Chapter 5
LONDON
No matter how many times I’d filmed, it still felt odd at times when there was a camera pointed directly in my face recoding my every move and every word that came out of my mouth.
We were at lunch, and it was going to be me, Brion, Mya, Vee, and Mahogany.
Everyone was present except Mya. That wasn’t anything new because she was usually late.
“Girl, it seems like that belly doubled in size overnight. It’s so cute,” Brion gushed over my bump.
“Tell me about it,” I giggled. “I woke up one day, and I had a belly.”
Shopping was something I loved to do, but I hadn’t purchased any clothes since I found out I was pregnant.
I wasn’t sure how big I was going to get and didn’t want to waste money buying a bunch of things.
Since my belly was a little bigger, I planned to go out and buy a few outfits but when I was home, I would be fine chilling in sweats and a tee.
I so wanted to be one of those women that slayed every single day of my pregnancy but some days, I just didn’t feel like it.
I had worn a white and purple maxi dress to meet the ladies.
Since Brion was now a part of the show, I didn’t ask her to do my makeup anymore.
I either did my own, used another MUA, or filmed with a bare face.
Pregnancy had unlocked a new level of passiveness in me.
In the beginning, I wouldn’t have been caught dead with a bare face while a camera was recording my every move.
Since being pregnant, if I didn’t feel like putting on makeup then I didn’t, and that was that.
I gave myself a light beat for lunch because baby boy had some dark spots popping up on my face, but it wasn’t too bad. I did a little foundation, light concealer, mascara, and gloss. I literally had my makeup done in ten minutes.
“I remember those days,” Vee sighed. She had a nine-year-old son by an NFL player, and she’d had a few miscarriages by an NBA player.
During an argument in season one, Mya called her out and said that she lied about having miscarriages and that she’d really aborted the babies.
The women could get downright nasty and constantly being in defense mode in their presence could become draining.
But I was making $100,000 per episode, so I would learn to deal.
“Wow,” Mahogany mumbled, and we all looked over at her confused. She shifted in her seat, and Brion’s gaze shot toward the entrance.
“I know you fuckin’ lying.” Her nostrils expanded, and I knew that whatever it was it was bad.
Turning around, I looked to see what had everyone so stunned, and I observed Mya and a skank by the name of Miamor, sauntering toward the table with fake ass smiles on their faces.
I didn’t know a thing about Miamor. I only knew her name because the blogs posted it when they ran the story of her fucking Isaac in the club.
I knew these bitches could get low, but Mya had taken the cake with this one.
I hoped this little stunt was worth the clout she was chasing because from that point on I was done with her ass.
She would never step foot into my home, be in the same room as my child, or get more than a few words out of me ever again.
The women sat down, and Mya was the first to speak. “This is my friend, Miamor. I have known her for years, and this isn’t what it looks like. She’s a really sweet person, and she just wanted to come explain her side of what happened.”
My blood literally felt like it was boiling, but I wasn’t going to let either one of those bitches see me sweat. I looked over at Brion and spoke in a very calm tone. “Why is she speaking to me?”
Brion replied to me without ever taking her orbs off Mya and Miamor.
“I don’t know, but I’m about to shut all this shit down.
Anybody with eyes, ears, and a brain can see that you’re a snake,” Brion read Mya for filth.
“But this is a new low even for you. You know that London isn’t the problematic type and even if she was, she wouldn’t do too much while pregnant.
You thought you’d walk in here and get a cute little kee at her expense maybe make her cry or at the most, she’d toss a drink in your face.
Nah, this ain’t that. I’ll beat yo’ mutha fuckin’ ass in this restaurant, and she won’t even have to breathe on you bitches.
We can move tables in this bitch. What’s up? ”
Miamor sat there with a slight smirk on her face while Mya’s eyes widened slightly.
They didn’t know Brion had it in her, and it would have been funny if I wasn’t so pissed.
I’d never let either one of them get a reaction out of me.
And while I’d never want Brion engaged in drama on my behalf, the way she handled them was chef’s kiss.
“It doesn’t even have to be all that,” Mya snapped.
“I didn’t come up in these people’s establishment to act like a ghetto hood rat.
My girl just wanted to tell her side of the story because blogs are painting her out to be the bad guy.
You can’t sit like an adult and have a conversation? ” Mya’s gaze shifted from Brion to me.
Sliding my chair back, I grabbed my purse and stood. I wasn’t giving either one of those bitches my energy. When I stood so did Brion. As I walked toward the exit, the producer, Helene rushed after me.
“London, you don’t want to at least hear what she has to say?”
Continuing to walk out of the door, I ignored her ass too.
I knew drama was the goal. It was her job to produce a juicy, entertaining show that would have viewers tuning in every week in anticipation of what was to come, but they wouldn’t do it at my expense.
Miamor’s dirty ass wouldn’t get any screen time off me. Right idea wrong bitch.
“London, just calm down for a minute and talk to me.”
Brion stopped walking and whirled around to face Helene. “You’ve always been cool with me but you’re pushing it. London is a grown ass woman. If she wanted to talk, she wouldn’t have left. She’s pregnant, and y’all are dirty for what you’re doing.”
I didn’t even stick around to hear Helene’s response.
I loved Brion, but I had to get out of there before my blood pressure shot through the roof.
I didn’t even wait to tell her goodbye. I got inside my Tesla and erupted into tears.
I had been doing so good. It had been months since I had cried.
Every single day, I woke up determined to be happy despite my circumstances.
I didn’t bother Isaac or anyone else. I didn’t get married to have to raise a child alone fifty percent of the time.
I didn’t get married for the union to end.
I also didn’t get married with the expectations of dealing with infidelity. Yet, here we were.
On any given day, I tried not to give Isaac too much of my energy.
And while he hadn’t done anything to me on this day directly, the way I was feeling was because of his actions.
I had been trying to be careful and not act off impulse or emotion, but Mya and her minion had helped me make up my mind. I was filing for divorce.
Four hours later, my mother looked at me and chuckled. “You look like you’re high over there.”
My eyes were half closed as I devoured the chocolate cake she’d made for me.
It was so freakin’ good. I was in heaven.
Her words made me laugh. “I am. I’m high off sugar.
” Scooping up the last bite, I placed it in my mouth and let out a content sigh.
“I don’t even know if I’ll be able to drive home.
” I was good and full, and all I wanted was to close my eyes.
“Go in there and take a nap. You know you don’t have to leave if you don’t feel like it.”
When I left the restaurant, I went to the courthouse and picked up a divorce packet.
I completed it, got the proper sections notarized, and took them back, so the sheriff could serve Isaac.
After that, I went to my parents’ house and let it all out.
My mother hugged me as I cried from my gut.
I cried like someone had died. I’m pretty sure I cried for at least fifteen minutes.
I cried so damn hard and long my mother started crying with me.
When I was done, she wiped my tears, and we went into the kitchen.
I watched her prepare food for me and bake a cake from scratch.
A good cry, a tight hug, the nostalgia of being back at home, and good food had me feeling so much better. “I can drive home. I think I’ll sleep so much better if I can shower and get in my bed with my pregnancy pillow. Can you believe I’m using one already?”
“Um yes. Pregnancy starts doing all kinds of strange things to the body from the day the sperm meets the egg. Drive safe and text me as soon as you get home.”
“I will,” I smiled.
My parents had been together for thirty-five years.
My parents tried really hard to keep me and my four siblings out of their affairs, but when I was nine, my parents went through a really rough patch.
My mother kicked him out of the house. It took a lot of eavesdropping on conversations to find out that not only had he cheated on her, but he’d been gambling and losing bill money.
My mother had to take out a loan, max out credit cards, and use her income tax refund just to get us on our feet.
She worked overtime and did everything she had to do to hold us down for the seven months my father was out of the house.
He came back a better man, and they had been together ever since.
My parents were one of the reasons that I didn’t take forgiving Isaac completely off the table.
I was going to take my time and really think about whether or not I felt I could make my marriage work.
Seeing Isaac’s whorish side chick earlier made me realize I might not be able to forgive him.
He had given not one but two women all the ammunition they needed to make me the laughingstock of Diamond Cove.
I knew what I signed up for when I agreed to do a reality TV show but at the time I agreed to do it, I didn’t think any of the ladies would be able to dig any dirt up on my husband.
I sure thought wrong. It was all good though.
I was going to raise my baby and go on with my life.
I didn’t want alimony, the house, or anything from Isaac.
I had taken one of the cars he bought me, but the other two were still at the house.
If he wanted his car back, he could have that too.
I wasn’t pressed about material things. I had the money to replace it all.
I didn’t need three cars anyway. I barely ever drove the Range Rover.
The Tesla was my everyday car, and the BMW was my most used weekend car.
I hadn’t driven the Range Rover in almost two months before I left Isaac.
God knew what I needed because as soon as I pulled the seatbelt across my body, Brion called.
If I talked to her while I drove, I’d stay awake for sure.
The worst part of my fatigue had passed, but I could still take at least two naps a day easily.
I couldn’t wait to get my energy back. I took my prenatal vitamins, drank tons of water, and got plenty of rest. It was still a battle for me to stay awake more than five hours at a time.
I wasn’t worried about being too tired once he was born because I had a village.
One thing I’d be able to do was get some sleep.
My mother already let me know when I came home from the hospital, she was coming to stay with me for a week since I lived alone now.
I was sure Isaac would be there, but I’d never turn down help from my mother.
That woman was my best friend. She was a terrific mother, so I knew she’d be a great grandmother.
“Hey boo,” I called out when the call connected to the Bluetooth.
“How are you feeling?”
“I went and filed for divorce. Then, I came to my mother’s house and cried my eyes out. She cooked me food and baked a cake. I’m full and happy again and on my way home to shower and get in bed.”
“I’m sorry, London.” Brion’s tone was somber, but she didn’t have anything to be sorry for.
“It’s okay, boo. I knew not to get comfortable around those hoes once it was made public that Isaac cheated.
I just never expected Mya to do what she did, but I’m not surprised at all.
From here on out, I will pay that bitch dust. I don’t care if I get fired.
I don’t even know if I’d want to do a third season anyway.
They can kiss my ass is how I really feel. ”
“I don’t blame you at all. I was pissed, so I can only imagine how you felt. Anything that you feel is valid. I put a piece of cursing on Helene. Hell, I might be fired,” Brion chuckled.
“If they fire you, they better fire me then. I don’t know what the fuck they thought.”
“You want me to come keep you company? Bring you ice cream? Rub your feet?”
“Rub my feet,” I drawled. “Baby, I should get pregnant all the time,” I jested. “Pregnant women get top-tier treatment.”
“Indeed, they do,” Brion giggled.
“No, boo, I’m good. I’m going to be asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I am so freaking tired. I thought it got better in the second trimester.”
“Baby, my kids are about to be six, and I’m still tired.”
Brion and I conversed until I entered the house, walked upstairs, and turned the shower on so the water could heat up.
I did my skincare routine, brushed my teeth, and showered.
Once I was in the bed, I felt like I’d hit the lottery.
It had been a rough day, but I was certain that I’d wake up the next day and be in a better mood.
I couldn’t say the same for Isaac, however.
I knew once he got served, he was going to flip his shit. And I didn’t even care.