Just the Way You Are

World to Me

Hunter went ahead with the production of his album, and by early June he was promoting the release date September ninth, his thirty sixth birthday. Alexis set us up with several festivals and Hunter was going on tour in the fall.

"We'll have to see what Sutton wants to do for her birthday - I cannot believe she's going to be nine." Hunter and I boarded a plane to Toronto to cheer on Cade at a karate tournament, visit with Alex and evaluate his physiotherapy.

"Our little girl is growing so fast. She's not that little anymore." I smiled, loading my carry on into the overhead bin. "I love that her birthday is in the summer and we can have pool parties. We're home for her birthday this year right?" Hunter nodded as our flight took off, landing in Toronto. My parents picked us up and took us directly to the convention centre in the city where the tournament was taking place.

"Cade is a blue belt," my dad said proudly, "Ali has noticed that it's really helped him channel frustration and he is very calm." My mom went on to explain how Cade had started acting out in school for attention.

"It's tough being the sibling of someone with special needs," I started, "I am glad they found something to help him." We pulled into the parking lot and unloaded into the centre in search of my sister.

"There." Hunter said, catching sight of Jon and Alex. We headed over and said hello to them and Ali came over with several coffees.

"Hey! Thank you all for coming," she distributed coffees, "I appreciate you visiting. Did the kids come?" She asked looking around.

"No, they stayed home with Hunter's parents since we'll be bouncing around this summer." Something I said caught her attention and she nodded me over to the side.

"Hey, how busy are you this summer?" I shrugged, "We got funding to send Alex to camp for a week. We were thinking maybe Cade can get a chance to see what Aunt Jenna and Uncle Hunter do for work?"

I smiled, "That would be really great. I'm sure he'd love to spend some time with the kids too." She nodded, "I am going to look over my schedule and I'll have all my dates in line for you tomorrow, okay?" She hugged me, excited. We headed back over to where Cade was warming up with his coach and peers. "Ali, I'm sure he grew again. He's so dang tall." We watched him in his competition and he earned second place in his group. We went out for a celebratory dinner then Hunter and I headed to my parents house for the night.

"Jenna, so good to see you," Joan extended her arms for a hug, "you must be Hunter." She turned and shook his hand. I worked alongside Joan during one of my kinesiology placements in college and she specializes in paediatric physical therapy. "I'm really happy with how Alex has been absorbing the therapy but I think we may have reached a point of either plateau or the limit of his personal ability." I nodded and she continued, "Your gift to Alex has made a positive impact on his quality of life. I would like to continue to see him once a week." Ali came in just as we finished discussing the financial arrangements so Hunter and I could see what a typical session looked like.

Joan worked on some standing exercises, sit to stand and some stepping. Hunter had this fierce look of concentration as he tapped his foot, watching Joan and Alex. The session wrapped up and we thanked Joan, and followed Ali to my parents house. "Everything okay Hunt?"

He nodded, "Just watching Alex made me think how lucky our kids are. Not just that they're healthy but they get to grow up with a family member who will teach them about differences, and to be compassionate." I squeezed his hand as we walked up to my parents house.

"Ali, I have those dates - we are doing the Fourth of July again this year... it's like a street festival, concert, city wide party. Come July second and stay for a few days. You guys would enjoy it."

"That's perfect, Cade will have such a good time." She wrote it down in her calendar. "Jon has to work so it will just be Cade and I, and if anything happens to Alex at camp, Jon will be able to handle it." She hugged Hunter and I before we packed up for our flight home.

"That was a speedy trip," I said boarding back onto the plane, "my head still feels pressured from flying in yesterday." Hunter squeezed my hand as we got settled. I leaned my head on his shoulder, "I appreciate you coming out here with me."

"No worries babe. I'm glad I could be here for you." He kissed my head, "Ali and Jon are doing a good job. I'm glad we are in a position to help."