Take It From Me

The Twist

"What on earth, Easton," I muttered under my breath as I walked into my son's room to find his bed stripped to the mattress protector and his sheets in a pile in the corner, "what happened." I rustled through his sheets, "Oh."
I gathered up the linens and hauled them downstairs to wash. "Hey Hunt," I called down to the basement, "have a sec?"

"Yep." He replied and he made his way upstairs, "What's up?"

"Ummm when's the last time you talked to your son about his body and the changes he might be experiencing?"

"I guess it's been a little while... is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sure he was just frazzled but I think Easton might have had a wet dream?" I said, my voice pitching at the end in assumption and almost embarrassment for my son.

"Ohh," Hunter pursed his lips and nodded, "I'll uh, touch base with him. He might not be happy you washed the sheets Jen."

I rolled my eyes, "Well, it had to be done. I was delivering laundry around anyway and found everything stripped from the bed." I shrugged and we made our way to the kitchen, "Coffee?" I asked, and Hunter nodded.

"So, Sutton said something about taking drivers ed with Savannah, and the boys want to do the virtual reality again for their birthdays." Our conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Stephanie. "Whoa, whoa, slow down." I held back the tears as Stephanie went on to explain she was at the airport with Dustin and the boys to go home and see her great aunt Beth.

"Brady called me and he said she's not doing well," She sighed.

"Anything you need, you know I'm here." She said she had to go, and that she would call me later. I hung up and looked at Hunter. "Her great aunt, she's pretty ill."

"Oh that's unfortunate." He pursed his lips together and shook his head before wrapping me in a hug, "They know we are here if they need us." The mood of the afternoon shifted but I had to buckle down for my phone calls with Luke as Atlantic was wrapping up my contract. Hunter picked up the kids from school and used walking Millie as an opportunity to talk to the boys at how at ten and twelve, they might start noticing changes with their bodies. 

"Hey mom," Easton whispered, poking his head into the front room as I sat behind the piano, "sorry about earlier." Puzzled, I waved him over to sit beside me, "I should have told you I needed the sheets washed."

"It's fine buddy." I put my arm around him, "Do me a favour and stop growing up so fast." He rolled his eyes and laughed a bit. "I know you might not want to talk to me about changes or whatever, but don't hesitate to talk to your dad, okay?" He nodded.

"What are you working on?" he ran his fingers over the shiny, white keys. 

"Honestly nothing," I sighed, "I need to come up with some new material. It looks like I am going to Mexico after Christmas. Luke has me really busy once the new contract starts." Easton leaned his head on my shoulder.

"I'm happy for you," he whispered, "Will dad be home with us?"

"Someone will be home, you know that. And I was thinking of bringing you and Becks with me. Sutton has school, but I think we can figure it all out. I haven't talked to your dad about it yet." Easton sat up and I played a little on the keys.

"This is the place we go
When the lights turn low
And there's no misleading, our true feeling show
Let me know
And we'll take it slow
And baby if it gets to cold
We'll set our hearts aglow"

Easton smiled, joining in on the bridge with me.

"These are the sounds we know
And the songs that go
And go on repeating through our stereo
So let me know
Don't turn it low
Baby if you lose control
I won't leave you alone"

"That's a good one, mom." He kissed my cheek before getting up off the bench.

"Thanks sweetheart." I followed him, joining the rest of the family in the living room as some television show wrapped up and Millie quietly snored on her bed. "Since I have you all here," I caught the attention of my family, "I have an unreal list of things I'm going to be doing when my new contract starts. And that means on New Years Day I'm going to Mexico." I turned to Hunter, I was hoping I wouldn't have to go alone, but Sutton you have school."

"I know, and auditions for the school production start after the holidays. I understand I need to focus on school, although Mexico sounds amazing." 

"Let me talk to my parents Jen," Hunter smiled, "If Sutton can stay with them, that'd be great." Sutton nodded. "We can handle it." I sat back and sighed, soaking up the support and positivity from my family.