Chapter 10 - The Invitation
By Monday morning, the Atlanta Elite Showcase had confirmed Jordan’s place.
Coach Reed printed the email and taped it inside Jordan’s locker.
Jordan found it before practice.
WELCOME, JORDAN WALKER.
His teammates erupted when they saw it.
“Atlanta!”
“You buying dinner when Duke calls?”
“Man, don’t forget us when you’re famous.”
Jordan laughed.
For twenty minutes he felt seventeen again.
Then Coach Reed pulled him aside.
“There’s a recruiter coming Wednesday.”
Jordan’s smile disappeared.
“For who?”
“Carolina State.”
Jordan stared.
“They weren’t interested before.”
“They were interested. They weren’t convinced.”
“What changed?”
“Championship film.”
Coach Reed grinned.
“Twenty-eight points changes vocabulary.”
Jordan shook his head in disbelief.
“What do I do?”
“Play basketball.”
“That’s your advice?”
“It’s gotten you this far.”
Jordan smiled.
After practice, Marcus waited in the parking lot.
He leaned against his car but did not approach until Jordan came over.
“Coach told me Atlanta confirmed.”
Jordan nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
Marcus glanced at the gym doors.
“You need anything?”
Jordan almost said no automatically.
Then stopped.
“Yes.”
Marcus straightened.
“What?”
“Ride to Atlanta.”
Marcus’s expression shifted.
Jordan watched carefully.
“I can go with Coach, but if you want to make something right…”
He let the sentence hang.
Marcus nodded immediately.
“I’ll drive.”
Jordan’s eyes narrowed.
“No promises unless you mean them.”
“I mean it.”
“Even if Keisha needs something.”
Marcus absorbed the words.
“Yes.”
“Even if Darius has a game.”
“Yes.”
“Even if work calls.”
“I’ll take the day off.”
Jordan nodded.
“Okay.”
Marcus almost smiled.
Jordan held up one finger.
“This doesn’t fix anything.”
“I know.”
“It’s one ride.”
“I know.”
Jordan walked toward Coach Reed’s truck.
Marcus called after him.
“Jordan.”
He turned.
Marcus lifted his car keys.
“I’ll be early.”
Jordan looked at the keys, then at his father.
“Be there.”
That evening, Marcus met Keisha at her studio.
The business occupied a narrow storefront with pale wood floors, exercise equipment, and three treatment rooms.
Only one client was inside.
Keisha led Marcus into the office.
“You canceled the credit line.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t discuss it with me.”
Marcus almost laughed at the irony.
“No.”
“You know payroll is tight.”
“I know.”
“You said you were committed.”
“To you.”
“To us.”
Marcus nodded.
“Not to financing every problem.”
Keisha stared.
“So this is Jordan.”
“No.”
“It started with Jordan.”
“It started with me not saying no.”
Keisha crossed her arms.
“I never forced you to give me money.”
Marcus looked directly at her.
“No. You didn’t.”
The answer unsettled her.
Marcus continued.
“That’s why I can’t keep acting like you’re responsible for everything I chose.”
Keisha softened slightly.
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m saying thirty thousand was too much.”
“You called it an investment.”
“It was.”
“I’m repaying you.”
“Six thousand in two years.”
Her face hardened.
“I’m building a business.”
“And I’m carrying the risk.”
“You wanted to help.”
“I did.”
Marcus sat.
“And then I started treating every dollar Jordan needed like evidence that helping him was taking something from you.”
Keisha looked away.
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“You told me Atlanta was another basketball expense.”
“It was.”
“You knew Coach had financial assistance.”
Keisha’s eyes returned to him.
Marcus frowned.
“You knew?”
She said nothing.
His stomach tightened.
“How did you know?”
Keisha sat slowly.
“Coach Reed mentioned it at the fundraiser.”
Marcus stared.
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“And you still told me it would cost us thousands.”
“I said basketball keeps costing money.”
“That isn’t my question.”
She sighed.
“Marcus.”
“You knew there was assistance.”
“Yes.”
He stood.
Keisha stood too.
“I didn’t make you cancel it.”
“No.”
Marcus nodded.
“I did that.”
He looked devastated.
“But you let me believe I was protecting our finances.”
Keisha’s eyes flashed.
“I was protecting our future.”
“From my son?”
“From always coming second.”
Marcus stared at her.
“There it is.”
Keisha shook her head.
“You don’t understand what it’s like raising Darius alone for years and then finally finding somebody who says he wants to build a family.”
“I do understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I understand enough to know Jordan shouldn’t have to lose something so you can feel chosen.”
Keisha’s eyes filled.
“And Darius?”
“Darius shouldn’t either.”
Marcus stepped toward the door.
Keisha’s voice cracked.
“So what happens now?”
Marcus stopped.
He looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
For once, he did not invent certainty to stop someone from leaving.
He opened the door.
Keisha spoke behind him.
“Marcus.”
He looked back.
She wiped one tear angrily.
“If you walk out right now, don’t expect me to chase you.”
Marcus’s old instinct screamed at him to turn around.
Apologize.
Soften it.
Promise something.
Instead, he answered quietly.
“I’m not asking you to.”
Then he left.
Outside, his phone buzzed.
Jordan.
Carolina State recruiter Wednesday. 6 p.m.
Marcus typed:
I’ll be there if you want me there.
Jordan replied two minutes later.
Come.
Marcus stared at the word.
It was not forgiveness.
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It was an invitation.
He understood the difference.
