“Oh, so I’m special, huh?” Netta remarked.
“You got that right!” Tone added. “If you wasn’t I wouldn’t be here.”
For a while the two occupants of the car remained silent as they allowed Tone’s last words to sink in. Skillfully, Tone maneuvered the five speed, European sedan through the downtown streets of Baltimore.
Netta admired the beautiful warm weather and all the people that were outside enjoying their lunch. It was the little things like this that reminded her to always be appreciative, since she could have had it all taken away from her that night in the hotel.
“Where we goin’?” Netta suddenly said as the car ventured onto the highway.
“Just chill Ma!” Tone explained. “I gotta big surprise for you.”
Netta smiled again, as she wondered what lay in store for her next.
Meanwhile, Tone continued driving on Interstate 295 South, quickly putting Baltimore City in his rearview mirror. Soon signs for Baltimore Washington International airport began to pop up. Tone followed the signs until he came to a stop at the airport’s long-term parking lot.
“What’s goin’ on, Tone? Why are we parked in the airport parking lot? You picking somebody up?” she wondered.
“Yeah, you,” he told her. “C’mon, we gotta flight to catch.”
“What?” Netta protested. “How am I gonna go on a trip if I ain’t got no clothes? Please, explain that part to me.”
“Easy, I got you,” he replied as they exited the car. “I ain’t got no luggage either, so we even. I figured that we can go shoppin’ in Miami for some clothes since we don’t board our cruise ship until tomorrow.”
When Netta had told him her plans of checking out the hospital a few days in advance, Tone had taken the liberty of booking them a getaway from Baltimore. He thought a cruise would be therapeutic for her, all things considered. The trip wasn’t just something he wanted to do for her. It was something that he needed to do for them, relationship wise.
“Ahhhhh!!!” Netta screamed, running over and jumping into his arms. “A cruise? Really? I never been on one of those before.”
Tone smiled as he held Netta close in his arms. He enjoyed every moment of this affectionate embrace. He was happy that Netta was happy. She was happy that Tone was mindful enough to put the time and effort into booking a well needed vacation, a break from the streets of Baltimore.
“Where we goin’?” she shouted.
“The Bahamas and a few other islands in the Caribbean,” he told her. “I really don’t know. I paid a travel agent to set this whole thing up to be honest.”
The prospect of going on a trip out the country gave her something to look forward to besides the loneliness she had experienced while in the hospital. This was all such a pleasant surprise. Netta’s thoughts shifted back to Tone and how their relationship was beginning to blossom so unexpectedly.
The three-hour, non-stop flight from Baltimore to Miami felt shorter than it actually was. Tone and Netta disembarked the flight and went straight to the exclusive Bal Harbour shopping district to shop at some of the trendiest designer boutiques they could find. They made purchases at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue before hitting up Versace, Gucci and the Prada stores.
Tone had to miss out on some of the fun since he was too big to wear most of the European designers’ wardrobe. Most of the stores didn’t carry his size. Still, that didn’t stop him from copping a designer belt and a pair of designer flip-flop sandals. He even bought a pair of Cartier sunglasses for the beach. Tone purchased most of his wardrobe from the mall. He bought a lot of Nike and Adidas athletic apparel, while Netta splurged on the high-end garments.
On their brief layover in Miami, Tone showed Netta money wasn’t a thing. He might not have been a kingpin like her former boyfriend Black, but the money he was making on the streets of Baltimore wasn’t anything to frown upon either. Tone was making a statement as far as what he was doing in the streets.
If he was hoping that it would impress Netta, it very well did. She loved being pampered and spoiled by her man. She loved the fact that he never once said no. That she was able to get anything she wanted. The Louis Vuitton luggage sealed the deal for her. She knew Tone had spent a pretty penny on this trip already.
Tone had a taste for some Spanish food, so after shopping, they checked into a hotel, showered, changed clothes then headed back out for an early evening dinner. They wound up at some Cuban restaurant in South Beach.
“Thank you, Tone.” Netta gushed over her food. “This has been one of the best days of my life.”
“Damn, we ain’t even go on the cruise yet,” he said. “I thought they always said the best is yet to come.”
Whether Netta knew it or not, Tone was laying the foundation with her. That was what he was doing, making an emotional connection. Their relationship wouldn’t be built on what he could do for her financially or how she could please him sexually. Every time Netta looked at him, she blushed. Every time while he was out in the streets doing his thing, he had thought about her. All the quality time they spent together took their relationship up another notch.
Suddenly Netta reached over and gave Tone a kiss on the lips. He could only concentrate on so many things at once, being in the middle of a conversation, eating dinner and now getting kissed was too much for him. He stopped eating to focus solely on the beautiful woman in front of him.
“You know, we could consider this trip a honeymoon,” he told her between kisses. “That way we can consummate the marriage.”
“Oh really ... honeymoon, huh?” she
