Daphne knocks on the door. Bay stands in front of an easel. She motions for her to come in. Bay notices the piece of paper in her hand as she enters.
"What's that?"
Daphne pulls the door closed. She pulls up a stool, and hands it to Bay. Bay takes the piece of paper from her, and begins to read. She finishes and looks at Daphne.
"When did you apply for this?" Bay questions.
"Before the end of school last year."
"This is incredible. You should go."
"I know. I don't know when I am going to get another opportunity like this," she admits.
"Italy for six months to train with top notch chefs? Daphne you're not going to get another opportunity like this. You have to go."
"But..."
"Go."
"How?"
"I want to ask you something, but it is going to be kind of harsh."
"Ok," Daphne nods.
"Do you really think that you are prepared to be someone's mother at eighteen years old? Are you honestly willing to give up all of your dreams for a kid that you're not ready to have?"
Daphne shrugs, "I don't know."
"You feel obligated to have the baby?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He died. He is never, ever coming back. At least this way something good will come from it."
"How is it something good, if you're miserable."
"I haven't figured it out yet."
"Maybe this is the perfect opportunity."
Daphne furrows her brow, "What do you mean?"
"To reach a compromise, and still be able to go to Italy."
"I don't see how I can go, not now."
"Go to Italy. Have the baby while you're there."
"And then what? Ambush everyone when I come back with a baby?"
"I know it isn't my place to tell you what to do, but maybe you should consider adoption. You can still have a life, and so can it."
"You're suggesting that I go to Italy for six months, have the baby there, and then come back without one?"
She shrugs, "That is probably a really terrible idea."
"You're right."
"It's a terrible idea?"
Daphne shakes her head, "I am not ready to give up all of my dreams for one mistake. And, no matter how much I don't want to, I feel like this is all a really terrible mistake."
"So why are you doing this?"
"Because this baby deserves a chance. It deserves a chance that I can't give it," she admits, "I know that."
"What are you going to tell Kathryn?"
"I'm not going to tell her anything," Daphne answers.
"You're not going to tell her that you are going to go to Italy?"
"Who knows if they will even agree."
"Didn't you say that you would have enough credits to graduate in December, if you wanted to?"
"Yeah."
"How can they say no? If you're already eighteen, and you've graduated there is no way they can tell you no."
"How am I going to tell my mom?"
Bay shrugs, "I don't know."
"I don't want to lie to everyone."
"It would just be lying by omission. Let them assume whatever they want. They never have to know."
"I hate lying."
"Then don't do it. Don't go to Italy. Stay here. Graduate in June, with a baby, and whole lot of drama."
They sit around the dining room table. The room falls silent after Daphne makes her announcement. Kathryn, and Regina stare at her in disbelief. John is the first to speak up.
"You want to do what?!"
"Go to Italy. It is just for six months. It is a really amazing opportunity to train in a culinary institute, and..."
He cuts her off, "No."
Kathryn shoots him a look, "John," she warns, "We should hear her out."
"You can't go to Italy in December you won't be finished with high school," he argues.
"I spoke to my guidance counselor. I will have enough credits to graduate in December, if I want to."
John shakes his head, "You want to graduate early, and go to Italy?"
"Yes," she confirms.
"No," he shakes his head, adamantly.
"I think that we should have a vote," Bay suggests.
"Yeah," Toby nods in agreement.
"Ok, so everyone in favor of her going raise your hand."
John looks around the table. Kathryn looks at him in defiance as her hand raises. At the other end of the table Angelo's hand lifts into the air. His eyes fall on Regina, her hand is raised too. He looks at the other members of his family, and realizes that he is the only person who doesn't think that she should go.
"Bay, Daphne, Toby, will the three of you start the dishes, I think that the rest of this need to discuss this."
They collect the dishes, and leave the room. John leads the other three into his office. He leans against his desk with his arms folded across his chest.
"Are we really going to let an eighteen year old girl go to Italy for six months?" John questions.
"I think that it would be a good experience for her," Angelo insists.
"She is deaf," he reminds them.
"John if she can learn ASL, I am sure that she can learn Italian," Regina insists.
John's eyes fall on Kathryn, "What do you think?"
"I think that she has had a tough time lately. She has a good head on her shoulders. We should let her go."
"Let her go?! She is eighteen years old. She doesn't know the language, and she doesn't know the culture. We are really considering sending her to Italy for six months?"
"She'll be eighteen, I don't think that we can stop her," Kathryn points out.