Derek and Hayley: A Year in the Making

Prepping and Goodbyes

Hayley's POV
Derek and Julianne leave for tour in a week. He's been busy rehearsing but he comes home every night and we get to spend family time together. I've been gearing up for the new season of Dancing with the Stars. My mom flew in last week to stay until Derek gets home from tour. Steven is in school from 9-2 and Brinley is starting to walk without help. I am off from rehearsals today and Derek is getting done tour rehearsals early. Then we are taking the kids to the pier. Steven was off of school today so we've just been spending the day in our pajamas. I got Steven dressed in a grey and white striped shirt with jean overall shorts and grey converse. Then I got Brinley dressed in a white tank top and blue and white striped skirt with a matching headband with a khaki bow on it. Derek came in the nursery where I was finishing up getting the kids ready and said "so we're leaving tomorrow now. They want us to get to the first venue early to do a tech run through." My heart broke a little bit but I realized it's gonna be alright." I said "ok well let's just enjoy the kids tonight before we have to say goodbye tomorrow." Derek nodded and picked Brinley up. My mom came in and said "I'm gonna stay here and do laundry." I said "alright mom."
~~
Last night we enjoyed the night as a family. Today is the day we've been dreading for the last 2 months. Derek was in the living room with Steven playing his guitar. Steven leaned in and gave him a kiss so I got my phone and took a picture of it. A couple of hours later it was time to leave. Derek had Brinley half asleep in his arms on the couch and I took a picture of it. Derek looked up at me and he said "I don't wanna go." I said "I know babe, we'll FaceTime and call every day." He said "I'm gonna miss you guys." I said "we're gonna miss you too but its only four months. We said our goodbyes and Derek left. I was sitting on the chair with Brinley and put a collage of the pictures I took earlier and put it on Instagram with the caption "see you in four months daddy. We miss you already💕😪😢."