Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor look tense as they’re pictured for FIRST time since separation – as he picks up their son Cruz from her new $15K-a-month rental property – just 12 minutes from their marital home in LA

Brittany Cartwright and her estranged husband Jax Taylor were seen reuniting for the first time since announcing their shock separation after four years of marriage on their joint podcast When Reality Hits.

Following her recent move out of their marital home in Sherman Oaks to a $15K-a-month rental property, just 12 minutes away from her ex, the father-of-one, 44, paid a visit to the 35-year-old reality star’s new digs as he picked up their son for some quality time. 

While the former SUR waitress lent a hand loading their little one into his car seat, an eyewitness told DailyMail.com that the former couple ‘appeared tense’ and ‘were not very chatty with each other.’ 

The insider described their exchange as brief and ‘business-like.’ 

When Taylor first arrived, Cartwright was seen taking out her trash while rocking a black denim jacket over a white and brown flannel shirt, black pants and white sneakers. 

Meanwhile, Taylor was dressed in merchandise promoting his Studio City bar, Jax’s, for the occasion.

His trip was short, as he only went inside the house for a half hour before emerging with Cartwright to load their son into a white Jeep. 

Later, Cartwright, who changed her clothes and went off to film a project at a studio in Burbank, was seen wearing a sweatshirt with the words ‘better days ahead’ emblazoned on the back. 

The duo met back up at her new rental when Taylor dropped off Cruz.

Cartwright was noticeably still wearing her wedding ring on both sightings.

Earlier in the day, Taylor was seen leaving their Valley Village home and heading to his bar on a red and black golf cart. 

He parked in a no-parking zone for the disabled, despite not appearing to have any injuries or disabilities. 

Taylor and Cartwright announced they currently separated and are ‘taking time apart’ after four years of marriage. 

Brittany announced the news this week on When Reality Hits, confirming: ‘Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health.’ 

However, Brittany also later hinted that the ‘split’ could be temporary, as she asked fans to ‘pray for us,’ and added that she believes ‘everything will be just fine.’

Signs of their relationship trouble and marital woes will most likely unfold on their new reality show The Valley, which premieres on March 19. 

The beloved Bravo stars tied the knot in a fairy-tale themed wedding ceremony on June 2019 in Kentucky after a year-long engagement.

But it seems as though the fairy-tale is over, at least for now. 

‘Many of you guys have been asking me about Jax and I and our relationship,’ Brittany said in the podcast episode released Thursday.

The star – who shares a two-year-old son, Cruz, with Jax – added: ‘I just think it’s important to be real and honest with you guys because we’ve shared so much of our lives with you guys.’ 

Brittany then specifically referenced some issues the pair have been having.

‘On my last podcast I alluded to many marriages go through rocky times. Yes, marriages in general are very hard and I’ve had a particularly rough year this past year.

Going on to suggest they’ve now temporarily split, she said: ‘Jax and I are taking time apart and I made the decision to move into another home to take some space for the sake of my mental health.’

Admitting that the split is ‘still very hard to talk about’ she added that she is just ‘taking one day at a time.’

‘I don’t know what the future holds, but right now my focus is on being the best mom to Cruz,’ Brittany added.

Brittany and Jax began dating in 2015 after they met in Las Vegas, and their courtship was featured on their Bravo reality series Vanderpump Rules. 

In 2017, the pair split for awhile after it was publicly revealed that Jax slept with another woman.

He cheated on Cartwright with their co-star Faith Stowers.

While speaking about her decision to forgive him, she stated that she was ‘raised to be a good Christian woman’ and told friends she believed ‘everybody deserves’ a second chance on Vanderpump Rules. 

After reconciling off-camera and and on their Bravo series’ reunion show, Cartwright, who is 10 years his junior, told People they ‘weathered the storm.’ 

‘We’re still going through it … [but] we’re in a great place now — probably better than we’ve ever been,’ he said.

He proposed with a three-carat cushion-cut diamond ring. 

‘We are ENGAGED! What a way to start our summer and season 7!!’ she wrote in their engagement announcement on Instagram. ‘I am so happy, so in love, and so beyond excited for this next chapter of our lives! I can’t wait for all of you to see how he proposed! I am the happiest girl ever right now. Love can win!’ 

In a joint statement, they reflected on how they’ve ‘been through a lot together, the good and the bad — but’ claimed it ‘only brought’ them ‘so much closer together.’ 

‘We’re just so excited for our future together but right now we’re focused on planning everything — first up is our engagement party next month that we’ll be celebrating with our family and close friends!’ they exclaimed. 

Ultimately, they went on to get married in front of 240 guests just two years later. 

Following the birth of their baby boy, Jax gushed that fatherhood ‘changed’ his life.

‘I think becoming parents made us stronger too because I love seeing him as a dad,’ told People. ‘It just makes you love him more.’ 

Over the summer, they even told the outlet they were ‘definitely gonna have more kids.’ 

‘At least one more,’ he said. ‘We’re just really busy right now. It’s been a very busy summer. We’re very blessed.’ 

Jax even raved about his wife for being the ‘rock’ of their family.

‘I love her to death and I don’t know if I’d still be on this planet if it wasn’t for her to be honest. Her and my son, they kind of really saved me after my father died,’ he told the outlet. ‘I really owe my whole life to her.’ 

In March 2023, the couple hinted to some trouble in their relationship as she said they were ‘trucking through.’ 

At the time, Taylor noted their ‘good days’ and ‘bad days’ made their relationship stronger. 

‘I don’t believe in divorce. My parents didn’t get divorced,’ he told People. ‘I don’t believe in that. Marriage is work. I’m not saying every day is amazing.’

He added that he ‘honestly’ couldn’t imagine his ‘life with anybody else’ and assured fans they still had ‘a lot of fun with each other.’