Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [75]
“That’s great!” I said.
“Yeah, it will help with the second single and the CD,” Michel said.
“When do they want to do it? Before I go to South Beach or after?”
“Most likely when you get back. The writer who proposed the story is a reporter here in New York. You’ve probably heard of her. She writes a column called ‘Lines from LaVonya’ for the Daily Press.” There was a long silence as my brief moment of joy turned into plummeting disappointment.
“Yancey, are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here.” I felt a shiver of fear race through my body at the thought of LaVonya dipping into my life, both past and present.
“What’s the matter? This is great news.”
“But why does LaVonya have to do it? She’s a gossip columnist.”
“She is the one who got them interested. What’s the problem?”
“No problem. But I need to think about this.”
“Think about what? This is free publicity. There is nothing to think about. You have to do it.”
“Michel, let me call you back,” I said as I hung up the phone. I needed someone to talk to, so I decided to call Windsor.
When Windsor answered the phone, I said, “It’s Yancey. You feel like talking?”
“Sure. What’s going on? You sound sad,” Windsor said.
“Being a pop diva is starting to wear me down,” I said as I sat on the edge of my bed.
“But Yancey, this is what you dreamed of. I was talking to Marlana the other day, and she was so excited because her record is out and it’s doing well. You know, she really looks up to you,” Windsor said.
“She does? She doesn’t really know me,” I said.
“But she’s read about you and she’s seen you perform. Plus I talk about you all the time,” Windsor said.
“Be careful, Windsor. Marlana is competition now,” I said, and laughed. I certainly didn’t view Marlana as a threat. I hadn’t heard her song or anybody talking about her.
“I don’t think Marlana feels that way. She was saying how wonderful it was for two former Howard students to be taking on the music world.”
“I guess that’s nice. You know, Puffy Combs went to Howard also,” I said.
“Yeah, I knew him. Don’t forget I was Miss Howard,” Windsor said proudly. There were many times when I wished I had a personality like Windsor’s. Everybody that met her fell in love with her, and I was happy I had her for my first real friend.
I told Windsor about LaVonya wanting to do a story on me, but I didn’t tell her what she had asked me. I tried not to think about Madison, so I never talked about her.
“Yancey, you can handle this woman. Whenever she asks you something you don’t want to answer, just say, ‘That’s not something I’m willing to discuss.’”
“You think so?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’ve got to leave town for a few days. I’m shooting another video,” I said.
“That’s wonderful.”
“Windsor, are you getting nervous?”
“About what?”
“About having the baby?”
“I’ll be fine,” Windsor said.
“Well, childbearing is no joke,” I said.
Windsor was silent for a moment, and then she asked, “Do you ever think about Madison?”
“Why would you ask that?” I asked as I moved quickly from my bed. My body suddenly felt warm.
“Yancey, I’m sorry. I was just thinking, with you becoming so famous, it’s bound to make you think about her. I mean, how old is she now? She might be a fan of yours,” Windsor said.
“I need to go and call Michel and talk about travel plans. Thanks for listening, Windsor,” I said as I hung up, suddenly feeling like I didn’t know whom I could trust.
The Big Payback
I rang the doorbell of Ava’s suite the next day. I had decided not to call Basil’s family, and I thought it was only fair I told Ava in person. I don’t know if it was the fear of losing Wylie’s friendship or holding out a small hope that Basil might give me another chance at being with him that made me back out of Ava’s grand plan for revenge.
After a few moments, one of the double doors swung open and Ava greeted me with a wide smile and tousled,