Where Love Grows

Keep Holding On

"How are you doing tonight Providence?" The crowd was happy, up and dancing. "As many of you probably know, Hunter and I teamed up last year to create something we are both really proud of, our album All Undone." I smiled and looked to the right of the stage to see Sutton standing with a mic in her hand. "This tour is about celebrating that album with you all and before we dive into some of those acoustic songs, we wanted to bring out a special guest if that's okay?" The audience cheered and I looked over to see Hunter geared up with his acoustic guitar. "This next guest is actually heading back to Nashville and we are going to miss her a lot. Providence can you please give a big, warm welcome to our daughter, Sutton!"

Just when I didn't think the audience could be any louder, they were. Hunter began to strum the chords to A Life That's Good and I began to sing. Sutton joined me on the bridge, our harmonies bringing a smile to Hunter's cheeks. The audience held up lights and which made Sutton smile as she sang. As the song commenced, we bowed and she hugged me quick before giving her dad a high five and heading back off stage to Amy, Hailey and her brothers. I received my acoustic guitar and we dove into our new songs, With You, Sunshine and Heaven Can Wait before I switched over to the piano for Look at You, Because You Live and Cry. We wrapped up our set and threw in I Want Crazy and Everywhere as encore songs before heading back stage.

"Sutton that was lovely." I kissed the top of her head. "I know it's just a week but I'll miss you so much. Be good for Amy, text me if you need anything or just to say hi. The school knows you're with Amy this week."

"Don't worry mom, I'll be fine." I hugged her once more before she ran over to see Hunter and the band, all applauding her for the performance.

"Amy thank you so much for taking her this week. It's just something she loves and she's so good at..."

She interjected, "You would do the same for Hailey." I nodded and she continued, "I know she really appreciates you letting her come back with me. She's already thanked me about thirty times." I smiled and hugged Amy and Hailey before saying bye to Sutton. A driver took them to the airfield while we headed on the bus to Philadelphia. We got the boys down in the bunks and I crawled into bed next to Hunter.

"Feels like something's missing."

"I know what you mean. It's weird and as much as I know she will be fine I can't help but think about her." He whispered.

"She did an awesome job up there. She will kill those auditions." Hunter agreed and we said our good nights and tried to catch some shut eye.

The last five shows were an incredible whirlwind and while we were on the bus toward home, my phone rang. Sutton.

"Hey sweet girl! How's it going?" Hunter and I put her on speaker.

"They casted the play."

"And?"

"I've been watching the real life version of Beauty and The Beast to study up.... I got the role of Belle!"

"Yes! Way to go Sutton!" Hunter and I applauded her. She went on to tell us over fifteen girls auditioned and it was a tight race between her and other two girls. They had three auditions to narrow it down. We congratulated her, talked to Amy quick and Sutton said she needed to start learning her lines. "We are somewhere in Florida and we are coming home. Love you girl."

"Love you guys. See you soon."

We hung up and Hunter smiled, "Missing her is worth knowing she got what she really wanted."

I nodded, "I'm proud of her determination and her drive. She is so you." I got up to make some coffee and Hunter shrugged.

"I think she is the best of both of us."

"Quite possibly. If you consider my sass as a good quality then yes, she got that from me." I laughed. "She is you in the way that she knows this is what she wants. She's focused she is doing things now that give her the opportunity to be on a stage and perform."

"Yeah, I get what you mean. By the way, did she tell you about the bass?"

"Is that what she wants to learn?" I asked and he smiled and nodded. "That's incredible. I'm sure Mat would be ecstatic."

With the ten hour drive behind us, we pulled up to the studio to find Amy, Hailey, and Sutton awaiting us with the suburban. "Hey guys!" I hugged them and thanked Amy again while we congratulated Sutton on her role. The boys were so happy to see her.

"It's kind of normal to miss mom or dad when they're working but I didn't like missing you." Easton said to Sutton. My heart nearly burst.

"I know it was weird wasn't it?" She hugged him before hugging Beckett, "I missed you."

Hunter leaned into me, "Please tell me your heart just exploded from the sweetness?" I nodded, teary eyed.