Better in the Long Run

Beautiful

"Happy birthday mom!" Sutton said, handing me a gift bag.

"Thank you guys," I read the card addressed from the kids and opened the gift to find our issue of People Country Magazine framed, "well look that that!" I chuckled, seeing as it had been many years since I framed our magazines and this was the first one with the kids on the cover. "This one needs a special place because my favourite people are on it." I kissed the kids before opening Hunter's card.

"Jenna,
Happy birthday my love. I'm so proud of everything you have accomplished and can not wait to see what's in store for your 39th birthday. I love you."

I smiled as he handed me a ring box. I opened it to reveal a custom ring embellished with the kids birthstones. "That's precious, thank you Hunt." I kissed him and slid the ring on my right hand ring finger. "Perfect." My day was spent with the kids before Hunter suggested we go out to eat together.

"My parents can take care of the kids tonight," he smiled, shuffling through my closet, "wear this." He handed me one of my little black dresses. He had a sneaky smile on his lips. "Can you do that thing with your hair where is looks like, wavy?"

"I can do that." I laughed, untying my braid and ruffling my fingers through my hair, making it the 'beach waves' Hunter likes. I did my make up and Hunter put on a nice pair of jeans and a button up shirt, styling his hair as if we were going to the Grammys.

"Do I even bother asking what we are doing?" I laughed as we climbed into the car. The kids were excited to be hanging out with their grandparents for the evening and Hunter handed me a blindfold.

"I promise it will be fun." I obliged. The last time I wore a blindfold, he surprised me with our house. We parked the car and he came over to help me out and guide me to the front steps of wherever we were. I trusted Hunter to guide me inside, and he gave me directions as he sat me down. "Alright Jen, take off your blindfold."

"SURPRISE!" I jumped out of my seat as the thirty some odd people shouted.

"Hunter!" I hugged him, "Hi everyone!" I laughed, still shocked. I looked around and realized we were at Pinewood. Stephanie came up and hugged me along with Dustin, Sam, Amy, mine and Hunter's band, and some of our other friends. Music played and we ate, drank and danced until we couldn't anymore. We took an Uber home where Hunter and I had to basically support each other to bed.

"I forgot to tell you, you have an appointment tomorrow with Stephanie for massages, nails and hair. I wrote it down somewhere."

"What?" I laughed as I pulled the covers back, rolling into bed.

"Happy birthday." He smiled, kissing me.

"Thank you sweetie."

"He told you last night?" Steph laughed as we sat side by side getting mani-pedis after our massages. I nodded, "Well I was in on it so if he didn't tell you I would've called you up. You excited about tonight?"

I nodded, "Yeah I haven't been back to the Opry in a while." I thought back to when I made my debut and realized I had only been back twice, not even to perform. "It's such a nice place to be. So welcoming." After our nails were done we had our hair perfected at the Dry House, a totally glam hotspot in the city. "Did you have time to grab lunch?"

"Did Hunter not tell you I have the whole day off? He invited me to the Opry tonight too."

"May have slipped his mind." I smiled, "We will totally grab a bite after this."

I stood with my guitar in hand in the wings of the Opry stage as Blake Shelton made my introduction, "It's my anniversary night and I couldn't be happier to be welcoming Jenna Hayes to the stage tonight." I stepped on and greeted Blake before stepping into the circle. I played Those Were the Nights and A Life That's Good. The audience was wonderful, and kept cheering as Blake returned onto the stage. "Jenna Hayes everybody!" He hugged me before stepping back, looking at me in the eye, "Jenna, it is with great pleasure we offer you an invitation to be an Opry member!" In shock I nodded and smiled, tears coming to my eyes.

"Oh my - thank you! Yes!" Blake hugged me as Hunter and the kids came on stage with flowers. Hunter had that mischievous grin on his lips, and I whispered in his ear, "You knew." He nodded and kissed my cheek as I was invited to play one more song. The night carried on with a performance from Blake as well as Maddie and Tae.

"Remember when I brought you here fourteen years ago and said this could be you?" He whispered in my ear as we watched Blake perform.

"Indeed I do," I leaned into his embrace, "This was really special. Thank you."

"You did it all on your own. I was merely a guiding influence." I kissed his cheek, totally speechless.