Something in the Water

What I Never Knew I Always Wanted

August rolled into September and in a whirlwind, ACM nominations were coming out. I had GMA on while the kids were having breakfast and turned up the volume as the host was preparing to make announcements. "Female Vocalist: Kacey Musgraves, Jenna Hayes, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsay Ell." The kids cheered and the next category was announced, "Male Vocalist: Hunter Hayes, Dustin Lynch, Brett Eldredge, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice. Single Record of the Year: Lifeline 'Sam Hunt', 'A Life That's Good' Jenna Hayes, 'Forever Summer' Kelsea Ballerini, 'Ain't My First Rodeo' Kacey Musgraves, 'Remind Me When' Dustin Lynch"

"Mom!" Sutton exclaimed, her smile fixated as my nominations also included rolled on including Album of the Year,  Entertainer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. In the excitement, the kids cheered and my phone rang, it was Hunt.

"Hey babe! Yeah did you hear? Yeah five, thank you. I can't believe it. Congratulations to you too sweetheart." He congratulated me and said hi to the kids quick before heading off for work. "Loves, lets get ready for school now! I think we might be late."

"If the teacher asks why I'll tell them we were listening for you on tv." Beckett said, hugging me quick, "We are proud of you mama."

"You're the sweetest, I love you guys." I got the kids to school and apologized profusely to the secretary as we were indeed late.

"Congratulations on your nominations Mrs. Hayes," she said handing the kids late slips, "have a good day." I thanked her and headed over to Atlantic to view the tour DVD.

"There's our girl!" Byron exclaimed walking through the door of the board room. "We are all so excited for you. You're on top! This DVD was a great idea and it was a no brainer to invest in it." We watched it and I looked through the album art work.

"We have a VIP package we are going to bundle with your left over merchandise," one of the interns said, "do you have time to sign posters and DVDs."

"Yeah absolutely." I buckled down and must have signed my name 685 times before getting calls from my sister, Amy and Stephanie, all excited and congratulating me.

"Hey Jen," Courtney poked her head in, "We have people calling for interviews. Can I set up phone interviews for you?"

"Yeah absolutely, I'm fine to meet at a cafe or at Five-H also. Anything after nine and before two please." I smiled and she nodded, running off to book me in. After I was done signing the merchandise, I headed over to Vanderbilt, grabbing coffee with Stephanie at the hospital cafeteria.

"Girl!" She exclaimed as I handed her a coffee, "Congratulations!" She hugged me and we got talking. "Dustin asked me to go, I'm on the fence. Is Hunter going?"

"No he can't make it, he'll be on tour. He and I discussed it and he said I could bring Sutton. She doesn't know yet."

"Oh my gosh stop! She's going to lose her mind." She laughed. "What a lucky girl." I nodded.

"I just feel like everyone is trying to get my attention right now." I handed Steph my calendar with the magazine and radio interviews. I have two interviews every day except the weekends basically up until the show." She shook her head.

"This is why I only see Dustin twice a week and he's home." She sipped her coffee, "And it's harvest season." I forgot for a moment that Dustin farmed on his own land. "Maybe, knowing that Sutton is going, I'll go too." Her smile was genuine and for the first time I could tell Stephanie was really falling. "I wish I didn't wait so long. Like we are up there in age already, he's got seven years on us." I nodded.

"If you think he's the one, you have options of you guys wanna have kids. Adoption..." she nodded, saying that she still wasn't quite sure where things were going. "I'm so glad I got to stop by here. I thankfully have never been here before."

"Yeah, it's tough sometimes. You're a lucky woman. Three good, healthy kids." She looked at her watch, "I hate to dip but I have a client in thirty minutes."

"Not a worry, it was great to catch up. Tell Dustin I said congratulations." I hugged her and we parted ways. I had some time to take Millie for a walk before going to get the kids from school. The evening was spent doing homework, getting back into the groove of our school routine. I tucked Beckett in and his big grey eyes looked almost sad.

"You okay buddy?"

"Mommy, why can't we be with dad?"

"Sweetheart, you all have school. Dad is working. I know it's hard."

"Sutton said when she was in grade one that she did homework on the bus."

"Yes, that's when you were a baby. And now you're in grade two. I can't teach grade six, grade four and grade two. That's not going to work." I hugged him and tried to lay him down and sang softly to him until he fell asleep.

J: Beckett is missing you. We love you xox