We’re on I our way home. We only have a couple more hours of driving before we’re back to our normal lives. This was the best vacation I’ve ever had.

Dolly Wood was pretty cool. Ashley was sort of disappointed that it was center around country music. I tried to explain to her that Dolly Wood and Dolly Parton, who the park was created by and for, were somewhat the same thing. We did play in the imagination station there. We put ourselves in a bubble together and captured our shadows. Probably the funniness thing was Ashley ogling Dolly’s cleavage on a mannequin wearing one of her dresses. I even had to admit that she made a double D look flat. They had this one ride called the Sidewinder. It sort of like a log flume ride, but they would weigh groups of people together before you could get on. They where two sides to the ride and we would race the other side down. The giant water slide was actually built into the mountain. I figured out after the third time riding it the side with the most weight would always win. Ashley and I started getting in line making sure we where standing next to some of the largest men you could ever see. They would make Chris Farley look skinny. The park was so much fun, but we had to leave for our dinner reservations that night.

We had reservations at Dixie Stampede. It is a dinner theater that depicts the Civil War. We sat on the south since we where from there. They sat us at these long tables that where centered around arena of dirt in the middle. We had napkins, bowl, and a mason jar at each seat. We looked at each other and asked the same question where is the silverware? I saw the menu of what we where going to be eating it listed ribs, whole chicken, corn on the cob, soup, bread, and apple turnover for dessert.

"Maybe they’ll bring us a spoon and fork before they serve the food"

"I hope otherwise how we gonna eat soup"

The host came out into the center of the arena to start the show. He also informed us that we would not have any silverware with dinner. Great I thought. The show was really great it was almost like a rodeo. Their was wagon races, bull riding, barrel races, and dancing and singing. They also involved the audience in some of the competitions. They actually choose Ashley to out onto the arena for one. She was standing down there look all cute in her tennis shoes, jeans, and t-shirt that showed some of her tone stomach. My baby was hot. The informed both sides that the team that collected the most flags would win a point. They brought out two boxes. One for each team. They told the everyone to get ready and when they say go start collecting the flags. As soon as they said go everyone started running to the boxes, but the girls standing by them opened them up and chickens ran out wearing flags. I never in my life laughed as hard as I did then. The horror that flashed across Ashley’s face when she saw the chickens was priceless. Needless to say we lost that point. I was still laughing when Ash returned to the seat. She looked angry, so I made myself stop laughing long enough to comfort her and tell her she did a great job. Nodding her head at that she looked up smiling "that was the most fun". I pulled her into me giving her a sweet loving kiss. The north side won that day but that is the way it should be.

"Spencer! Spencer!" I brought back to reality

"What?"

"We’re home" wow I must of been out of it for a while.

I helped Ashley unload the car with all our stuff. We came back with to much stuff. My girl loves to shop. I am not looking forward to going back to work though. I have a couple more days. I took our bags to our room while Ash checked the answering machine. Unpacking everything Ashley showed up looking like a ghost.

"Spence their’s a message you need to listen to downstairs."

‘Ok" I got up and followed her back downstairs.

I pushed play and listened.

"Hello this is Mr. Jenkins from the parole committee. I am calling for Spencer Carlin. This is in concern with Mr. Stan Carlin. He has been released from custody since you failed to show up to his appeal to testify."

How? When? What? Where just some of the thoughts running through my head. Why wasn’t I informed of an appeal. He is free. I feel myself shaking in fear. What if he comes for me. What if…

Ashley stopped my inner monolog and pulled me into a hug.

"It gonna be ok" I wished I believed her "he can’t take you back home because of the emancipation. Ok. Plus we are gonna contact our lawyer to find out why we didn’t know about the court date."

Nodding, I felt tears start to escape my eyes before I clasped onto the floor. How could this happen to me everything was going great.

Ashley pulled me into her lap just rocking me back in forth whispering words of comfort into my ears. I just hope what she’s saying is true.