"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Sutton,
Happy birthday to you."
Sutton blew out the candle on her red velvet cheesecake as we applauded, her cheeks blushing. "Thank you for dinner," she smiled as we headed out of the restaurant and into the Rover, "and thank you in advance for the party this weekend."
"No worries hun," Hunter smiled, "do us a favour and stop growing up, all three of you." I smiled, in awe of my baby girl being seventeen right before my eyes.
"He's right. How is it you guys were like this big once upon a time," I gestured with my hands, "and boom, here we are now."
"Crazy to think you guys were once these tiny little people," Hunter sighed, "you all know we are incredibly proud of each of you. And we love you tremendously." The kids smiled, and the car ride home was filled with 'when you were little' stories.
"Did you talk to Luke," Hunter asked quietly as we were sitting on the back deck, drinks in hand and the sun setting over the ravine, "I'm sorry I sound pushy."
"You're not. You're just caring and involved." I took a sip before pulling out my phone to refer to a text. "Luke and I have been talking, I'm going to do a two week promo, and I have a few things lined up between August and October, before the album drops."
"And what's left to do for your album?"
"The album is recorded, we are doing finishing touches for the line up and I have to pick the second single." I put my phone down and opened my hand toward Hunter. "I could use yours ears if you don't mind." He smiled and nodded so I pulled up the track list on my phone.
1. Fork in the Road
2. Over Again
3. Tonight I Love You
4. Feels Like That
5. Perfect Accident
6. Where You Wanna Go
7. Easier
8. When You're Gone
9. Music to Me
10. I Do Too
11. Old Country Soul
12. Long Live the Night
13. SkyStays This Blue
14. The Journey
"How can I pick from a title?" Hunter chuckled.
"Pick first then I'll sing you the chorus." His smile was coy, "I don't have any demos on my phone." He agreed and picked out three he wanted to hear.
"Long Live the Night and Old Country Soul sound like a party anthems, but Where You Wanna Go is so powerful." He sighed, closed his eyes and said, "Go with Long Live the Night."
"Personally, I was thinking the same."I pulled an email from my phone and slid my phone to Hunter, "Luke pitched Long Live the Night to every major sports league, and the CFL picked it up."
"Jenna did you plan on telling me this?" He said, shocked and happy all at once.
"I did but I wanted you to be unbiased toward the songs. And that's one of the things I'm working on. I am going to Saskatchewan of all places in October."
"Babe," Hunter smiles, reaching for my hand, "that's great and I am so, so happy for you." His smile was accentuated by the laugh lines around his mouth and eyes.
"I knew from the moment I put the pen to the paper that The Journey was going to be everything. Title, debut single, the vibe. I think if I did the CFL track, it would just hype it up more ya know?"
"Hands down. That sounds great." Hunter clinked his glass to mine as we both took the last sips of our drinks and headed back indoors.
YOU ARE READING
From the Ground Up
FanfictionAnother year of growing pains sees the Hayes through the ups, downs and twists of the industry. All the hard work comes to a grinding halt when the world is forced to shut down.
