Where Love Grows

Heaven in the Headlights

"Sutton, are you ready to try your first jump?" Amber asked and Sutton's eyes grew wide.

"Yeah!" She said confidently before gathering up her reins. Hunter stood in the arena beside Amber and got his phone out to video what could be an amazing advancement or an incredible fail. She trotted down the long side toward the jump, Amber giving her guiding words as she approached it. Sampson pointed his ears forward and popped over the little x, careful not to rock Sutton off balance. "Oh my goodness that was the coolest feeling!" Sutton said loudly as she trotted away.

"Way to go sweetie!" Hunter gave her a thumbs up. Amber pulled up the rails, making a vertical for me. I picked up my canter and pointed Corona toward the jump. His ears pricked forward as he locked his eyes on the obstacle. 3, 2, 1 and airborne. I folded, letting my hands follow the stretch in his neck as he reached to clear the jump. I heard Amber clap as we cantered around the corner. I sat tall and caught my breath, patting Corona as he slowed to a walk.

"How do you feel about ending it there?" Sutton and I agreed we were both happy with our lesson. and we walked down the driveway in the early October sun.

"Sutton, Jenna, wow." He smiled, watching us as we brushed the horses before returning them to their stalls. "I got your jump on video Sutton, that's amazing."

"I'm not nearly as good as mom was at my age."

"Oh don't even start," I said as we walked back to the car, "you're jumping and this is your what, seventh lesson? You're doing great." Hunter drove us home and I sent Sutton to shower while I had a snack.

"She's a perfectionist like you." I said to Hunter over a bowl of strawberries. "She is all you."

"Perhaps, but she's sweet and caring like you."

I smiled, "You're those things too, my love." I heard the water shut off, "I'm going to have a quick shower."

"Sounds good. I'll go pick the boys up." Hunter grabbed his keys, giving me a kiss before he headed out the door.

The evening was spent making s'mores in the backyard, stars littered the October night sky. "Have you kids been thinking about Halloween?"

"There's a school dance," Easton piped up, "Sutton, are you going?"

"Yeah, I think so." She shrugged, and I looked at Hunter, smiling. After having several s'mores each, the kids resided back inside and went up to bed. We followed suit, catching up quietly as we rested our heads on our pillows.

"I wonder if Jake asked Sutton to the dance..." I thought back to July when Sutton stood on Jake's front porch to tell him she liked him.

"Maybe. I wonder if Easton is going with friends or what. But good for him. I would've never gone to a dance at his age." Hunter said quietly, his fingers tracing circles on the sheets.

"Either way it's all very exciting. They're growing up so fast." Our conversation was interrupted by my phone buzzing.

I rolled over to answer it, my lips curved into a big smile, "Oh that's fantastic! Congratulations. I am so happy for you both, yes he's here and I will tell him....We can come visit tomorrow. Wonderful! Okay, bye."

Hunter cocked an eyebrow.

"Steph and Dustin have twin boys." I said, my eyes almost watering at the thought.

"Oh wow! That's amazing."

"We can go visit tomorrow."

"Knock, knock," Hunter and I made our way into the hospital room to see Dustin reclined with a baby on his chest and Stephanie getting a lesson in diaper changing from a nurse.

"Hey, come on in," she said softly as she wrangled a diaper onto the wiggly baby in front of her, "so good to see you guys." She dressed the baby and scooped him up. I got comfortable on a chair and Stephanie placed this little bundle in my arms, "This is Aiden Joshua,"

"And this is Kyle Bradley." Dustin chimed in, referring to the baby sleeping on his chest.

"Hunter, come sit." Hunter smiled and sat beside me. "They're perfect you guys, congratulations." I smiled, looking at the tiny little human in my hands, "I miss them this little." I looked over to Hunter and he nodded, both of us thinking of our three once being so small and new. The visit was almost an hour, and we encouraged Dustin and Stephanie to reach out if they needed absolutely anything.

I climbed into the car and looked at Hunter, before I could speak, he said, "Makes you want more, doesn't it?"

"Ah, yes. Minus the losing sleep part." I smiled and Hunter drove us to the studio for a cowrite session we had booked. "Did you want to do anything for our anniversary next weekend?"

"Yeah, don't worry, we got plans." I shook my head smiling.

"Jenna, some of this material is really left side of your wheelhouse," one of the other writers said, "would you consider the possibility of putting these songs on the shelf?"

I looked at Hunter before answering. "I don't know, I haven't put much thought into it." We were directly referring to Inside Out. "Are you suggesting this because there are other artists that these would suit? Or am I too old to be singing about relationships?" A small smirk landed on my lips, catching the other writers, and even Hunter off guard.

"Songwriters win awards too Jenna," Dave piped up, "and these songs are great."

"You're also not old." Hunter said.

"Okay, well here's the deal," I said, sliding the written lyrics across the table, "I will put this song on the shelf only if it gets demo'ed by Hunter." I looked over at him, "The way you played it at the Bluebird and at home."

He smiled and nodded, "I can do that."