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Love Will Do That

AuthorHouse

Contents

Foreword by Pastor Wendell Jones.....................ixPREFACE - A NOTE TO THE READER.......................xi1. A NEW DAY.........................................12. SAY IT AIN'T SO...................................53. LIFE HAPPENS......................................94. LORD, HELP ME!....................................135. WALKING IT OUT....................................176. I JUST DON'T KNOW.................................237. THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY..............................278. I NEED STRENGTH!..................................359. NOT AGAIN!........................................4110. BACK IN LOVE.....................................4511. BLESSED TWICE....................................4912. DON'T GO!........................................5313. SUBSTITUTE PLAYER................................5914. LOST AND FOUND...................................6515. WHAT'S THAT?.....................................7116. UNFINISHED BUSINESS..............................7517. THE UNEXPECTED...................................7918. BE STRONG........................................8519. BACK IN STRIDE AGAIN!............................9520. SHE APPEARED.....................................101

Chapter One

What everyone wants from life is continuous and genuine happiness ~Baruch Spinoza~

It was six a.m. and I hit the snooze button for the last time. It seemed like only minutes had passed since I laid down last night. As much as I wanted to stay in bed, I had to get going because I had so much to do. Tony's flight was leaving for New York at eleven. He had been selected to give the keynote address at a writers' conference and was so excited! His career had really taken off since taking the job at the New York Post. Thankfully, he was able to work from home most of the time, and Kendall loved having his daddy home. It was even better for me because Tony looked after him while I worked. As the head basketball coach at Grant Hall University, I had to travel a lot and without Tony's support and encouragement, I would not have been able to hold the job.

I often thought about my days playing in the WNBA. I was the first-round draft pick even after my pregnancy. I hired a personal trainer and worked out twice a day. Traveling was tough at first, knowing there was a six-month-old baby at home, but I could do it because Tony was so great bringing him to every home game and never complaining.

The adjustment to the WNBA was difficult the first month. Even though I was the number one pick, I was still a rookie and was treated like one. I had to prove myself and prove myself I did! By the second month, I was the number two scorer on the team and quickly gaining on the top rebounder. I loved it. We usually won our games by at least ten points but on a cold night in Chicago, we were down by two with ten seconds left. I quickly brought the ball down the court, dribbled to my left then back to my right making a beeline to the basket as I thought, 'Should I stop for the jumper or take it in to draw the foul?' I decided to take it to the hole. As I was going up for the shot, the center fouled me and I fell to the floor, my head hitting it hard. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and couldn't remember how I got there or how long I had been there.

After talking to Tony, he informed me that I had suffered a severe concussion and I had been hospitalized for two days. I was hysterical. The doctor came in later and explained my injury to me in more details. He told me that I could continue to play, although he didn't recommend it, but if another such injury happened again, it could result in brain damage.

Playing in the WNBA was my dream, but other things in my life were more important. I wanted to see my son grow up and didn't want to cause Tony unnecessary stress so we decided that I would end my career.

I stayed in the hospital an additional three days. My teammates visited along with family and friends. It was sad at times because I was ending my WNBA basketball career, which had been a lifelong dream, but I was thankful that the injury hadn't left me disabled.

A few months after the accident, I received a call from the Grant Hall University athletic director. She stated that her three-year head coach had accepted a job at another university and that the job was mine if I wanted it. I had never imagined a coaching career but what other way did I have to get back on the court. I spent a couple of days discussing the offer with Tony and we agreed that this would be a great opportunity for me so, on April 4, I returned to the court, my very first love.

A faint knock at the door brought me out of my daydreaming mode. I jumped right out of bed because I knew that when I opened the door, I'd see a sleepy-eyed little boy looking up at me. At the age of three, Kendall was incredibly smart. Tony and I read to him daily and made sure he watched educational programs but I still wondered where he got his wit.

One day at mealtime, I said, "Let me cut this for you Kendall. It's too big for you."

"'I'm a big boy Mommy!" he replied. "My name is Kendall Black!" All Tony and I could do was smile.

Tony and Kendall had a great relationship and were like two peas in a pod. Kendall and his dad looked a lot alike, but the one thing that just melted my heart was his eyes, which were soft and innocent. When he got into trouble, all he had to do was look at me and say, "Mommy, I'm sorry," and I would give in, which is why Tony was the disciplinarian.

Kendall ran in and gave me a big hug. He then jumped in bed with Tony, who pretended to be asleep, but he couldn't keep up the charade for long, and burst out laughing. Kendall loved playing this game with his daddy. They played for a few more minutes and then we all got up to start our day.

Chapter Two

Alexis had gotten used to her routine. Playing in the WNBA had its challenges but the good outweighed the bad. She was able to travel and meet new people while playing her favorite sport. Since her marriage to Michael, Alexis had been on cloud nine, but it hadn't always been like that.

Shortly after their engagement, Alexis and Justine had met for coffee one evening after a game. This was a time to catch up on each other's lives. Justine and Michael usually attended the games together but this particular night, he'd told Alexis he had to work. He was employed as a mortgage broker for a major real estate company. Alexis and Justine chatted about politics, gas prices, the latest movies, road trip stories and anything else that came up, and then Alexis looked down at her watch and saw that an hour had passed. She hadn't heard from Michael, so she called his cell phone to see when they could meet up for the night but he didn't answer. She then called his office and he answered on the second ring.

"This is Michael."

Alexis smiled and said, "Hey baby, are you almost finished?"

"I'll be done in about an hour," he told her. "I have a report that's due tomorrow by 9:00 AM. Say, I saw some of the game on television. You did great tonight! Can I pick up anything before I head to your place?"

"No sweetie, just yourself," she replied.

Alexis and Justine chatted for a few more minutes then Alexis asked...