Gina nodded and washed her hands. The perk of being on the board of directors is seeing the items before they go to the charity to be cataloged and auctioned. I’m familiar with our collection.”

  “How long have you been overthinking this?” Ray asked.

  Denise twirled around and lifted a finger in the air as if she was leaving the sanctuary.

  Traitor, Gina thought.

  “Don’t go anywhere,” their father ordered. “This is a family business, which means anything associated with the Christmases must be above suspicion. Most bookkeeping irregularities are simply mistakes until proven otherwise. This isn’t a forensic mission. Have you asked Landon to clear up the confusion?”

  “Landon didn’t know I was trying to figure it out on my own and obsessing over it.”

  “You are such a worry wart.” Their mother wrapped her arm around Gina’s shoulder. “I’m reminded of lyrics from ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus. O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!’ Landon should have been the first person you asked, then you would have been able to sleep at night.”

  “Landon was already suspicious—”

  “Probably still is,” Denise mumbled.

  “You aren’t helping. He intimidated me. That would have hinted at improprieties.”

  “Well, where is he now?”

  Gina sat on the stool. “We haven’t spoken in a few days since I mentioned it to him. I’ve been waiting for the ‘I’ll call you.’” She did air quotes.

  “I’m praying there is a simple explanation that was overlooked,” her mother said. “I miss seeing you and Landon together at church. I was hoping Landon would be our first son-in-law.”

  “Denise might have to deliver that gift to you.”

  “Me?” Her sister patted her chest. “I’m not dating.”

  “Well, you may be our only hope.” Gina walked away to the powder room to wipe away her tears.

  “You made this a big deal,” the devil taunted her.

  “I’m her problem solver. Come to me,” God overrode the accusation.

  It was an emotional setup. Landon had poured out his soul to the woman he loved, and Gina had a concern that involved him—or his grandmother—and she hid it from him.

  Landon had been bummed out since that day and was glad when Terrell called to say he was in town and wanted to get together and meet Gina. He couldn’t make good on the last part, so the best friends met at a sports bar as Landon tried to analyze his feelings.

  “Man, I almost seriously gave up some money because of her.”

  Terrell chewed on his steak and fries, then looked at him. “Bro, my question is, was she trying to deceive you or not? People make mistakes.”

  “Not with my money.” He pushed away his empty plate and leaned back in his chair. “An accountant’s job is to balance books.” Landon rubbed his forehead. “I love her.”

  “Love keeps no record of wrongs,” God whispered First Corinthians thirteen. Read My Word.

  “Then work it out with her, man.” Terrell raised his hand for the check. When the server arrived, Landon swiped it.

  “My treat, T. You’re cheaper than a trained counselor.” Landon reached for his wallet.

  Terrell laughed. “That would be the wrong profession for me.”

  Landon nodded. When deciding their majors in college, they both encouraged the other to go for the money and choose fields where minorities were underrepresented and paid well. Law and engineering were the answer. That’s when the idea of becoming role models surfaced.

  “Bro, everything will work out,” Terrell said as he stood and left a twenty-dollar bill as a tip.

  Landon looked around and spied their server at another table. He picked up the tip and took it to her.

  She smiled her thanks.

  Terrell chuckled as they stepped outside. His friend slipped on his pricey sunglasses, and they began their stroll to their cars. Of course, Terrell’s rental was a luxury model. “You really do have trust issues, and yet Gina fell in love with you anyway.”

  Landon said nothing.

  “Man, you’re the one who scared her off. Poor Gina,” he said, Landon believed to irritate him. “She trusted you, and you left her hanging.” Terrell paused. “You’ve got one day to make it right before I leave town so I can meet Gina Christmas. After that, I’m not sure when I’ll be back this way with court cases and conferences.”

  The two friends shook hands, patted each other on the back, and went their separate ways.

  By the time Terrell flew back to Washington, D.C., Landon hadn’t met his one-day deadline.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The day marked another Sunday when Landon showed up at his church without Gina.

  Landon’s solution was to skip the in-person service and visit with Granny Lonna.

  “There’s my favorite grandson,” she said with open arms when he walked through the door. “You’re early, aren’t you?”

  Hugging her, Landon sniffed the scent of his grandmother’s life-long favorite body lotion. “Yep. We can watch the service online together.” He trailed her to her kitchen, since her living and dining rooms seemed pre-staged for Christmas elves. Pointing the remote to her television monitor on the wall near the table, Landon clicked on the social media platform that would air the church service.

  She squinted up at Landon when she sat. “Where’s Gina, my Black angel?”

  If Landon didn’t answer, she would keep asking. He stalled, scrambling for what to say. “Can I get you anything while I’m here?”

  “Yes, an answer.” She frowned.

  “Granny Lonna...” He gritted his teeth. First Terrell, now his grandmother. “I haven’t spoken to her in a couple of days.” Almost a week. Was Gina counting, too?

  “I thought you loved that girl. Well...” she rocked back in her chair, which wasn’t a rocker and patted her legs, “...as sweet as she is, some good man is going to love her the way she deserves to be loved.” Folding her arms, Granny Lonna stiffened like a defiant child and grunted. “Thought that was my grandson. All a woman wants is a man who will love her when she’s happy or sad. It’s an everyday love, not once in a while or when a man’s not mad at her. A wife is a gift from God. You know Adam had everything at his fingertips, but God gave him a wife for companionship.”

  Soft gospel music announced the live stream service had started. His grandmother didn’t stop talking as Landon guided her into the family room to her recliner. He didn’t need a sermon now. His grandmother had already preached one. “Granny Lonna, what are you saying?”

  Suddenly, she was quiet.

  Landon squinted to make sure she hadn’t suddenly fallen asleep as he sat beside her and stretched his legs.

  “Shhh. Pastor’s singing my favorite song.” Closing her eyes, Granny Lonna hummed the lyrics, “Nobody Like the Lord.”

  Her voice was weak, but the harmony could still soothe Landon’s downcast spirit. “It’s almost Christmas, grandson. Get your grandmother a beautiful ornament this year, and don’t come back without Gina,” Granny Lonna said fifteen minutes into the sermon.

  Did that mean any ornament would do? “Okay.” Landon had expected her to say the Black angel ornament. Since she didn’t, he could order online at any specialty store and end the hunt.

  Granny Lonna’s other request might be more challenging.

  He stood and kissed her, then said his goodbye.

  In his vehicle, Landon gave himself a pep talk. It didn’t seem like he could keep Gina away from Granny Lonna, even if he wanted. Taking a chance, he drove across town to Christ Has Risen, Gina’s church, hoping to get there before the service dismissed.

  A couple of ushers recognized him and were about to sit Landon in the sanctuary with Gina, but he asked for a back row in a different section to see if Gina was there.

  Spotted. She sat with her family.

  “Saints, as I conclude my sermon today,” Pastor Swelling said, closing his Bible, “meditate this week on the fruits of the Spirit as in Galatians five, verses twenty-two to twenty-three. Were you paying attention this morning?”

  “Yes,” members surrounding Landon said.

  “Remember those fruits that God planted in you when the Lord filled you with the Holy Ghost: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...

  “If you yield to the Holy Ghost, you will bear these fruits. If you’re struggling to blossom, come to the altar and let the ministers pray for you so that you will grow abundantly to reflect Christ in your life.”

  Landon stood. His heart pounded with nervousness as he walked to the altar, where familiar faces greeted him with sincere smiles.

  “Praise the Lord, Brother Landon,” Minister Cole greeted him. “What can I pray for you today?”

  “The fruits—” As he spoke, Landon felt Gina’s presence beside him before she slipped her fingers through his.

  “Pray for us,” Gina told the minister and squeezed Landon’s hand.

  Peace. Landon felt that fruit immediately. He surrendered as the Holy Ghost’s power engulfed his being. Releasing the sins that had tormented him for days, Landon repented and worshipped God. When he opened his eyes, Gina was wiping tears from her eyes, too.

  “Love covers a multitude of sins,” God whispered. “Read First Peter four.”

  To some onlookers, they could only speculate why Landon and Gina were at the altar. Maybe they thought he and Gina had yielded to fornication, but their sin—or rather his sin—was a heart issue that prohibited him from showing the fruits of gentleness with Gina—patience, understanding, and so much more that wasn’t like God.

  While several requested the baptism in Jesus’ name, Landon followed Gina back to her seat, where the Christmases welcomed him warmly. Sitting there with her, hands linked, Landon felt contentment again.

  Counting down to the offering and dismissal, Landon turned to Gina. “Can I steal you?”

  “Yes.” Her smile lit her beautiful face.

  If she forgave him, he wouldn’t leave her side again. “Thank you, and I’m sorry for shutting you out. Let me follow you home so you can leave your car. My grandmother misses you, but not as much as me.”

  The relief on her face saddened Landon, knowing he had hurt her. He would make it right.

  Once Landon took her home, Gina cried hard in his arms as he smothered her with kisses mixed with their whispered apologies.

  Once they confirmed that everything was good between them, they left for Granny Lonna’s house.

  “You’re quiet over there.” Landon’s baritone voice was comforting as they held hands as he drove them to Granny Lonna’s house.

  Gina smiled. Her eyes were closed as she thrived in the moment. “Enjoying my happy place with you.”

  “Amen.”

  Soon, they arrived at the retirement community. Landon humphed when he parked his SUV. “My family is here. I hope everything is okay. It was earlier.” He jumped out of the vehicle and hurried around to get her.

  At the front door, Landon fumbled with his key until Mr. Michaels opened it.

  Gina looked at his father. She held her breath and began to pray. Had something happened to Granny Lonna?

  “Dad, why are you here?” Panic was in his voice as he forced his way into the house. “Is everything okay?”

  His father smiled at Gina. “It’s good to see you.”

  What was going on? Gina wanted to know, too.

  “Is that my Landon?” Granny Lonna’s voice called from the kitchen.

  Gina and Landon hurried back.

  “Oh, you brought my beautiful Black angel.” She opened her arms for Gina, and Gina hugged Landon’s grandmother, relieved she was okay.

  Landon paced the kitchen floor. “Okay, somebody tell me what is going on.”

  Janay raced through the door at full speed until she saw her grandmother and collapsed in her father’s arms.

  “Granny Lonna wanted a lot of company today,” Landon’s mom began, “because she told us to come over because she had a feeling Landon would make up with Gina.”

  “How did she know that?” Gina asked. Only God knew what was going to happen today.

  “She was right.” Landon pulled Gina close for a hug. “I guess she was sure you would forgive me.”

  “That’s worth celebrating.” Granny Lonna shhed everyone, so Gina would sit next to her. “I’ve missed you. What have you been up to?”

  Gina thought Granny Lonna reminded her of her grandma Lydia when Gina was a child.

  Landon exhaled and murmured she was about to give them a heart attack.

  After listening to the women’s chatter about Christmas, Landon returned to the kitchen. “Granny Lonna, do you mind showing Gina your collection?”

  His grandmother beamed as he helped her to her feet. She started in the dining room while his mother and sister warmed up the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables left over from the day before.

  Landon remained at his grandmother’s and Gina’s side. Granny Lonna’s memory was top-notch when she talked about the expanded train set, nutcrackers, and several nativity sets—in crystal, gold, and multi-colored—next to the angels, which seemed to be her favorite pieces.

  “What about the ornaments, Granny Lonna?” Landon asked, guiding her across the hall to the living room, where there was no shortage of ornaments to decorate the tree.

  Gina’s nerves were on high alert as she approached the mantel where an angel tree topper stood at attention.

  A young girl named Pearl created it about three years ago. The piece showcased her talent, and she was awarded a full college scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. Gina delicately picked up the item and looked at the bottom to confirm Pearl’s name, along with the year it was created.

  “Granny Lonna, was this the first piece you won at auction from our Christmas shop?”

  The elderly woman frowned. “Oh no, dear. That was a gift from an old friend, Zettie Mays. Zettie got me hooked on that Christmas store and those children’s creations. I love it.”

  The passion was touching. Gina nodded as she exhaled. That explained that piece.

  “This ornament,” Granny Lonna said, touching a mini globe-shaped ornament anchored on a stand. It showcased a Black angel with butterfly wings painted purple, red, and gold. “I bought this one myself last year.”