To be Loved

Thomas

Thomas Williams
10:28 pm

I stare out the window as I hold her hand. She hasn't let go since the parking lot of the hospital. Honestly, it's a really fucked up situation. Her best friend fucked her husband before he was her husband and had a daughter that she's the godmother of. The situation is fucked up all around.

"Where are we?" Her gravelly voice says as she squeezes my hand.

"In a hotel." I say kissing her hand and leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

"Why aren't we at yours?" She asks sitting up but never letting go of my hand.

"Well, take a look out the window." I say nodding my head toward the window.

"What did you do?" She asks as she drags me along still not letting go of my hand.

"Chicago! I've been wanting to go!" She exclaims and jumps on me finally releasing my hand.

I catch her and place my hand around her waist and the other on her ass.

She wanted to start traveling. First in the country and then outside the country. And one of the first places on her list was Chicago.

We ended up here because she wouldn't let go of my hand and I thought getting away would be good for her so the best I could do without letting go of her hand was Chicago.

"I've been asleep for 12 hours." She says after she stops kissing me.

"No, more like 3."

"How did you get me through TSA?"

"Room service." A knock and voice comes from the door.

"You got food." She asks, hopping up.

"Yes, I figured you'd be hungry when you got up and you also need clothes so I thought ordering and then going shopping would be easier." I say as she opens the door for room service.

***

The next day we went shopping for clothes at a fashion outlet. Tiana went a little crazy in Burberry, Prada and YSL. After some "light" shopping, we dropped off our bags and brought a ticket for the water taxi to get to Chinatown.

"The buildings are so beautiful!" Tiana says looking up.

I picked up a camera at one point. I snapped a few pictures of her and the scenery.

"Take some pictures of me." She says posing.

I take them and by the time we're done taking pictures, we've reached Chinatown.

"Where do you want to go first? Oh, look kayaking!" She runs over to the booth.

I pay for us and then we put on our gear and get into the kayaks.

We kayaked, then went to a bakery and brought a few pastries. We then went to buy some food and we were back on the water taxi and I tried to find Giordano's, a Chicago staple. I climbed into our rental and drove there. It was little packed but we got the pizza. We sat and waited for our order.

"We else have you got planned for us?"

"Well, I was thinking we would go to the Navy Pier and go to the flyover and see what else is on the Pier. I was thinking also sky deck so you can take your pictures. We're also going on the happy hour cruise and for our last day we'll go to the beach."

"I don't even want to think about leaving Chicago." She frowns.

"It's okay, that's why we're here. Come here." I pull her toward me and hug and kiss the top of her head.

***

"Thomas, you're not catching the angles."

We've been in Chicago for 4 days now and have finally made it to Skydeck.

"Okay, I think I got it."

I've been taking pictures for the last hour now but I won't complain as long as she's happy. I'm happy.

"Okay, I think that's enough. Let's me see." She says taking the camera.

I look up the nearest ice cream place and take her hand and leave the building.

"You did such a good job, baby. Thank you." She says stopping me and kissing me.

"No problem. You're gorgeous so it wasn't an issue."

"Where are we going?"

"Ice cream."

***

"I don't want to leave. Can't we stay here a little longer." Tiana says, applying sunscreen to her body.

"I mean, I want to but I do have a job and you have a life to get back to." I say grabbing it and applying it to her back.

"I don't wanna go back to my life. I just wanna stay here forever."

"I know you don't wanna talk about it and we won't except for this: you can't keep running from them. You shouldn't. They're the ones who broke your trust and betrayed you. Don't let them run you away."

She's silent for a little while and then grabs my hand and interlocks it.

Ring!

"Hey, Mom." I answer the phone.

"Hey, baby. How you been?" My mother asks on the other end.

"Great. How are you feeling?" Tiana squeezes my hand and looks over at me in question.

"Amazing. I wanted to tell you that, I've been told my cancer...has gone into remission. I don't mean to interrupt your-"

"No, mom, this is g-great news. I'm...I'm..." I don't know what happened but the next thing I know I'm breaking down. Tiana comforts me and my mom tries to console me over the phone. After a while, I finally calm down.

"I'm embarrassed...I don't know what came over me. Especially, on the beach in front of all these people." I say to both my mom and Tiana.

"Excuse my language, Mama Williams but fuck these people. You just found out amazing news. Congratulations, Mama Williams."

"You're absolutely right, Tiana. Fuck those people. Ohh...I'm so happy. But baby boy get back your vacation and I'll be when you get back. I love you. And thank you Tiana."

"I love you, too,Ma." We hang up.

"I'm so sorry for that." I say grabbing her hand and kissing it.

"No, Thomas, you've taken care of me all week and made me forget about the bullshit back home and now it's my turn to support you. You just got amazing news. You should be shouting it from the rooftops. Seriously you have to worry about."

"Let's get in the water." I say after 10 minutes.

"I can't let this bikini go to waste."