Secret Love

Chapter 22

Toni was sitting in the nail salon with her mother and Towanda. They had been acting weird for the past couple of days and she's barely heard from Janet. Come to think of it, she hadn't heard from Tamar, Trina or Traci either. Even Kenny, and Denim had been acting weird. Especially Towanda and her mother. For some reason they wouldn't let her stay home today. Usually, Fridays were her chill day but they have taken her to get her hair done, her nails done, she got a massage, and they got her eyebrows done. Apparently, Janet had given them the money for all of this. She now had her feet in a foot bath getting one of the most expensive pedicures she's ever had. "Guys what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" asked Evelyn.

"What's with all the pampering? What's Janet up to?"

"Look, she told us to take you out to get pampered. Plus we have that dinner with her family tonight, so I guess she just wants to show you off." said Towanda.

"True." Towanda looked at Evelyn and smiled. The plan was going great and they couldn't wait for tonight. Janet told them to have Toni back at the house by 5 so she could get ready for the dinner that was at 7.

On the other side of town, Janet and Tamar were at the restaurant decorating the event room while Trina and Trace were working with Janet's mother and sister on the menu. "Okay, I need the lights to be perfectly aligned," said Janet. The guy helping them fixed them.

"Perfect!" said Tamar. "Girl, this is going to be so nice. I'm already crying."

"I know. I'm so jittery. It's almost 5, meaning she should be almost home to see my first surprise."

"She's going to love it."

"Thanks for helping me pick it out."

"No problem." Janet and Tamar went to the dining room and saw that they had the tables set up to look just like a family dinner. They had the tables angled away from the room so Toni would see it until it was time. The place settings were out and they had Toni and Janet sitting next to each other of course.

"Okay Dunk, is this good?" asked Rebbie.

"Yeah this is perfect." Janet jumped up and down. "I'm so excited. Okay everyone go home, get dressed and meet here at 6:30. We have to be here before her."

"Cool." said Katherine. Everyone left the restaurant and went home.

At Toni's house, they had just dropped her off when she saw a huge box at her door. Her mother and sister had already pulled off so she couldn't ask them. She picked it up and went inside. "Salice! Are you here?" Salice was the 17 year old babysitter Toni hired from time to time. "Salice!"

"In here, Ms. Braxton!" Toni walked in and saw Salice standing next to a small pile of smaller boxes that matched the big one she was carrying.

"What is all this?"

"I was told to tell you that the boys are with Mr. Edmonds and Ms. Jackson wanted to make sure you got these. Have fun at the family dinner." Salice left out and Toni took the boxes up to her room. Opening the big one, she saw a beautiful Alexander McQueen gown. It was a dress she had seen in New York when she and Janet went shopping together. In the other boxes, she found a beautiful pair of red bottoms, diamond earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. She smiled. Janet was so thoughtful and loved to spoil her. It wasn't shocking seeing as how their first date was a trip to a beautiful island.

She took a nice shower and put on Janet's favorite scent. It was almost 6:30 and she had just finished her makeup and hair. Putting on the dress, it fit perfectly and went beautifully with the shoes and accessories. A knock came to her door. She grabbed her phone, put it in her clutch and went to open the door. On the other side, she saw Joey waiting with a beautiful suit on. "Joey? What's going on?"