Where Love Grows

White Horse

"That sounded great, thanks guys!" The stage manager gave us the green light to get backstage. It was the day before the CMT Awards and not only did we have three nominations, but we were presenting an award and doing a performance.

"How have I managed to get by all these years with less than five award show performances?" I laughed as Hunter and I headed off stage to our dressing room."

"In all fairness, you were quite pregnant during a few award seasons." He chucked, setting his guitar into the case. "But I am ecstatic to performing with you." I smiled, reminding him he's stuck with me all summer. We met with Courtney not too long ago and reviewed our summer plans, a fall tour and a winter visit to Australia. "The kids are going to love Australia," Hunter said, "and so will you."

We walked out to the car together after getting final fittings for wardrobe. Hunter started the car and over the Sirius radio we heard our last single off the album, Heaven Can Wait. After the song played through, Buzz, the host went on to talk about everything CMT Awards.

"That was Heaven Can Wait by Hunter and Jenna Hayes, both good friends of the Highway. If you haven't seen the music video yet, I highly recommend you check it out. They're performing tomorrow and they have nods for duo video of the year, CMT performance and Hunter has a nod for social star. It's gonna be an exciting night for country music." I turned the radio down and looked at Hunter.

"Would your thirteen year old self believe that you would be nominated as a social media superstar?"

"Not at all." He chuckled, and we headed to get the kids from school. They piled in the car and talked our ears off as we headed home.

"Mom, can Jake come over for dinner tomorrow?" Sutton asked as she set the table for me. If she wasn't immersed in her music, everything else was about Jake.

"No, not tomorrow sweetie." She rolled her eyes and I called her out. "Keep rolling those eyes and watch 'em roll right out of your head."

"Well, when can he come over then?" Her tone was a bit sassy, and her hand on her hip was the cherry on top. "I thought you and dad would like to know him better."

"We would but tomorrow is an award show night which means your grandparents are here all day. Dad and I are just super busy. Maybe next week when things slow down."

"What's slowing down?" Hunter asked as he walked into the kitchen .

"Not much," I laughed, "boys wash your hands. Dinner is on the table." Conversation flowed from school wrapping up to our summer plans.

"We have exciting news about a festival your mom and I are playing and I think you guys will all be super excited to join us." The kids eyes grew wide as Hunter dropped the news about going to Australia.

"No way! That's so cool!" Easton exclaimed.

"How long is the airplane ride?" Beckett asked. Right now, his favourite part of travelling were the planes.

"We would fly to Europe and then take a second airplane to Australia," I told them, "it's between fifteen and eighteen hours."

"That's almost an entire day!" He was floored at the thought, "Wow."

"When is that?" Sutton asked, "And will we get to do other things than just the music?"

"It's two weeks at the end of January and yes, we will get to explore a lot of cool places while we are there." Hunter reassured her.

After dinner, we enjoyed an evening walk on the trails. The kids ventured ahead of us with Millie as Hunter and I hung back. "I think things with her and Jake might be getting serious."

"Yeah?" He looked at me, "like you should be having the talk serious or they're probably holding hands kind of serious?"

"Not sure. Serious enough that she was mad he can't come over for dinner tomorrow."

"Ah, well it's kind of the nature of our lives. Not everything is going to happen when she wants it to. Has she said anything else about the bass?"

I could tell Hunter was squeamish and uncomfortable at the thought of talking about safe sex and healthy relationships and he was hoping to change the subject. "Umm, no she hasn't actually. Do you have one she can just try out?" He nodded as we made our way around the trail and back toward the house. After packing lunches, checking homework and getting the boys into bed, I took a few minutes to talk to Sutton.

"Hey sweetheart, can we chat?" She nodded and I sat beside her. "I hope you're not mad about tomorrow."

"No it's fine. I'm still not entirely sure what we are, or if we are even anything. Is this worth all the confusion?"

"Oh well at your age, everything is confusing," she nodded, but I added, "I promise you that when the right person comes along it won't be confusing. I'm sure this is all new for Jake also." I swept her hair back over her shoulder.

"It is. I just feel like there's this pressure though. Like to figure it out and my friends keep asking if we've held hands or kissed or if he's my boyfriend. I just want to focus on music, get through school and enjoy summer. We are going to be travelling so much."

I nodded, "You don't have to share anything with your friends if you don't want to. It's your life and you can keep it private. We will be travelling a lot, but Jake seems like a nice guy even as a friend."

"He is, and that's important to me."

We chatted a little more before turning out the lights. "Love you sweet girl."

"Love you too, mom."