then at the proposal. Debating. Yes, the girls had re-thought the idea and had decided to go along with it. But what about her? She felt as if she were being squeezed like a lemon. There was no easy win. Either way she stood to lose a lot.
All during her restless night, she thought about her options, and her level of participation. The bottom line was she only had to reveal as much or as little as she wanted. Niyah didnât have to find out how ugly her beginnings really were.
Resigned, she reached for the phone, just as it rang.
âGood morning, Chances Are. Ms. Williams speaking.â
âHey, Dee, itâs Terri.â
Dioneâs face and spirit instantly brightened at hearing the voice of her dear friend Terri Powers.
âGirl, itâs good to hear your voice,â she enthused, easily slipping into the sistah mode. âWhen did you sneak back into town?â
âJust got in last night,â she said with her barely there Barbadian accent. âClint and I were overdue for a vacation. Weâve been burning the candle at both ends.â
âYeah, I hear you. But itâs always extra nice when you have your own getaway resort to get away to.â
They both laughed. Terriâs husband, Clint, had opened a small resort several years earlier in the Bahamas and it had really taken off. Between Clintâs uncanny business skills and Terriâs public relations savvy, their careers and their finances were set. Theyâd gone through hell and back before finally getting together; from the kidnapping of Clintâs daughter, Ashley, to the resurrection of Terriâs brother, Malcolm, who sheâd believed had been dead for yearsâbut they did get together and they were exceedingly happy.
âSo, whatâs been happening? Any luck with the proposals?â
âNo,â she pushed out a long breath. âBut weâve finally decided to go with the documentary.â
âFantastic! I told you weeks ago it was a great idea. You know Iâd be more than thrilled to put a promo campaign together for you once itâs done. No problem.â
Dione smiled. âIâm going to hold you to that. Weâll need all the help we can get.â
âIf you hadnât wanted to carry the weight of that place on your shoulders, I told you I would have worked out a P.R. campaign for you to pitch to those stuck-up funders.â
âI know, I know. Donât rub it in.â
âWhen does it start?â
âThatâs the thing. Iâm not sure. Actually, we just decided last night. We put it to a house vote. I havenât even spoken to the producer yet. He may not want to do it at this point.â
âHeâll do it. The story behind Chances Are is a gem. Your story especially.â
Dioneâs stomach fluttered. âThatâs my biggest concern, Terri. You know that. Niyah doesnât know everything.â
âDee, itâs time that she did. Sheâs almost eighteen.â
âI know,â she said, a sad hitch in her voice. âI just donât ever want her to feel the same worthlessness that I felt for so many years. Or that my bringing her into the world was the cause ofââ
âDonât even go there. If anything, Niyah was and still is the catalyst for everything that youâve become. Everything that youâve done for so many other young girls who had no one and nowhere else to turn. Thatâs something to be proud of, Dee, not ashamed.â
âAnd how many times over the years have I had this very conversation with myself? Itâs just easier said than done.â
âWell, sister-friend, itâs got to come out sometime.â
âThatâs what Iâm afraid of. But Iâll work it out.â
âYou always do. Now make that call, girl. Iâm itching for a new project.â
Dione laughed. âI will and Iâll call and let you know what