Bratva Mother

People & Stories *edited

Shortly after Mikhail left a trucker sat down across from Carol. He was heading west, not as far as she was going but he could help her move along and send her to the next best person to keep her moving. They discussed her story and how it all would work out. Then she paid for her food and left with the trucker. Feeling lighter than she has in a long time. Carol wonders for how long she felt bogged down and not her usual bubbly self.

Carol hadn’t told Mikhail everything. Partly why she didn’t tell him information is because he works with her ex, that was true. The other part was because she thought he was a handsome man, she knew the things he did. She didn’t want to get attached when it wouldn’t mean anything to him. She didn’t leave one contract relationship just to get into another one. Especially since she had another soul to think about.

No, getting involved with a man like Mikhail wasn’t a good idea. So she had to show both him and herself that she didn’t think anything of him and keep him at arm's length to protect her heart and future. For the future of her child, she cannot let some man dictate her life and only use her for publicity sake. Her child and herself deserve better than that.

Carol crossed a few state lines with this trucker. She got his story while they were driving. She told him not long after leaving New York state that she was pregnant and wanting to go home closer to her roots. He understood her and her reasons for going across the country to a better future. If only he knew that she wasn’t settling in Seattle. However Carol was enjoying the trip and was learning a little about the trucker dialog as he chatted with a few people via the Citizens’ Band or (CB) radio. She started to recall a few country songs her own mother listened to and how similar these truckers were to those songs.

He dropped her off at a diner in some small town in Ohio. Told her to go in and sit at the counter, there would be another waitress to point her in the correct direction and help her find another ride further west. She slowly started to make progress with her trek across the country and was enjoying the scenery as they traveled.

Some truckers dropped her off at diners, others truck stops and again others at gas stations. They all made sure to send her to a person with the angel wings. Carol got everyone’s story on how they ended up with the angel wings and doing what they did. She remembered each story, wrote it down and each name too. She wanted to help them in any way she could. She wanted to remember the stories and the defeat each person had.

It seems that being in the underground railroad, it is a small world and everyone knows everyone. She was able to stay the night at motels and get showers in. Everyone made sure she was resting, exercising as much as she could and eating well. None of the truckers were upset when she had to puke or had to climb out of the truck to get fresh air. Being pregnant and traveling was a new experience for Carol. She is sure traveling by air would be different. She’ll learn soon she guesses. However despite the temporary illness and feeling claustrophobic she enjoyed the week long trip. Her current traveling partner dropped her off outside Seattle at a diner.

Carol went in, sat at a booth and fished her new phone out of her bag. She turned it on and waited for it to boot up. She felt a little bit of coffee wouldn’t hurt, but decided against it and stuck with tea and a hot breakfast.

When her phone was fully loaded and notifications stopped popping up on her phone, she picked it up and looked through them all. Ray was asking for updates while she traveled. She felt a little bad that she had turned her phone off for her journey. Then she looked at the others. Both lawyers were messaging her. It seems her leaving didn’t go so well for either of them. But the Robingtons had no leg to stand on when it came to the divorce or her inheritance. She grumbled about them being stupid and needing to let things go.

While she waited for her food to arrive she called up her precious again. “Hello Darling” Ray answered on the second ring.

Carol smiled and said, “Well I made it to Seattle. I am at the diner named Toni’s Place, I’m unsure of the address but Toni is spelled with an I instead of a Y so that might narrow it down.”

Which Carol then had to pull the phone away from her ear as Ray squealed loudly in excitement. She heard shouting and what appeared to be heels clacking on the hard surface. Ray then said “Girl don’t go anywhere and wait I am on my way!” Then there was a click and Ray hung up.

Carol smiled and giggled at her friend's antics. While she was putting her phone down her food arrived. She smiled at the waitress and thanked her and started to eat. She ate about half of the plate and then decided to call her divorce lawyer up before Mr. Bennett.

“Mr. Baker speaking, how can I help you?”

“I am Carol, I was traveling and kept my phone off, did my soon to be ex sign the papers?”

“Oh, hello Miss Carol. He was, as you predicted, volatile about learning of your divorce papers. He came barging into my office the morning after I sent the papers out. He demanded your contact info and to know where you were. Said he knew people who could track you down so I might just give in now. Do not worry Miss Carol, your contact info is safe with me. I didn’t give him any information. I told him that you requested that he not get it and that everything he needed to know from you was not only in the divorce papers but the letter you added to it. He was outraged. But eventually left my office, I’m guessing to hand the papers you gave to his own lawyers to review. I’m sorry miss, but it looks like he isn’t willing to give up yet. So I do not have signed papers right now. How long will your current number last before moving on?”

Carol was a little miffed he is fighting this. She left with only her earnings and her personal belongings. She purposely left everything else behind so he could sign and be done with this part of their life. Why fight when it was all a contract one to get his inheritance in the first place. He said himself he didn’t love her, it was all a contract for him. She agreed to it for heaven sake.

“I might be at my friend's area for a little longer. About a week before I move on in my journey. I do not want to draw this out than it has to be. Did you tell him I will drag this to court and show evidence of cheating if he didn’t sign?”

“No miss, he didn’t give me much of a chance to speak in his yelling and demands. However, he requested a meeting with me in a few days. Maybe he will hand over the papers signed then. I will keep you informed via this number with the development of the situation. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have more questions.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Then she called Mr. Bennett to see what was going on with his end. It seems the whole Robington clan descended on his office not long after James visited Mr. Baker. They wanted her disinherited because she was no longer affiliated with their family. They didn’t care that none of them would get the Silverton’s money and assets. The will is too protected by the lengths grandma came up with to make sure any of them gets it. But they can make sure Carol didn’t get it either.

The antics of the Robington family was amusing for Carol, but it did bring up a good question. After her divorce will she still get the inheritance? She asked this of the lawyer, again the state laws are on her side. No one can mess with inheritance no matter who got what. Grandma knew the laws of the state well and knew that so long as she put the witnesses she did and when she wrote it, the will cannot be contested. Carol will still get her share and everyone else can back off or will inherit nothing.

With all her phone calls done, she started eating her food again and waited for Ray to show up. Carol couldn’t wait to see her best friend again after so many years. They still talked, but it wasn’t the same as when they were in college together. They were thick as thieves and could finish each other's sentences. Even with distance and time zones, they talked often and sent each other gifts for birthdays and holidays. Ray had a different set of beliefs than Carol, but they both believed in spirits and their ancestors like their people from their mothers families.

Then Ray stumbled her way into the diner and looked around. Her bodyguards took up positions around the room. It all kinda gives her deja vu. Instead of her little crush striding through the door it was her best friend stumbling in. Carol got up and hugged Ray. Ray didn’t change much through the years. Still plump with a mischief twinkle in her eye.

However you could tell that adult life was taking a toll on her friend. She looked a little hunched and there were bags under her eyes. Like she was losing sleep often. Honestly it concerned Carol a little, was she the reason her friend looked tired? Or did something or someone else do this?