Dawn and Scott stood in the kitchen, sipping on red wine, both of them still reeling from last week’s court appearance. With the case being kicked back to Esposito, it was definitely going to trial unless a dismissal was handed down from the new judge. This fact had hit them both like a ton of bricks but it was the first time Scott realized that this was not going away and that the worst case scenario was a real possibility.

“How am I going to do this without you? Who will braid Riley’s and Madison’s hair? Who will help the kids with homework? Who will take Harrison to hip hop?” His voice trailed off…

The look on his face spoke volumes as he realized the magnitude of just the daily physical aspect Dawn’s absence would have, not to mention the emotional impact a “guilty” verdict would mean for the children.

“I’m not moving back in with my parents,” Scott sighed, “I’m going to have to hire an au pair. I don’t even know how to do that,” his gaze became distant again, as if lost in a wood…

“I know,” Dawn whispered, tears welling in her eyes, “I know.”

“Well,” Scott snapped to, “I was hoping this would be a celebratory trip at the end of this, but fuck it. Should we just go to Disney World?”

“Well, why not?” Dawn asked, managing a weak smile, “I should get to take the kids to Disney. I should be there for their first time. And unfortunately, we just don’t know if that will happen if we wait.”

The truth was, as excited as Dawn was, Scott’s sudden decision to take such a big family trip on a whim was extraordinarily unlike him. She knew it meant he was scared and preparing for the worst. It meant he had finally been beaten down enough to know what she’s known all along…His overt admittance that his precious system doesn’t work was possibly the worst blow to Dawn’s hope in the past 4 years.

The last time Scott made such a fast financial decision was almost a year ago. He and Dawn were discussing the future and why he saves the way he does.  He was preparing: for the trial, for the kids, for the future… But after living in the basement of his parents home for over 20 months, Dawn had reached her limit.  She calmly explained that it was time to move on in their personal lives, as the case and trial seemed to be stuck like a skipping record, and waiting was no longer an option.  He asked if she new an agent and Dawn made 1 inquiry to her friend and local real estate agent.  That weekend they walked through 5 houses, bid on one, closed and moved in within 6 weeks, thanks to her friend, her in-laws who watched the kids on overtime and helped paint and assemble furniture, and IKEA for being so very affordable that they could actually furnish and decorate an entire house…

Seriously, it took Scott over 5 years to propose, 4 years to buy a new car, and months of mental back and forths to book family vacations.  Scott was a saver, not a spender, so when he booked the vacation, including a top resort hotel, and the flight within days of the conversation and mentioned that they will need to dip into savings, Dawn knew this was the beginning of the end and that she better put on her happy face and enjoy the rides, because after this trip, shit was gonna get bumpy…