Can't Change the Past

~10~

Bey POV

"Aubri sit down and finish your cereal."
"I don't want no more."
"You're going to be hungry later."
"No, I not."
"Aubrielle do what your mama said."
"But-"
"No buts. Finish your food before y'all are late."
She pouted but finished her food. "King you finished?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Okay go put your shoes on."
I grabbed his bowl and Aubri's once she finished. I cleaned them and put them in the dish drainer to air dry because we had to leave now.
"You want me to pick them up today?"
"I can get them."
"Okay, y'all come give me a hug."
They went over to give Ms. G a hug then we left. We went outside to catch the bus to their summer camp at the recreation center. I signed them in and walked them to their classrooms. I left out and walked to the diner to open up. Ms. G let's me open now so I can be with the kids in the evening. I know y'all probably confused as to how I ended up in L.A. Well...... you'll just have to wait. I'm not ready to talk about that just yet. Right now, I'm just trying to get myself together for King and Aubri.

I made it and immediately went around to my tables taking orders and getting coffee. I was cool with most of the guys in the kitchen, so my food would come out quickly so my tips would be nice. As I was making my rounds one of my coworkers came up to me.
"Giselle, let me talk to you in the back real quick."
"I'll be back Mrs. Johnson and I'll bring you a fresh cup of coffee."
"Thank you baby."
I followed her to the back, "Wassup?"
"The lady that just walked in," I turned my head. "Don't look right at her."
I snapped my head back, "What about her?"
"She's rude as hell and boojee. Can you take her?"
"She sitting in your section though."
"Gis, please? We've all taken turns with her and she's driven us all over the edge. Since you're new to the morning shift...."
"You know I don't do attitudes. If that woman says one thing, I'm done."
"Thank you." she said hugging me.
"Yeah, yeah." I waved her off walking away. "Take Mrs. Johnson her coffee and check. Don't steal my tip either hoe."
"I won't."
I went up to the woman's table "Hello, my name is-"
"I just sat down. Can I look at the menu first?" she said with a stank attitude.
I walked off, I'm not about to deal with that. Nope, not today Satan. I went around and checked on my other customers. After a few minutes I walked past her table and she stopped me.
"Hey! Where have you been? I've been waiting forever to put my order in."
I looked at her, "Technically you don't put the order in, I do. You, ma'am, place the order. And I was giving you time to make up your mind since you hadn't done so when I first came to your table."
"Whatever. Go get me some bacon, eggs, toast, and grits."
"........."
"What?"
"You don't know how to order properly or say please."
"Girl if you don't go get me my food with an orange juice." she said closing her menu.
"The fu- what if I don't? Huh? You'll get up and do it yourself?" she glared at me. "That's what I thought. You should be more polite to people who handle your food." I said snatching her menu off the table.
"Was that a threat?"
"Nope." I said popping the P. "Just a warning for the next time."
"Giselle you good?" Jimmy, one of the cooks, asked.
"Yeah, I just can't stand a disrespectful ass person. Like who the fuck raised you?" I said rolling my eyes. I turned and saw Ms. G walking in. She was saying hello to the staff and customers as she made her way to the back.
"Ms. G, what you doing here?" Jimmy asked.
"Y'all know I do weekly pop ups."
"Gis you couldn't warn a brotha? What if I had one of my women back here?"
"Hey, I didn't know either." I said laughing. "Trust me, I don't get no special treatment now. If anything she's harder on me."
"She's right, ain't no special treatment."
"I'm thirsty over here!" I heard and rolled my eyes.
"Excuse me." I took her her juice. "Your food will be out shortly."
"What's taking so long? I've been waiting long enough."
"We have to kill the pig, wait for the chicken to lay the eggs, then grow the wheat. It might take a little while." I said with the fakest smile on my face. "Anything else you want to know?"
"No." she said rolling her eyes.
I went back to the kitchen and purposely got everyone else's food and passed it out first. I told Jimmy to prepare hers last because I needed a good excuse to stay away from her table otherwise I would have accidentally spilled coffee on her. When everyone had their food I grabbed her food and went to hand it to her.
"Enjoy."
"About time." she mumbled.
"Excuse me? I didn't hear you."
"You're dismissed."
"Girl-" I stopped. "Pay the host on your way out."
"What if I need a refill?"
"Drink ya spit."
"You're rude as hell. I'm the customer, you need to treat me better."
"And I eat and shit the same way you do. You need to treat me with some respect."
She scoffed, "I want the manager!"
"People in hell want ice water."
Just then Ms. G came out her office making her way towards us. "What seems to be the problem here?"
"Ms. G-"
"Your employee needs to be better trained in customer service."
"Ma'am I can assure you that all of my employees go through a rigorous screening and training before they are completely hired."
"Ch. I can't tell with her."
"Keep trying me lady. I promise."
"See. And that's not the first time she's threatened me."
"Did you not hear me say promise? I don't threaten people. I will punch you in the throat."
"You let all your employees talk to customers talk like that?"
"Bi-"
"Giselle, maybe you should go home and cool off."
"But-"
"Yeah go before it costs you."
"Me staying might cost you your ability to breathe properly."
"Hey, hey!" Ms. G snapped.
I threw my hands up and walked away. I took my apron off and put it in the hamper for dirty clothes. I grabbed my belongings and stormed out of there. I'll probably hear about it later but I don't care. The chick was rude and today wasn't the day.

I still had maybe two hours before I had to go get the kids so I decided to go to the mall and walk around. I didn't get paid until next week so for now I'm just window shopping. I saw this woman walk past and she looked so familiar but I don't know why. I don't know anyone out here. Anyways I left and went to go get my babies.
"I'm here to pick up King and Aubrielle Carter." I said to the lady at the front desk.
"King's class is in the gym. Aubrielle's dance lesson should just about be over. You can go back to get them if you'd like."
"Thank you." I walked in the gym to see King running around with some other little kids. "King!"
He stopped and ran towards me, "Mommy! I missed you!"
"I missed you too kid. Go grab your backpack and let's go get Aubri so we can go." He ran to grab his bag and came back and held my hand. "So how was camp today?"
"I had fun, we drew pictures today. I drew some for you and Aubri and Ms. G."
"Aww you're so sweet."
I peeped inside Aubri's class and saw them wrapping up so we stood to the side until they were finished. When they finished I went over to get Aubri's bag and help her with her shoes.
"Hi mommy." she said all out of breath. "I tired."
"Y'all must have been dancing a lot because you're normally not this tired."
"I ran out of breath mommy. I had to take a time out." she said laying back on the floor.
"Ran out of breath?"
"Hi, are you Aubrielle's sister?"
I looked at this lady and cocked my head to the side. I stood up with Aubri in my arms and handed her bag to King. "No, I'm her mother."
"Oh I'm sorry. Well today in class Aubrielle had a little trouble breathing during recess and then again in dance class. Does she have asthma?"
"Not that I'm aware of. She hasn't been to the doctor for a checkup in a while."
"I don't want to overstep my boundaries but maybe you might want to get her on breathing treatments."
"Are you a doctor?"
"No but I-"
"Okay then. I'll get a second opinion before I start buying things that might not be necessary."
"Well okay. I'll see you tomorrow Aubrielle." she smiled and walked away.
"Aubri!" I turned and saw this cute little girl, "Where you going?"
"I'm taking her home with me, is that okay?"
"You going to bring her back tomorrow?"
"That's the plan."
"Okay." she smiled. "Aubri is my bestfriend."
"Is that right?" I said looking at Aubri.
"Yes mommy. I tell you about her all the time." she said in a duh tone.
"Oh this must be Alaiya. Hi, sweetie."
"Hi Aubri's mommy." she waved.
"Mommy, Laiya's birthday is the day after mine. Next year can we have our parties on the same day?"
"We'll talk about it when next year comes around, okay."
"Okay, bye bestfriend!"
"Bye bestfriend! I love you!"
They are just too cute. Seeing them made me think about my bestfriends. I miss Kelly and Michelle so much. I wonder if they are mad at me for not calling them for all these years. I do have a valid reason but I don't want them to be mad at me or judge me for it.
"Mommy!" I snapped out of it.
"Yes Aubri?"
"I said can I sleepover Laiya's house next Friday?"
I frowned, "Why?"
"That's what bestfriends do mommy."
"I don't know Aubri." I didn't know anyone out here and I didn't trust strangers with my child.
"Please please please!"
"I'll think about it."
"Okay mommy."
"What's for dinner?" King asked.
"What do you guys want?"
"McDonald's."
"You got McDonald's money?" I said with my eyebrow raised.
"No, but you do in your purse."
"I'm cooking. We can get McDonald's a different day."
"What you cooking?"
"Whatever is in the fridge."
"Can you make chicken spaghetti?"
"I'll see what I can do. But we have to do your flash cards before bed, okay?"
"Do we have to review this time?"
"Yes to refresh your memory." I made little flash cards so when King goes back to school he won't be behind.

"1+4?"
"5"
"2+7"
"9"
"8-6"
"2"
"9-3"
"6"
"4x4"
"16"
"7x3"
"21"
"7/7"
"1"
"10/2"
"5"
"Good job King." I said high-fiving him. "Let's get you in bed so you can get some sleep." For now, we're in a motel until I save up some money to leave.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"When is daddy coming to get us?"
I froze, "Uhm.... I don't know baby."
"Can you call him?"
"You remember when I told you that he went on vacation?" He nodded. "We can't call him, we have to wait for him to call us."
"What if he never calls?"
"I don't know baby. But don't worry about it." I kissed his head and stepped outside for some air.

I gave up on Shawn finding us a while ago. When we first got here I tried to call him but of course he didn't take his phone because he was undercover. I left plenty of voicemails on his phone in hopes that he'd get the messages. I tried calling his job but they weren't any help. They told me they would get the messages to him but that obviously never happened. I guess he never got them or he's still undercover because we're still here. Julius caught me using his phone and threatened to kill me if I did it again. I believed him because I've seen him kill people before. I try to tell myself that he wouldn't put his job before us but it's been over three years and we're still in L.A.

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Stay Blessed😇💖