"Court mandated therapy," Reba sighed. "The family that sold their kids at the flea market didn't even get court mandated therapy."
"Well let's just try to get through this without another brawl," the therapist cleared her throat. "Remember this is all for a trial separation."
"I want to live with Dad," Cheyenne blurted out.
"I wanna stay with Mom," little Jake piped up.
"Is boot camp an option?" Kyra mumbled. Reba rolled her eyes. How did her life get like this? A year ago everything was fine. Then Brock started working a lot. Cheyenne was always off with her boyfriend, Van. Kyra never wanted to come home. So that left Reba and little Jakie alone together most of the time.
"Ok that's it," Reba sat up in her seat. Brock knew that look in her eyes.
"Kids why don't you wait outside for a second," Brock reached inside his pocket for some money. "Here go to the vending machines and get some snacks." He handed the money to Cheyenne and the three kids filed out the door. Brock turned back to Reba. "Calm down Reba. I don't want the kids to see you mad like this."
"Mad? MAD?" Reba questioned indeed getting mad. "You think that I'm getting mad and by just telling me to calm down I will? Brock our twenty year marriage is going to be divided like it was nothing." Reba had tears welling up in her eyes as she started to speak. "We're going to have courts and lawyers going through everything we own," Reba turned to the therapist. "No offense."
"Hey I get paid either way."
"Ok ok well let's settle this right now," Brock sat up in his chair. "You keep the house for the kids. We'll keep our own cars. And I'll return the tickets to Italy and –"
"Hold on a minute," the therapist was suddenly very interested. "You guys were going to Italy? When?"
Reba glanced over at the therapist. "Yeah it was," she looked at Brock, "going to be for our anniversary but -"
"You two should go. Besides I'm sure there's a strict policy with the airline that you bought them from. You know no refunds, non-transferable. That whole thing." Brock and Reba looked at each other.
"Yeah that could possibly happen," Brock smiled.
"You should find out if that's true," Reba sighed. Brock pulled out his phone and called the airline. A minute into the call he hung up.
"We're locked in. The trips in two weeks," he sighed leaning back in the chair. The therapist cleared her throat.
"I'm going to post pone my final review until after y'all get back. I want to see you as soon as you come home ok?" Reba and Brock looked at each other and then back to the therapist. Was this woman for real? Did she really think that she could just snap her fingers and get them to agree to go. "Of course if you refuse to go, I can always get the court to order you to." The two jumped and agreed for the first time in long time. As they were walking out the therapist called after them. "And don't forget to talk with each other!"
Two weeks flew by and before they knew it, it was time for their trip. Lori Ann had come out to watch the kids for the two weeks. "Now you have our numbers?"
"Yes, you two kids have fun," Lori Ann smiled. Reba rolled her eyes. "I'll call you from my hotel room when we get there." She quickly gave her friend a hug goodbye.
" Separate hotel rooms how romantic," Lori Ann sighed as she closed the door behind them.
"Do you know how we're getting there?" Reba asked once she and Brock were in the car.
"Yeah a plane," Brock laughed. "It'd be kind of hard to drive there."
"That's not what I meant." Reba smacked his arm. "I meant do you know which flight, where it's stopping, and how long we'll be in the air."
Brock smiled. "I knew what you meant." He reached over and patted her hand. "Relax everything will be okay. Our plane leaves at seven. We stop in New York, Paris and then finally Italy." The plane rides weren't bad at all and after nine long hours they finally landed in Italy.
"Awe man I think the jet lag is starting to catch up to me already."
"We haven't even left the airport yet Reba," Brock laughed.
"Hey I thought you said you bought these tickets during an off season," Reba said looking around at all the other people.
Brock followed her, looking around as they got their luggage. "I did. I wonder why all these people are here." They got a taxi and went to the hotel where their rooms were booked.
"What do you mean our rooms were taken?" Reba was in shock. "We need those two rooms."
"Mrs. Hart I'm sorry but you and your husband will have to go some place else," the clerk replied.
"What do you mean some place else?" Brock asked stepping up behind Reba and putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Well you see we are all out of regular rooms. People have been pouring in from all over because Andrew Lloyd Webber is opening a new play this week. We can however offer you a suite."
"Doe it have two bedrooms?" Reba asked.
"No but it does have a bedroom, living room, dining ar-"
"We'll take it," Brock blurted out. Reba whirled around.
"Brock we don't even know how much that will cost us!"
"You heard the guy. The town's been invaded. That just may be the last room in the city."
Reba sighed. "Okay at least there's more than one itty bitty room." Hours later after they unpacked their belongings they were just standing around.
'Oh Lord. I was married to this man for twenty years yet we can't seem to find anything to talk about,' Reba thought to herself. Suddenly a yawn escaped from her.
"I'm going to take a shower and then head to bed," Reba said as she got up from the armchair she was in.
"Ok," Brock said as he looked at Reba. "I'm not tired yet so you can have the bedroom tonight. I might check out the hotel while you're gone so don't worry about me." Reba nodded her head in understanding and disappeared into the bedroom.
Brock heard the water turn on. He stood and went to the door. It was then he realized how tired he was. He made a fire go the fireplace then went to the kitchen to prepare a snack.
Reba emerged from the bathroom and attempted to get some sleep. After tossing and turning for what seemed like forever, she decided to go check on Brock. It was weird for her; Brock hasn't been there with her at night for almost two months. She opened the bedroom door and slowly peeked out.