Chapter 1
Cast:
Isabella Valentine-Smith, 35.
Benjamin Smith, 37.
Ambrose Marvel, 35.
Monica Litz, 35.
Justin Litz, 35.
Tory Jenkins, 35.
Austin Jenkins, 35.
...
Detroit, MI:
“And he did it!” The announcer shouted as the arena busted out into screams. “Ambrose Marvel at 35 years old has just beaten the record for the most points scored in an NBA game! Oh man! The whole game has stopped!”
“I mean Johnny, with an accomplishment like that you just have to stop and take in the great moments. I mean there was a lot of controversy when it came to drafting this young guy, they said he talked too much trash, and he wasn’t good enough to talk that much trash. Some say the guy just don’t have a humble bone in his body, they even said he wouldn’t last a year in the league with the big guys, well I’ll be the first to say it, he has backed up all his trash talk, I mean why be humble when you have the talent?”
“I agree with you here Aaron, I mean Ambrose Marvel came into the game cocky and with a chip on his shoulder, we all should have known he would get here eventually averaging 65 points in his rookie year? This kid has been destined for greatness!”
Ambrose smiled rewatching the clip from last night’s game, he just knew his dad was sitting up in heaven smiling down at him. He was doing everything they had said he would do; his dad was hard on him growing up, but it all paid off in the end. His teammates was all crowded around watching the clip too, the legendary dunk that put Ambrose at 102 points in a single game had been everywhere. The recent record being just 100 points in a single game, Ambrose made a vow to break the record and others. He wanted to be the best basketball player in the world, he didn’t want to be like Kobe, Lebron, or MJ, he wanted to be better than them. Ambrose stood 7 foot 4 with an 8-foot wingspan, he was 235 pounds, and he was not only a defensive tormenter, but he was a great all-around player.
“My money maker, my best client how are you?”
“I’m your only client Sheila.” Ambrose replied chuckling, in college a lot of agents wanted to rep him. No one could handle his arrogance, no other agent could get him what he wanted, but then came Sheila.
She got him a signature shoe with Nike, a sprite endorsement, and he landed a few guest appearance roles in some of the most viewed TV shows. The way that Ambrose bragged about himself, everyone wanted him to put his money where his mouth was. He was drafted number 15 because teams didn’t like his arrogance, but his stats were better. Being passed up 15 times added fuel to the fire that was already inside him, going to Sacramento the Kings planned to build a team around the do it all center. After bringing the Kings their first ever championship, Ambrose Marvel was a powerhouse name. He did it as a rookie, and he made every single person who ever doubted him eat their words.
“That’s true, you ready to head out?”
“Where am I going?” Ambrose asked.
“Back home, your mother’s birthday remember?” Sheila asked.
“Right.” He had forgotten, he didn’t feel bad either. There were plenty of birthdays he spent alone, coming second place in his mother’s career. His mom still lived in the house he grew up in back home, she didn’t want to leave. She worked hard for everything she had, and she wanted to enjoy it now. He didn’t want to go home; he was going to celebrate his mother’s birthday and then he was going to go celebrate his accomplishments.
“The jet is ready, and the pilot knows you’re going to Dubai a few hours after you land in Detroit.” Sheila explained as they’d got into an all-black SUV. The driver pulled off, and Ambrose sighed sinking into the backseat of the SUV. He was not looking forward to being back home.
Ambrose got out of the taxi looking at the huge mansion his mother and father worked so hard to build, the very house he grew up in, the same house that held all his bad memories. He heard the loud rap music coming from the backyard and the smell of barbecue hit his nose. He knew it wasn’t his mother cooking, she couldn’t cook. He had chuckled at the thought of his mom cooking; he had made sure he ate on the private jet and then again at the hotel before he got here.
Ambrose let himself into his mother’s house with his spiderman themed house key he’d had since he was 10. He cut through the large house making his way to the rear exiting through the sliding doors onto the patio. “Aye y’all know this my song!” a young guy said as he did a flip into the pool.
“Aries why don’t you get in the pool with your brothers?” A familiar voice Ambrose knew all too well spoke, he looked over by the barbecue grill where he had heard the voice that once made his heart race. His feet moved for him; with every step his heart beat harder as he approached her.
“I got a game tomorrow; the team is depending on me, and I don’t want to injure myself in any way.” Aries replied she locked eyes with her favorite basketball player, and she shrieked in excitement making her mom jump back.
“Isabella...” He spoke and she looked like she saw a ghost, and all of a sudden being home wasn’t so bad for him. In this moment, he didn’t just remember the bad, the good memories started to flood his mind.
“Ambrose, your mom said you weren’t coming home this year. ” Isabella spoke nervously, she couldn’t even look him in his eyes.
“My name is Aries and you’re my favorite basketball player in the world.” She introduced herself shaking his hand, and he smiled shaking her hand back. Though his eyes never left Isabella, he couldn’t believe she was here. They hadn’t talked in 17 years since they broke up a week after high school graduation.
“This your daughter?” Ambrose asked her.
“Yes, this is Aries, that’s my youngest Dylan, and Junior is the second youngest.” Isabella said pointing out her other two kids. “Your mother should be back from the store here soon.”
“Boy what are you doing here?′ Ambrose’s cousin asked as he climbed out of the pool.
“It’s my mama house, I can be here.”
“Boy went Hollywood and ain’t been back, of course you all in Izzy face, you know she married now, right?” Darius rubbed in his face. Darius had always had an issue with Ambrose, bullying him most of his life until they got to high school, and Ambrose got slimer and more muscular. The ladies were after him, and his talent in basketball only put him over the top in high school, and since then he and his cousin never came back from that, they never even bothered to fix their relationship. Ambrose got the girl, the career, the money, everything Darius ever wanted, Ambrose got it. Ambrose had both parents, he had a father that was hard on him and worked on his basketball skills, and Darius just had his mom, who worked hard to keep a roof over his head. Ambrose grew up in a mansion, and Darius grew up in a 2-bedroom house, and he shared a bedroom with his brother.
“Hey Aries, let him enjoy his family he didn’t come home to be crowded.” Isabella said and Aries nodded obeying her mom, she went into the house.
“Let the man talk to his girl Darius don’t be no hater.” Dean, Darius’ little brother said pushing him toward the house.
“That girl is married.” Darius replied as they’d both walked into the house.
“Long time no see.” Isabella spoke up.
“Yeah, so married?” Ambrose asked.
“Yeah together 16 years married 10 years strong.” She replied still not able to make eye contact. He reached his hand out, sliding his finger under her chin making her look at him. She was breathless, her heart still skipped a beat, and she didn’t understand how. He had hurt her so badly, chose his career over her and her heart still did flips after seeing him after all this time. She reluctantly moved his hand, she didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea, everyone knew who her husband was, and she was not a cheater.
“Wow, he’s a lucky guy.” Ambrose said feeling his heart break the same way it did when he told her he wanted to break up. “Bella...I’m so sorry for how shit went down be-”
“Let’s not bring up a 17-year-old problem. It’s in the past, we’re in the past, just let it go, okay?” She said, and he nodded. She turned around to go back to the grill, Ambrose wanted to say more but he decided against it. Instead, he unwillingly interacted with his family and some family friends. Signed autographs and even took some pictures with his family, they’d sang happy birthday to Mama Marvel, and by the end of the night everyone was out of the house. Mama Marvel was tired and went to sleep, and Isabella agreed to clean up along with her kids so that she wouldn’t have to worry.
Pilot: Boss we have to take off soon or try again tomorrow. (8:52PM)
Go back to the hotel, I’ll let you know what time we’ll be leaving tomorrow. (8:54PM)
Ambrose texted his pilot back and took a deep breath before entering the house. He had stayed on the patio thinking of different ways to approach Isabella, who was having a good time cleaning with her children. He smiled slightly watching how she was with them, he could tell she was a good mother and part of him wondered what life would be like had he chose her. For the first time in his life, he was having second thoughts about everything.
Ambrose had finally worked up the nerve to walk into the house, “Ambrose Marvel!” Dylan shouted, he adored his big sister and so did Junior, so since this was her favorite basketball player it was theirs.
“What’s up lil man.” He said high fiving Dylan, he had interacted with the kids all night signing autographs but they all were still so in shock to see him here. “Hey, Bella?”
“Hmm?” She hummed not looking up from the sink, she continued washing dishes.
“I just wanted to say thank you for helping moms out.”
“Mama Marvel know I’ll come anytime she calls.” Isabella responded. Isabella’s husband bought the house across the street from Mama Marvel 10 years ago after their wedding. Isabella didn’t grow up on this side of Detroit, she wasn’t a fortunate kid, but she had no complaints. So, when she moved over here Mama Marvel wasn’t so lonely anymore, seeing a friendly, familiar face made living alone okay most of the time, and Isabella’s kids loved her. They went swimming in her pool, played on the hoop Ambrose once played with when he was a kid, helped her with groceries, and really enjoyed her company. They were like the grandkids she always wanted; it distracted her from the fact that her family was in shambles.
“Can we please talk?” He asked her.
“Aries.” Isabella said.
“Yeah ma?” She said looking up from her phone.
“You and your brothers go home; your dad should be home soon. I’m gonna talk to Ambrose and I’ll be right over.”
“Yes ma’am, Junior, Dylan let’s go.” Aries responded, and with that she and her brothers were gone.
“I said we didn’t need to bring up a 17-year-old problem, really Ambrose.” She really didn’t want to open up old wounds, she was afraid what would happen.
“I want to. I’m sorry Bell...I was so stuck, and I had so many choices I let all the clout get to my head and I didn’t choose you I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not upset, I’m proud of you. There are no hard feelings.”
“So, who’s the lucky guy?” He said pointing at her wedding ring.
“His name is Benjamin. I met him in college, and well here we are.” She replied.
“That ring is huge, you must got another ball player.” Ambrose joked making her laugh and roll her eyes.
“No, he’s a Portfolio Manager at a hedge fund firm.”
“A hedge fund guy, I heard they were dicks.”
“I could say the same about arrogant NBA players.” She responded, making him laugh.
“Okay, low blow.” He threw his hands up in surrender.
“How long you in town for?”
“I’ll be here a few months; I was thinking about trying to work through some things with mom.” He lied. “I heard your daughter say something about a game tomorrow?”
“Yeah, she’s the captain of the girls’ basketball team at her school.”
“Maybe, I could swing by? See what the kid got?” He asked.
“Maybe, if you’re still here. She goes to our old high school.” Isabella replied. “I gotta go, I hope you really do stick around.”
“What makes you think I won’t?”
“Nigga, I can still tell when you lying to me.” She replied, making him smile as she exited the kitchen leaving him all alone.
