What I Learned In L.A. (Sequel to What I learned at Hope Springs)

bad blood

Brittany

The office has been my safe haven for the past month and a half. Chris and I work close together everyday. I don't see Micheal, we are separated and he hasn't seen Jr. the entire time, plus I heard that he's been spending a lot of time down at the strip club where Jasmine works. I was going through some paperwork for the company when my office phone beeped. i pushed the speaker button, "Yes." "Brittany you have a phone call on line 2." "Okay." I pushed the button. "This is Brittany." "Brittany?" My face frowned up. "How did you get this number?" "I just need to speak with you, why won't you talk to me?" "Mama. How did you get this number?" I asked. "Micheal gave it to me, I stopped by the house and he had that girl there, Jasmine. They were both half naked. I don't know what's going on with ya'l--I cut her off, "That's none of your business." I told her. "Can we please meet somewhere?" she asked. I sighed, as much as I missed my mama a part of me didn't want to have to deal with her.  I didn't want to deal with her man, her feelings towards everything that ruined me, any of that. "Please?" she asked. "Meet me at the Fersome Cafe downtown at 1." I said. "I'll be there with Chris so if you bringing your man, he better not try shit." "Okay, Brittany thank you." I hung up in her face.

A few hours later there was a knock on the door, "Aye ready for lunch?" I looked up smiling,  seeing Chris standing in the door way. "Hey, just finishing up." I said opening the file cabinet and sliding the papers in there. I closed and locked the cabinet, I grabbed my purse and keys and headed towards the door. "I'm starving bro, I hope you picked a good place." Chris said rubbing his stomach. I laughed, he so extra. "Don't be mad but my mom is joining us." He side eyed me. I know how Chris felt about my mother. He hated her for allowing Ricky to do anything to hurt me. He hated Ricky even more. "I'm not mad, I just don't want them upsetting you." he said. I sighed, I could only hope that any slick remarks would be kept at a minimum or not spoken at all.

Once we got to the cafe we found a table close to the exit just in case we needed to be out of there quickly. Once I saw my mom and HIM walk in I reluctantly waved them over. I was nervous to say the least and Chris noticed grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly. I took a deep breath as they finally reached the table. "Hey mama." I spoke silently not even trying to look at them. "Hello Brittany, Christopher." Ricky spoke. I didn't speak back neither did Chris. A waitress walked over and took our drink orders. "So how are you sweetie?" My mom asked smiling like we didn't have bad blood between us. "Good." "That's wonderful, how's the baby doing?" She asked. "He's fine mama." "I would love to see him, maybe spend some time with him." I dropped my head, I knew this was coming.

"That's not gonna happen." Chris answered for me, I'm so glad he came. "Lil Nigga who are you?" Ricky asked. This was going downhill fast. "Ricky stop it." "Shut up " He screamed at my mom. I stood up, I wasn't gonna sit here and watch her allow herself to be disrespected. "Chris come on, I'm ready to go." I said still hanging on to his hand. "Baby wait." My mom protested. "Woman, you better sit your ass down, can't you see after everything you Did for her She doesn't want to be around you." Ricky spat. He was such a jerk, I was leaving because of him, not my mother. "Ma, you ain't gotta take this." Chris said. "Whatever you need help with we got you." He said speaking softly, trying to diffuse the scene that Ricky just caused.

Chris

I was concerned that if we didn't try and get Brittany's mother away from Ricky tonight, then sadly it may be the last time we would see her. "Ma, come on please." I begged holding my hand out to try and assist her while she stood. She didn't comply, instead she faced forward and didn't answer. I saw Brittany shake her head in disappointment. "I love you Mama." Brittany whispered as she walked ahead of me out the cafe. I chirped the alarm on the car so she could get in, as soon as she did she broke down. "No no, come on." I said once I got it. I leaned over the console pulling her into a hug. "Calm down." "She's so scared of him, couldn't She see we were trying to help her." She sniffed. "It takes time B. You know that better then anybody." I said at least trying to make her feel better about things. She just gazed out the window not talking back to me.