Just the Way You Are

Anything For You

"Good evening Akron," I started, Hunter held my hand as we spoke quickly about cancelling our show last night, "is there anyone here tonight that was supposed to be at our show in Columbus last night?" We heard a few shouts from the audience. I nodded, "Thank you for understanding why we couldn't play last night, and for being here tonight. It is devastating, not just as parents, but simply as human beings to know the there were nine people - students and faculty at the university that were killed yesterday." It was a hard pill to swallow that what started as a mass shooting ended in a murder-suicide, the news was still developing as police investigated.

Hunter walked toward the piano and added, "We may not know why this happened, and it may not make sense. We didn't know anyone who was affected by this, but that doesn't discount the tragedy. Please, to anyone who is suffering in silence, you are not alone, there's always someone who will listen." On that note, he began to play Invisible, a song that made fewer appearances but we decided it was fitting for today.  We also did I Will Remember You before carrying on with our regular set. After a heavy performance, we headed back to the hotel to relieve Lynette and Leo and we packed up, ready to move on to Wrigley Field in Chicago, our biggest set of the tour.

Hunter was doing some promotion on Instagram live and decided the we should show the kids where we were playing as the crew set the stage. We walked though the gates and Easton was amazed at the size of the field. "This is incredible." I said, seeing the barriers and the stage coming to life. The kids played up and down the aisles with their grandparents as we got the green light to do a sound check. With everything coming together nicely, Hunter headed off for some radio calls while I wrangled with children and took them to lunch with Lynette and Leo.

"This is the half way show isn't it?" Lynette asked, holding Beckett's hand as we crossed the parking lot back toward the bus.

"It is, I kind of wish I got to do this more." I smiled as I unlocked the bus and herded the kids in for school work. "Life happened very quickly after we got married." I set the kids up, made coffee and spent some time talking to Lynette and Leo. "I know they'll only be young for a little while, and this time together is precious. They'll remember getting to go on the road with us more than they'll remember printing and reading homework on the bus." They agreed, smiling at how dedicated they were to getting their homework done. Show time rolled around and I kissed each of them and headed out to the stadium hand in hand with Hunter. We did our cheer, countdown and headed out onto the stage. The crowd topped 20,000 fans which was mind blowing. The time after Wrigley Field felt like is was going 6x speed, and before I knew it, I was flying home from Las Vegas with the kids and Hunter's parents as Hunter had a week of tour prep before setting out on Garth Brooks' tour.

"We will miss you," I kissed him, "I'm proud of you - have a great time sweetie." The kids hugged Hunter and we headed on to security and boarded the plane.

"Mommy, why is daddy not here?" Beckett asked, his steel grey eyes shone through his overgrown locks.

"Daddy still has some work to do," I swept his hair out of his eyes and kissed his head, "Sutton and Easton have to go back to school."

"I like that you were our teacher mommy," Easton said as he colored, "when does daddy come home?"

"In a few weeks buddy." The rest of the flight was quiet, Lynette and Leo helped me get the kids back on track while I ran out for groceries. By eight pm we were all in bed, ready to get back to school tomorrow morning.

"Have a great day sweetie, I love you." I kissed Easton and sent him into the kindergarten play yard. I gave his teacher the envelope of his completed work.

"Thank you Mrs. Hayes." She happily received the bulging manila envelope and I sent Sutton off to the primary yard before heading inside with Beckett to submit all of Sutton's school work to her teacher.

"What should we do today Becks?" He smiled and told me he wanted to go play at the park. When we got home we walked together and enjoyed some time on the trail and at the park in the late February sun. After about an hour, we made our way home for a break and lunch. Beckett napped while I started tackling the laundry pile. By that weekend, we got back into a groove, I heard a lot of great things online from our tour and Hunter's time opening for Garth. Hunter checked in with us as often as he could between shows, prep and interviews.

"You sound super happy," I said quietly as we talked after getting the kids down, "I miss you."

"I miss you too. I am happy; think I'm still coming off the energy of our tour. It was so good to spend that time with you on stage." He said, complimenting me left and right. "Jenna it's incredible how much you've grown - you have such a natural presence on stage."

"I learned from watching you." I said, smiling. "Okay, I am falling asleep - I love you babe."

"I love you beautiful."