Take It From Me

Where It's At

"Happy birthday mom," Easton, Sutton and Beckett knocked gently on the door and came in bearing flowers and cards, "we made you breakfast."

I sat up and slid my glasses on, "Thanks babes," I extended my arms for hugs and set the flowers on my night stand while I opened the cards, "mmm, I can smell that yummy breakfast, give me a moment and I'll be right down." They smiled and headed downstairs while I changed quick, and tied my hair up. I ventured downstairs to find the table full of berries, melon, pancakes and turkey bacon. Sutton handed me a mug of coffee as I grabbed my seat.

"For you my love," Hunter handed me a card, placing a kiss on my head "happy birthday."

"Thank you." I sipped my coffee before opening the card.

"To my dearest Jenna,
Wishing you all the best on your special day & every day. I love you more every day xox Hunter"

I displayed the cards on the island and enjoyed this big Sunday breakfast with the kids before we took Millie on a walk along the riverside. Hunter and I walked hand in hand, Sutton held Millie and the boys raced ahead on their bikes. We enjoyed the hour long walk late March sunshine before we Hunter took me to the movies. We decided to give Sutton another chance to babysit, and she promised there would be no shenanigans.

"I'm trusting you," I hugged her and the boys, "call grandma or grandpa first if you need anything. I left their number by the phone."

"We got this, mom." Easton smiled.

"Have fun, be good and be safe." Hunter and I made our way out, enjoying some time on our own. As we pulled up to the movie theatre, we saw a bunch of reporters and cameras.

"Wonder what's going on.." I said quietly as we parked, walking hand in hand to the entrance. Hunter shrugged just as the new The Voice winner, Holly Jade, strolled out of the theater with friends, reporters shouting her name.

"Is that Jenna and Hunter?" One reporter said, just loud enough for several others to turn around. "Happy birthday Jenna!" "Enjoy the movie!" "How's the family?"

"Good, thanks guys!" I waved and we walked up the steps, questions and comments still being thrown at us. I looked over to see Holly standing with her jaw hanging, as if I stole her limelight.

We enjoyed the movie and decided to pick up dinner on the way home and arrived to find two happy boys and a happy baby sitter. "Thank you Sutton," Hunter handed her twenty dollars, "We appreciate it."

"It was my pleasure," she beamed, "they were good." She went on to talk about something funny that Beckett said as Hunter and I unpacked the Chinese food. "Guys, dinner - wash your hands." She turned to me, "I talked to Jake," she leaned onto the counter, her arms crossed, "he didn't get into NSA for theater. He actually got into band for guitar."

"Oh that's good, but too bad. He was really good." I passed her plates, "Is your school doing another play?"

"Yeah, I actually brought the form home for you.  Macbeth is the play." She shrugged.

"There's definitely some version of that play we can watch." Hunter agreed she should watch it. We enjoyed dinner together and Easton made mention he too would like to volunteer for the play doing lights.

"I think you should," Sutton said, "you can sing, you should audition next year. Keep the Hayes name going." I laughed at their banter, Easton obliging to audition for next year.

"Sutton, do you still want to be a singer or do you want to act and do theater?" Beckett asked inquisitively.

"I really like doing the musicals, they're so fun," she poked her chow mien, "I think I would enjoy doing anything that let's me be on a stage." She looked up at Hunter and I, her blue eyes were shimmering. "I have two awesome role models who have helped me do whatever I love."

"We want the best for all three of you," I said, Hunter chimed in.

"Whether you want to sing, act or be a doctor, ride horses or fly planes..." he looked at each kid, "because we love you and we want to help you reach your dreams." Beckett shared that being a pilot would be so fun, and Easton said he's not sure, but because he's good at math and science, maybe a doctor or something medical.

After dinner, Sutton and I watched the a version of MacBeth while Hunter took the boys for a walk with Millie. Once the movie commenced, we got everyone, including ourselves into bed.

"Our kids are so great." I turned over and faced Hunter, "Can you picture Easton as a doctor?"

"Kind of, like maybe a children's doctor or something, he's so caring and patient."

"Oh absolutely." I smiled, thinking about our kids ambitions and dreams, "If I never came down this path in life, I would probably have stayed in my field but gosh, I can't thank you enough for having me be part of your life."

"You're not just part of it, you are it." He wrapped me up in his arms, "I think of how I felt leading up to when I met you." I nodded, remembering Dear God and One Shot just came out weeks apart, I went through a gnarly break up as did Hunter. "You turned it around."

I kissed his lips softly, "I love you."

"I love you."