Just the Way You Are

Gorgeous

"Jenna, that dress is gorgeous," Alexis stood in awe, "Hunter just got here. He's going to love it." I stood and looked in the mirror, the Valentino dress was a deep burgundy in colour, satin with spaghetti straps and virtually backless. It was floor length and somewhat fitted, making me appear taller than 5'3.

"Wow," I turned to see Hunter, his jaw hanging and eyes sparkling, "that's stunning." He walked up and examined the gown. "No one would believe you've had three kids," he smiled as Alexis brought over his suit from CK.

"I love it," I said as Hunter emerged from the change room, "you look so fancy." He was wearing a custom black suit with a white shirt and black bow tie. After our fittings, I relieved Alexis of Beckett-duty, and we drove separately to grab lunch.

"You excited for the award show?"Hunter asked as we enjoyed a lunch date with Beckett at Pinewood. I nodded. I was nominated for female album of the year, female vocalist, single of the year for Everything and musical event for my duet with Hunter.

"I'm actually surprised but relieved not to be performing," I sipped my sweet tea and stopped as I heard a familiar tune, "what's that?" Hunter stopped and turned to see a busker at the end of the patio singing 'Everybody's Got Somebody'. A smile flooded Hunter's cheeks. "Babe, you should go say hi." I got my cellphone out and was videoing him.

Hunter got up and stood beside the busker who was elated to say the least. They sang the rest of the song together and Hunter took out his own phone to get a selfie. He tipped him a ten he had in his wallet and shook the guy's hand before sitting back down. "Well that was cool!" We finished our lunch and parted ways. "I'll be home by eight," he kissed my lips and planted a kiss on Beckett's head before we parted ways, "I love you - drive safe."

"Love you too and I will." I headed home with Beckett to get him down for a nap and cleaned up the house a bit before it was time to get the kids from school. The evening was pretty standard - dinner, homework, playtime and bed. Just as I was finishing the last book, I heard Hunter come through the front door. All of the kids jumped off our bed to greet their dad at the top of the stairs.

"Daddy can you read us one more book?" Easton asked. Hunter looked at me as a caved and nodded.

"Just one," I said with a smile, "come back up here hooligans." I lifted Beckett and Easton onto the bed and Sutton came back in with the third book of the night, Oh the Places You Will Go. Her favorite. We got through the last book, got everyone in bed, then Hunter and I caught up before turning out the lights.

"How was work?" I asked as I massaged his shoulders.

"Good, very productive." He exhaled a deep breath as I worked through a knot in his shoulder. "How was your evening?"

"Good, less productive but I got Sutton and Easton through their homework. I was going to ask you, were we going to look at putting Beckett into preschool in the new year?" We discussed the pros and cons, but my heart just wanted him to stay two and a half years old forever. "He's so easy," I laughed as Hunter laid back into the bed, "I almost forgot he was with us at the fittings today." I laid my head on Hunter's chest and he skimmed his fingers through my hair.

"I know, they're growing so fast," his voice was quiet, "Easton is going to be five, and I cant believe Beckett is going to be three. How?"

"Because we fed and watered them," I smiled, "they're like complicated plants. But really, we did so good, we are doing a good job." We said our good nights and I love you's before turning out the lights.

"Mommy, why are we here?" Sutton asked. I held Easton's hand and had Beckett in tow as I dragged them to the Ascend Amphitheater for my sound check with Maddie and Tae.

"Mommy has a concert tonight and has to do a sound check with the singers." I was a bit annoyed since the kids were supposed to be at school but due to a water main break, school was cancelled. "Y'all need to stay by me - daddy is at work." I situated the kids in a room backstage as I heard two familiar voices.

"Jenna! We are so happy you're here!" Maddie said, arms open.

"It's been so long - how are you?" I smiled and hugged them both before apologizing that the whole crew was with me.

"I'm sorry, I got my hands full today." The girls told me not to worry and I situated the kids side stage. "Sit and stay please." I kissed the kids and told them to behave just as Tae handed me a mic.

We practiced their song Your Side of Town, and they asked to do a rendition of my song Ghosted. "That was perfect." I said, hugging them both again. "I will go home to get changed and I'll be back - probably just going to bring Sutton." 

I packed Sutton up and brought her to the concert, outfitting her with headphones and sitting her side stage. Maddie talked to the crowd quickly, "We are so happy to have a friend come by to surprise you all."

Tae added, "She has been a friend of ours for nearly ten years, she is a hot mama and she is nominated for a bunch of ACM awards...."

Maddie concluded the introduction, "We would love for you to put your hands together for Jenna Hayes!" The crowd cheered and the reeling guitar and banjo started and we sang Your Side of Town before singing Ghosted. I hugged the girls and headed back off stage. Checking the time, I told Sutton we could stay to watch two more songs before we had to go home. Her eyes sparkled as she watched them, her foot tapping to the beat. I kissed her head and took her hand, leading her back to the SUV to head home.