Where Love Grows

Beauty and the Beast

"Thank heavens it's play night." I said, dishing out a casserole to the kids and Hunter.

"I feel like I could be the understudy for Belle." Hunter laughed, diving into dinner. We were excited for Sutton but so glad to be through with the rehearsals and stress she has been putting on herself. We ate dinner, cleaned up and headed to the school.

"Welcome parents, friends and family to our senior play, Beauty and the Beast!" The crowd applauded as the lights dimmed, the curtains drew and the music began. Sutton was glowing.

"She's amazing." I leaned into Hunter and he nodded. We watched the play with smiles spread across our faces. At the end, the full cast emerged and bowed as the audience stood and applauded. We met Sutton backstage and her brothers handed her roses.

"Thank you," she hugged them both and I saw her stand a little straighter as the student who played the beast approached Sutton with a bouquet of flowers.

"Hey, I just wanted to give you this. You did amazing." I smiled and saw Sutton's cheeks were reddened. He handed the flowers to her, almost nervous.

"Wow, thank you. Um, Jake, these are my brothers, Beckett and Easton, and my parents." She turned the attention to us.

"Jake, nice to meet you, I'm Hunter," he shook his hand, "this is my wife Jenna."

I shook this terrified young man's hand, "You did a great job. Sutton, we will meet you in the foyer?" She nodded and I got the boys outta there.

"Who's that?" Beckett asked.

"Maybe her boyfriend?" Easton said. I shook my head and caught Hunter's eye.

"I will talk to her." He smiled and held my hand. "We should talk first though, we don't have any ground rules for this. It's new territory."

"Crap eh," he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, "We will discuss it tonight." We hung around the foyer and once Sutton found us, we headed home. She headed into the shower after putting all her flowers in vases which gave Hunter and I a chance to talk.

"She's thirteen, I remember when I was her age and boys didn't have cooties anymore and some of them were cute. They might just be real good friends." I said and Hunter sighed. "She is a brilliant girl and any guy would be lucky to get to know her."

"Well, I don't want her getting close to just any guy," he said, "some guys are jerks who will break her heart."

"I think she has a damn good dad who has shown her what it means to be kind to women, how to treat a lady and how to love someone with your whole heart." I kissed his cheek, "I don't want to pry, but just like you, I want to know who this person is. We could be over thinking and he could just have a crush on her and who knows, maybe she isn't interested." Hunter nodded and he tucked the boys in while I found Sutton reading in bed.

"Hey superstar," I sat on the edge of your bed, "you did amazing. Did you have fun?"

"Very much so." She put the book down and looked at me, "So, you met Jake. What'd you think?"

"I think he was terrified." I smiled a little, "He seemed nice. Is he in your class?" She nodded, saying that they didn't talk much before but being in the play together, they started talking and realizing they have a lot in common.

"He plays piano, so that's cool." She avoided my gaze until she mustered up the courage to ask me, "Where to we sit on like, dating?"

I nodded, "Your dad and I haven't discussed it but we can all talk about it if you like." She looked a little nervous but agreed. "All I want you to know is that we expect you to put school first. Always. Boys come and go but your education and your dreams - whether that be acting or music, that is all on you."

"I understand." Her sky blue eyes were tired and I hugged her before her dad poked his head in to say good night.

We headed downstairs to talk and Hunter poured us each a drink. "All I can say is that I'm glad she's open to talking to both of us. I would've never told my mom about this."

"I know it's all history, but what was it like being you at thirteen?" He smiled and sipped his drink.

"It was awkward, difficult, a little lonely." I took a sip, "Honestly - it seems that Sutton is everything I wasn't. She's gorgeous, smart, talented and seems to be well liked."

"You're all of those things Jen." I shook my head.

"Not then I wasn't. I was not the pretty or popular girl. I struggled at school and I guess overall I was a late bloomer. I didn't figure out who I was until I hit college. What about you, who were you at thirteen years old?"

"Also awkward, introverted, all about the music. That hasn't changed," he laughed, taking the last swig of his drink, "I was going out every weekend doing fairs and whatever else I could to be on a stage so really I didn't interact with my peers unless it was at school."

"Funny how life happens." I finished my drink and cozied up closer to Hunter. "I just want to be keep doing the best I can in every aspect of my life."

"I know babe," he kissed my head, "you're doing amazing." We agreed we should go to bed before we passed out on the couch. Maybe it was the whiskey or the deep conversations of our youth but we turned off the lights, entangling in each other before we fell asleep.