Where Love Grows

I'm With You

"When your tears are spent,
Your tired eyes refuse to close
and sleep in your defense
When it's in your spine
like you've walked for miles
And the only thing you want
is just to be still for a while

If your heart wears thin I will hold you up
And I will hide you when it gets too much
I'll be right beside you"

I ran my fingers along the piano keys, nearly having a heart attack as I heard Hunter come through the front door.

"Sorry, did I scare you,?"

"Yeah sorry I was in the zone." I chuckled, turning on the piano bench to face him and receive a kiss. "How was your day?"

"Good, productive." We had a week until we started tour rehearsals and our tour was slated to start at the beginning of March. We talked about the tour and Hunter gave me the details for the stage and we ran a set list.

"I was thinking we can have a period of time, maybe thirty minutes of just acoustic music kind of in the middle of the set?" I nodded. We bantered back and forth, carrying the conversation into the car to pick up the kids from school.

"I gotta go in and talk to the principal quick about taking the kids on tour." Hunter parked the car and came in with me and the principal provided us with the materials all three kids need for the thirty days of school they would miss. We thanked the principal and went around the school to get all the kids.

"Mom, when's that tour?" She handed me a piece of paper that had all the information regarding the school play auditions and proposed rehearsal schedule.

"Umm, it's the whole month of March sweetie." The paper read that auditions started the last two weeks of March and the rehearsals would be over the month of April. This year's musical was Beauty and The Beast. "Are you trying out for Belle?"

"Absolutely." The discussion about the play auditions and tour flowed into the house, "Would it be irrational to ask to come home after spring break to do this?" She stared at Hunter and I.

I sighed, "Well, yes and no. We would need to find someone to take care of you. You can't stay home alone and get to school. We can ask Grandma and Grandpa, we won't have an answer til tomorrow."

Hunter shook his head, "They're on a cruise until the twenty seventh of March. Sorry Sutton."

"What about Amy or Aunt Steph?" She suggested.

I looked at Hunter and shrugged. "We could ask but we aren't making promises. How about you go practice upstairs. We will make some phone calls."

Sutton headed off and I looked at Hunter. "Is that crazy or what?"

"I want her to follow her dreams and if that means we pull some strings then let's ask Amy first since she will be taking Hailey to the same school." I nodded offering to call her up.

"Hey, how are you? I'm good but I'm in a pickle. No broken bones. I have a daughter who  wants to audition for her school play but Hunter and I are on tour for the whole month of March. Is there any chance she can spend a week with you? Yeah the twenty second. You're seriously a hero.... she is going to be over the moon." We chatted a bit until we both decided we should get dinner started for our families. I got dinner in the oven and gave Hunter the good news.

"I'm not sure how it will play out, but Amy agreed to have Sutton over so she can be at school and do the auditions." He smiled and we agreed that it would be tricky getting her home but we will work it out closer to. I headed upstairs and heard the strumming of her guitar by the time I got to the top of the stair case.

"Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Just a little change
Small, to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast"

"Knock, knock." I whispered, "Can we talk for a second?" She nodded and put her guitar aside.

"I'm sensing bad vibes."

I laughed and rolled my eyes, "No bad vibes, positive vibes only. Amy and I talked. We don't know how, but we will get you back home in time for the auditions." Sutton leapt into my arms, thanking me and hugging me like crazy.

"Thank you so, so much."

"Don't thank me yet. We don't know how to get you from Providence to Nashville yet."

"We have a plane."

"You cannot fly alone, you're technically a minor. I'm going to see what I can make happen but that's on me. All you need to do is practice for your audition, deal?" She nodded and thanked me again, "Whatever we can do to support you, hunny. Dinner will be ready in five."

"She is over the moon." I said to Hunter as he helped set the table. "Boys go wash your hands."

"I bet, I was thinking there's a chance Amy and Hailey might be up during her spring break so they can all fly back together."

"Fair enough. Amy didn't mention it but we will talk." I smiled, "I will send Sutton's teacher an email tomorrow bout the change in plans for her. One less package of homework to tackle." I did a little happy dance as I pulled the chicken strips from the oven.

Sutton was in brilliant spirits for the rest of the evening and our Friday night was spent watching Netflix and making pillow forts. These were the moments that made my heart burst and I was so grateful to be present with my kids and husband all together.