by Pat Simmons
After a few songs and prayer requests, he asked the young crowd of about thirty to open their Bibles, tablets, or smartphones.
“Anybody who calls themselves a Christian wants to go to heaven. True?” He paused and waited for their response, then continued. “As I studied Luke, chapter ten, God increased my understanding about the Good Samaritan. Number one, the man who approached Jesus already had the answer. In verse twenty-seven, he told Jesus, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. He quoted five points of the law.” Rossi shook his head.
“Sometimes I believe we think we’re smarter than God. Hmph. Imagine that.” He made eye contact with several students in the audience. “We, as saints, already have the answer to what we must do to enter into heaven. Can you imagine the relationship we would have with God if we surrendered our hearts and souls totally to Him? That alone will give us a spiritual strength to serve Him. If we want to live for Jesus, this is what we must focus on.” As he gave them examples, he thought about the beggar who approached him and Jet in the park one evening.
Jet didn’t know it at the time, but Rossi would have rather given the man money than give up his favorite meal. But to give the man money when he was hungry wouldn’t have pleased the Lord.
Rossi listened to their questions and how to apply the scriptures to everyday situations at school, home, and for those who had jobs. Glancing at Jet, he watched her make notes on her tablet. She looked up and caught his stare. She smiled and he did his best not to respond with a wink. He closed out the teen class with an announcement. They had to get a pool franchise going. That would give the young people a safe environment to have fun and compete for money and prizes toward scholarships.
“I know we didn’t have any activities planned this Friday, so I thought it would be nice to have a game night at Cue Cushion on Woodson Road in Overland to shoot pool or play darts.”
While many cheered, they had no idea they would be his and Jet’s chaperones. Rossi couldn’t wait to get married.
Chapter 29
Three months later…
“Here comes the bride,” a small voice echoed from the sanctuary when her flower girl Dori, her maid of honor Layla, and her bridesmaid Octavia slipped out the door to take their positions, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Jet frowned from inside her dressing room. Was that Little Levi’s voice she heard? She frowned. As the ring bearer, he wasn’t on the program to say anything. When she echoes of chuckles, she relaxed. Whatever antics a child did at weddings were always amusing, so that was good.
As long as there weren’t any delays to become Mrs. Rossi Tolliver, she didn’t care. She scrutinized her reflection once more, waiting for her cue. Jet smiled, thinking about what Dori had said.
“You look like one of my princess dolls.”
Scrutinizing her reflection, Jet agreed.
Surprisingly, she and Buttercup had brokered a sister-in-Christ friendship. The woman had created a masterpiece out of Jet’s hair for her wedding day. That was her olive branch after things worked out for Halo’s Hall, Buttercup’s husband’s business venture. Chaz Tolliver had become an APA franchise operator.
Lifting her dress, Jet peeped down at her toes, pedicured compliments of Karyn. It was her slippers that gave her pause. Before she slipped her feet into them, Layla had discovered etchings on the soles of her wedding shoes.
With every step we take was written with neat penmanship on her left shoe, and Jesus will be beside us was penned on her right. She and Layla had both fanned themselves until her friend stated, “Whew. Girl, I’m going to find me a Tolliver man.” Layla beamed as if it was a done deal.
If there was ever any doubt in her mind that Rossi wasn’t handpicked for her, it was dismissed. “Stand still. He’ll find you.”
Now as she waited for her cue, Jet replayed the words she told Layla. Rossi had found her heart. The knock on the door startled her. Her heart pounded as she patted her chest. Opening the door, Karyn was on the other side.
“It’s show time.” Her eyes twinkled.
Jet nodded and stepped out. It was bittersweet that her walk to the altar would be without an escort, but she knew once she saw Rossi, the sadness would be gone. “With each step we take,” she repeated as she made her way to the sanctuary. She’d voiced her concern to Rossi that she didn’t have anyone to give her away, and he had responded, “Jesus gave you to me.”
Now as she neared the double doors, her hearted pounded even harder with nervousness. She was actually getting married. The doors opened, and Jet blinked. From the entrance to the altar there were at least a dozen Tolliver men posted on each side forming a Soul Train line. But their stance was more of a military salute. What was going on?
Rossi stood at the altar, breathtaking in his black tux to match the men in the aisle. He lifted his arm as if beckoning her to him. On wobbly legs, she responded to his summons. Levi stepped out from the formation, smiled, and bent his arm to escort her.
She choked with emotions as she looped her arm through his. As they glided down the aisle, the Tolliver men saluted her before they walked behind her to the altar as if they were part of the procession. Who planned this, Layla? When? And how could they pull off something this coordinated behind her back? Jet would find the culprit later…to thank them for making sure she didn’t feel alone walking down the aisle.
Pastor Brown asked, “Who gives this woman away?”
Jet’s heart dropped. Again, this wasn’t part of the program, because she had no one.
“Me!” Dori said proudly. “She’s my auntie.”
The crowd chuckled, and Jet blinked.
“I do,” Levi said, then lowered his voice. “Diane would have it no other way. We love you.” He kissed her cheek, then faced Rossi. “She’s all yours.”
The rest of the ceremony was a blur as Jet watched Rossi’s loving expression from his vows to his lips on hers once they were pronounced husband and wife. “There’s a lifetime of romance coming up,” he whispered.
Book Club Discussion
Levi wasn’t totally sold on Jet’s salvation. How do you respond when the most unlikely person to get saved turns his or her life around?
Discuss Rossi’s timing to propose to Jet right after the shooting.
Discuss whether you incorporate fasting when you’re praying for someone or a difficult situation.
How did Karyn washing Jet’s feet and praying impact their relationship? If applicable, discuss your experience from participating in a feet washing consecration service.
How would you describe Nalani’s reaction to the news Rossi had chosen Jet as his wife?
Compare the moment in your life when you let go of a burden to when Jet released her burden of Diane’s death.
Rossi was the perfect man of God—until it involved Jet. What are some of your buttons the devil pushes to act contrary to showing love to a sister or brother in Christ?
Author’s Note:
I hope you enjoyed Jesetta and Rossi’s story. They were first introduced in Crowning Glory. Nalani had a fan club who wanted her to be Rossi’s love interest in the sequel, but it was as if Rossi was saying, “Hold up, Jesetta has my heart.” I guess that is the way love is, your heart knows for sure. If you haven’t read the other stories in Restore My Soul series, make sure you pick up your copy of Crowning Glory and JET The Back Story.
Octavia and Landon also have their own story in Redeeming Heart.
And finally, Rossi is a family namesake. We have four generations of Rossi’s in my family: grandfather, father, brother, and nephew.
Thanks so much for spending your down time with me, and I hope you were blessed. Please post an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or on your blog, then visit www.patsimmons.net and sign up for my monthly newsletter. You’ll receive a free eBook as my way of saying thanks.
Until next time, read, relax, and read some
more!
About the Author
Pat is the multi-published author of more than thirty Christian titles, and is a three-time recipient of the Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.
As a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, Pat is passionate about researching her ancestors and then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.
Pat currently oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Pat converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter.
Read more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net or on social media.
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Other Christian titles include:
The Guilty series
Book I: Guilty of Love
Book II: Not Guilty of Love
Book III: Still Guilty
Book IV: The Acquittal
The Jamieson Legacy
Book I: Guilty by Association
Book II: The Guilt Trip
Book III: Free from Guilt
Book IV: The Confession
The Carmen Sisters
Book I: No Easy Catch
Book II: In Defense of Love
Book III: Driven to Be Loved
Book IV: Redeeming Heart
Love at the Crossroads
Book I: Stopping Traffic
Book II: A Baby for Christmas
Book III: The Keepsake
Book IV: What God Has for Me
Book V: Every Woman Needs A Praying Man
Making Love Work Anthology
Book I: Love at Work
Book II: Words of Love
Book III: A Mother’s Love
Restore My Soul series
Crowning Glory
Jet: The Back Story
Love Led by the Spirit
Single titles
Talk to Me
Her Dress (novella)
Christmas Greetings
Couple by Christmas
Anderson Brothers
Book I: Love for the Holidays (Three novellas): A Christian Christmas, A Christian Easter, and
A Christian Father’s Day
Book II: A Woman After David’s Heart (Valentine’s Day)
Book III: A Noelle for Nathan (Book 3 of the Andersen Brothers)