You'll Never Stand Alone

Chapter 46

"So what do you all think?" Whitney asked her family at dinner that night. She had just got through explaining why she wanted to do her potential performance. She told them that she wasn't sure if she wanted to go back into the music industry full time, but she was pretty certain that she wanted to do the performance. She also let them know that she would not do anything that she didn't feel ready for and that she needed their support fully on her decision if she was going to do it.

"If you all don't want me to do it, then it's cool. It's not a life or death thing for me." She added on. Bobbi Kristina looked thoughtful before commenting. "Mom, you should so do it! I mean why wouldn't you? This is a no-brainer!" The soon-to-be 16 year old was becoming more and more like her mother everyday and was not afraid to give her honest opinion. That night Lily, Anne and Joe were over and they all nodded in agreement. "I think it would be an awesome thing to do Whit." Lily, an aspiring singer herself, stated. "I mean if you get this taped over MTV... think about the new audience that you will be reaching." Annie added. "That's basically what Clive said as well." Whitney said. "Mommy on TV again? Like daddy is in his movies? I say yes!" Babydoll co-signed. "We've never got to see you perform in public....not that we can remember anyways" Ayden added on. Whitney and Kevin laughed. "You two were really little when I did my last tour." Whitney told them. She couldn't believe that her Krissy would be old enough to drive soon and her twin babies were about to be 10. She was blessed to have (for the most part) well behaved, smart children and that she got along very well with her step-children as well. They were the quintessential, modern family.

Whitney turned to Kevin, who shrugged his shoulders. "You already know what I think honey. I don't think this will hurt. I know how much music means to you. To us. I don't think God would be too happy if you shut your wonderful gift out forever. The world wants to hear you again. Besides it's just a one-night performance. Get out there. We are all supporting you along the way." Everyone nodded and murmured in support. "DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!" The twins playfully yelled. Whitney chuckled as she gave Kevin a kiss on the cheek. He supported Whitney fully and wanted her to sing. It wasn't as though she was going on tour or anything. He felt that she was strong enough to ease herself back into the limelight. Slowly and strategically.

"Alright, alrighttt...I'm doing it!" she playfully held up her hands. Everyone playfully cheered. "Now the next important question is...what are you gonna wear?" Krissy asked. Whitney laughed. "I don't know baby. I want it to be casual though because my performance is gonna be intimate and stripped down. Maybe you Anne, and Lils can help me pick out something?" The girls excitedly nodded as they all shared a passion for fashion.

"Well I guess it's settled then. My family approves. I'll call Clive tomorrow and make it official. I'm sure its gonna make his day." Whitney smiled at her beaming family.

Over the next month, Clive and Whitney worked hard to get the showcase put together. Just like old times. In order to garner up buzz, Clive got a bunch of publicists to write about Whitney making an impending "mini- comeback" through doing the showcase. Whitney hated that he used that phrase, because as didn't feel like she fell from the face of the earth. But Clive assured her that saying she had a small comeback made for a feel good story. Especially with everything that she has went through.

Clive also made sure that the entire evening was taped, possibly for television. Meanwhile, Whitney went about with running her business and family as usual. The only thing that changed was that she secretly worked hard throughout the night on the songs that she wanted to perform. She hoped and prayed that the audience still felt like she had it. Her worst nightmare would be if she performed and the audience knew that she did not sound like the same Whitney Houston. After all, she was known as "The Voice" and had to live up to that standard. Whitney could not help but be antsy and nervous deep down and several times throughout the following weeks of preparation question if she was ready to truly come back. But she had prayed hard and trusted that God had given her the okay to do this. Plus, she knew that there was no way to turn back and wanted to do it for herself and her family more than anything else.