Take It From Me

Close Enough

"So the commitment will be six weeks," Courtney handed us the documents from the ABC network, "it will start in July and air in the winter lineup for the new year."

"Wow, they're planning way ahead," I smiled, looking at Hunter, "what do you think?"

"This would be fun," he smirked, "I say let's do it. We'll have everyone out of school."

"Perfect," I smiled as we packed up and headed home, "we will see how Sutton handled her first stab at babysitting her brothers." I said to Hunter as we climbed into his Mini Cooper.

When we returned home we found the boys playing Forza while Sutton was no where to be found. "Where's Sutton?" Easton pointed toward the glass door to the backyard.

I walked in that direction only to find Sutton sitting on Jake's lap, making out. "Sutton Joelle Hayes!" My voice was firm which caused Hunter to rush to my side.

"Seriously?" His tone equally as firm.

"Jake, you can go home. Sutton, your room - now." I followed her upstairs, noticing she was wearing lipstick, or had been, since it was on Jake's mouth now. I walked right up to her room and felt a thousand different emotions, "I am extremely disappointed and you are grounded. I need to cool off before we talk however you will not have your cell phone for the remainder of the week." Without a word, and without eye contact, she handed it over. I turned it off and closed her bedroom door. Hunter escorted Jake out and met me upstairs.

"I'm freaking speechless. Is that the girl we raised?" I was pacing and Hunter sat on the edge of the bed.

"Well, we know she's grounded. But we need to talk about her behaviour as a babysitter. Not that she got caught kissing her boyfriend. As awful as that was." He stood up, catching me mid step, "Breathe, babe." He held me close.

When we were both calm, we knocked on Sutton's door, and her eyes were red from crying. "I'm so sorry, I messed up."

I nodded and sat on the bed beside her as she sobbed, "I think your dad and I are disappointed because you took advantage of us not being home and you disobeyed our instructions. How would you have felt if something happened to one of your brothers?" My voice was quiet as she calmed down enough  to reply.

"Horrible, and I realize what I did was wrong," she looked up at her dad and I, "and I am also incredibly embarrassed."

"Sutton, we need to talk about that too," Hunter said, sitting on her other side, "we know your relationship with Jake is new, and exciting. Kissing can so easily lead to..."

"Sex, I know." She said, flatly.

"Yes and you know it only takes one occasion to make a baby and we don't want that for you. You're fourteen." Hunter's expression was concerned.

"I wasn't kissing him to have sex." She sighed, a few more tears sliding down her face, "It was just kissing. I swear."

"Sutton," I placed a hand on her shoulder, "we just want the best for you. We don't want you to get hurt. There are other ways to show affection without all the touching and kissing." She wiped away her tears, and Hunter excused himself to check out the shouting from downstairs. I turned myself to face Sutton. "Sweetie, I know having a boyfriend might seem like the most important thing in the world, but please believe me, it's not. School, music, your family and friends. Those will always be there and they are a part of what makes you the incredible human being you are."

"I really am sorry." She hugged me and I held her tight.

"Please, talk to me if you have any questions or whatever about sex. I honestly don't want you to do it, but I want you to be prepared."

"Well I do have a question," I nodded, "was dad serious when he said it just takes once?"

I nodded and pointed at her, "Case in point."

"Actually." Her eyes widened and I chuckled.

"You're fourteen, I was twenty six and married. Huge difference."

The boys had questions that in turn lead Hunter to explain relationships at a level Easton and Beckett would understand. Being able to trust Sutton as a babysitter wasn't as much an issue as finding her with Jake was. "He was probably so embarrassed." I said to Hunter quietly as we crawled into bed, "I was Sutton's age when I had my first kiss and first real boyfriend."

"I was about the same," he sighed, "it's hard to get mad at her. It's human nature,"

"But we want to protect her. As her parents we know how hard it was having a baby and that was as well off adults, not a teenager."

"All we can do is keep the dialogue open." He turned to face me, his touch was gentle and comforting. "I love you Jenna."

"Love you too Hunter."