Between the Sun and the Stars

Starry Eyed

"Jenna, Cosmo is here." Alexis shouted, opening the front door of the house, I heard her greet the photographer, interviewer and the glam team. It was eight AM. 

I came down the stairs, Sutton in hand and greeted everyone that just made their way into the house. The front entrance was a busy place as Alexis directed the photographers upstairs to one of the spare rooms and the interviewer and I headed toward the kitchen. I knocked on the basement door to get Hunter's attention. "Sorry, Hunter is going to take Sutton," I stood in the kitchen wearing a black bathrobe. The front door opened again with two ladies wheeling in a huge rack of clothes.

"Hey sorry, lost track of time," Hunter kissed my cheek and took Sutton, "I'm going to Matt's." I nodded and handed him the diaper bag with a bottle. "Have fun!" He called, heading out the door. 

"Sorry about that." I turned to Kate, the girl who would be interviewing me. "Can I get you water or anything?"

"I'm okay right now, thank you. Your daughter is so cute by the way," she and I grabbed a seat in the living room, "I'm super excited to be here, your home is gorgeous."

"Thanks, it's a pleasure to have you." She got all set up with her recorder, pen and notepad. We hopped right into the interview, talking about my first TCA award show and walking away with a win, the tour and life after baby. "The hardest part after having the baby wasn't actually the baby, it was staying close emotionally to Hunter. We were both so tired, and when she slept, we tried to sleep too." We talked about new music, and if there were any more little Hayes in our future. "I'm excited to say there is something in the works that will be released at the end of this month, and as for babies, we have our hands pretty full with just the one right now. We will have another in the future but that's way down the road."

Kate shook my hand and handed me the famous Cosmo Quiz to write my answers down on. Afterward, we headed upstairs for wardrobe and photos. Alexis kept everything running smoothly and by one, everything was done and everyone had left. "Thank you Alexis," I said, "when's the other shoot?"

She opened her calendar, "Wednesday of next week, the thirteenth of November."

"Perfect, and Hunter did that Rolling Stones interview, was it discussed when that gets published?"

"December issue," she scrolled through her phone, "Country People contacted me, they wanted to come by and do an interview in December. The fifth. I also confirmed all of your Christmas specials, emailed them to Byron and you and Hunter this morning."

"Wonderful, I'll get those written down." I smiled as she left for the day. I flopped on the couch and texted Steph. 

J: Hey how's the married life treating you?

S: So far so good :) How are you?

J: Tired, early, busy morning. Where'd you go again for your honeymoon?

S: DR - loved it. Kind of tanned even! What's new and exciting?

J: Did cover and interview for Cosmo this morning, January issue. Recording this afternoon with Hunter. We are doing a Christmas album. How's work?

S: Busy! I'll keep my eyes out for that. Work is good, I have been doing knee replacement rehab all week. Kind of getting bored of it. I am leading a learning lab tho for the hospitals new technique, I will send you my article.

J: Please do!

Even though I made a huge switch in my career path, I still found science and kinesiology very interesting. Steph sent me the article and part way through, my alarm went off to remind me to go to Hunter's studio downtown. I packed up my bag and headed out. We had to listen through the tracks we were putting in for our Christmas album, and then book album art. We spent our first wedding anniversary in the basement with a bottle of wine from our wedding, and drank it while we recorded Christmas songs. Hunter surprised me with plane tickets to Jamaica for November 20-25th, and I was counting down the days to a vacation. His parents were going to be coming with us to help look after Sutton.

I arrived at the studio, signed in and found Hunter with Sutton and the guys. She kept pulling herself up on the couches, trying her best to walk around. Hunter played the tracks, we all listened and put everything on a USB for Byron to give us the green light. "I'm happy with it." I said, holding Sutton's hands, walking her around the studio. Hunter sat on the floor and I walked Sutton toward him, I let go of her hands, placing mine behind her in case she fell. She took three steps on her own before losing her balance. I placed my hands under her arms and set her down on her bottom gently, "Sutton!" You did it!"

"Try again baby," Hunter held his hands out, I set her up and she tried again, three steps before Hunter caught her. "Good girl!" He hugged and kissed her, the guys smiled and clapped. 

Sutton and I headed home while Hunter delivered the USB and track list to Byron before going home. I texted our both our families that Sutton took a few steps without help today. Everyone was excited. Hunter and I laughed, saying soon she'll be running and we will be chasing her around. We made dinner as she hung out in her play pen, talked about the magazines and the Christmas special dates. "With all of this going on, I can't wait for our vacation." Hunter nodded, and we got talking about other places we want to travel and explore. 

"I've never been to the UK," I said, thinking of our honeymoon, "maybe when Sutton is older and she can appreciate the history in Europe." 

"Totally," Hunter said, gathering up the dishes and pans to put into the dishwasher, "I would like to go back to Japan, maybe Australia."

"I have no interest going to Asia, but Australia would be awesome." We spent some time with Sutton before getting her ready for bed. "Want to go in the hot tub?" I asked Hunter, his eyes sparkled.

"After today, absolutely." We took the monitor and went to go sink into the warm water, the jets hitting all of the right spots in my back. We were in there for about an hour before drying off. We made our way upstairs, I peeked in on Sutton before heading to our room. Hunter was in the bathroom hanging up our towels.

 "She's asleep," he must have seen the sparkle in my eye as I pulled him close to kiss him. I sat on the counter, wrapping my legs around his body.His hands found the tie on the back of my bikini top. His hands guided me off of the counter as we continued to kiss, and he carried me over to the bed, laying me down gently, getting on top of me. He slid my bikini bottom off and his boxers. He kissed my neck down to my collarbone, his hands exploring other places. He was getting excited, he put on a condom and climbed over top of me, entering me slowly, teasing me, but also teasing himself. I ran my fingers through his hair, "You're being mean." I said coyly, he pulled away just enough that I could see his eyes sparkling, he knew he was being a tease. He entered me, rhythmically moving his hips, eventually moving onto his back. He had me on top, he was guiding my hips, I leaned forward to kiss him, moving deeper and faster until we both finished.

"I love you Hunter," I kissed his lips before climbing off of him.

"I love you, Jenna. That was fun." He turned over facing me as I fished through my drawers for a tee shirt and underwear. "I like when you get like that." He said with a wink

"Like what," I laughed, tossing his boxers to him, "I am so lucky to have a husband I am insanely attracted to, and a daughter that sleeps like a rock." I checked on Sutton before climbing back into bed, cuddling up to Hunter, "Sweet dreams handsome."

"You too beautiful."