Something in the Water

A Father's Love

"Daddy!" Beckett ran to the door as he heard the whirring of the suitcase wheels. With his arms open, Hunter graciously accepted being ambushed by the kids. "I missed you."

"I missed you all too," he followed the kids into the kitchen, "did you have fun in New York?" Sutton nodded and Easton told him all about the zoo and museum. Beckett was literally attached to Hunter from the moment he got home. "Is Beckett okay?" Hunter whispered as he helped me lost the dishes from dinner.

"He was pretty bummed that you weren't back when we got home. He really missed you." Hunter pursed his lips together and I closed the dishwasher, opening my eyes for a hug, "Don't overthink."

"Who's the mind reader now." A smile cracked along his face. We headed into the living room to see Easton and Beck playing connect four, "Where's Sutton?" Hunter asked.

"Upstairs I think." Easton said. Hunter sat down to play with the boys while I ventured upstairs to find Sutton strumming on her guitar.

"Knock, knock." I said quietly before poking my head in. "How you doing sweet girl?"

"Good, just needed a break from my science homework. I don't get it."

"What don't you get? Maybe I can help... I have a degree in science you know." She rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Unfortunately it's about matter. Not organs." She handed me her binder and I read it over and eventually coaxed her to get back to work and we tackled it together. I wandered back down stairs to see Hunter playing on the Nintendo wii, getting his butt kicked in whatever racing game they were playing. I made myself a tea and sat on the couch where eventually Sutton joined me.

"I like that you guys are older and not going to bed at like eight," I said, "this way we can actually spend time as a family. Especially since dad and I both have so much going on with our albums."

"Are you going to go on tour together?" Beckett asked, taking a break from the video games and  sat on the couch next to me.

"Right now, no..." my voice drifted off as I looked to Hunter for back up.

"Mom has her tour May, June, July." He said, "my work is organizing a tour and if your moms schedule allows then yeah, we will go on tour together. There's so much we have to think about. Like you guys and school."

"We used to do school on the bus..." Sutton said, "we could do that again."

"Grade one school work and grade six are very different. Your dad I just want the best for you all." I wrapped my arm around Beckett, "Because we love you. School is your job and that's really important to us."

"More important than being together?" Beckett asked point-blank.

"Oh, no baby of course not. Being a family is so important. Sometimes we just can't be in the same place at once. I know for sure, for the end of June, we are all going to be on my tour together." Hunter nodded and chimed in.

"From June sixteenth to July eighteenth, we are all going to be on moms bus." Beckett lightened up, his grey eyes sparkled and a smile appeared. I kissed his cheek. We encouraged the kids to get to bed and we did our story time, good night kisses, eventually falling into our own bed. "Parenting can be tough," Hunter sighed, turning to face me, "he is really not liking the whole us working in different directions thing."

I shook my head, "I didn't realize how much it was impacting him. Like Sutton and Easton seem so accustomed to it. She remembers doing school on the bus." He nodded and I added, "I believe in the way we are raising them, normal school, extra curricular activities... I don't want them to be like Angelina Jolie's posse of children always in the media."

"I absolutely agree with you." He flopped back, chuckling, "I did iron out some stuff for the summer. I have CMA fest with you and my tour kicks off less than ten days after yours wraps up, Why don't you come on the road with me and the kids for the few weeks before school starts?"

"I think we could all get on that idea." I kissed Hunter's cheek, "I'm glad we can talk about this and be so open minded and receptive of each other's needs, wants and careers."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." His blue eyes were soulful and soft, "I know I've made it this far as a working dad because of your support. I don't think you've ever told me 'no'."

"You've never told me 'no' either. I smiled at the thought. "I love you Hunt."

"Love you Jenna."