The gap has been too long since the delightful proposal and marriage (even though, shamefully, the entire process took less than three minutes) of Avery and Juliette; consequently I am in need of another dose of my favourite characters. Therefore I thought I'd try something very few seem to have touched on. Here is my idea of an imaginary slant to the unfolding of their life after baby. Typically for me it is impulsive, no planned structure; just the initial idea. It will end when the idea is exhausted. As in all other cases I am only using characters from the Nashville show. I have no rights or ownership whatsoever.
And Baby Makes Three.
Chapter 1. Happy Families
The whole scene flabbergasted Avery. Especially considering the family tensions generated at the CMA night. This situation would have been unimaginable back then; but here it was, large as life and twice as real.
The scene is Vanderbilt hospital ward 17D. Juliette has been discharged and they are waiting for the nurse to return with a wheelchair.
Juliette is keen to get home. She has a loathing of confined spaces. That was the main reason she bought Tammy Wynette's land; the space. Three days in hospital was enough to start driving her around the bend. She is seated in a chair nursing a fast asleep, Jolene Harmony Barkley wrapped in a pink shawl, a gift from mother in law, Sandra Barkley who is seated on the bed.
Juliette is flanked to her left by the most unlikely individual. Her father in law and his demeanour is in stark contrast to their first meeting. His manner changed immediately after the marriage, however Avery had a suspicion his mother may have exerted some influence as well. Carl Barkley could not take his eyes off his grand daughter. His pride is obvious. Avery, who is beside the door, is just shaking his head. He looked at his father and laughed lightly.
"I amuse you son?"
"You certainly do Dad," Avery agreed. "Just a few weeks ago you couldn't stand us. Now you would be the proudest Grandfather I have ever seen." This was an understatement. Not only was Carl Barkley proud, he was a constant presence. Avery had to ask his mother to take him out for a walk or a coffee. Anything, just so he could have some private time with his new wife. If Avery's father was proud that was a small comparison to how Avery felt about his family and Juliette in particular.
Early on they had developed the most loyal and strongest of relationships. Avery had never known anything like it. They shared a love that consumed him completely and he knew she felt the same. Yet, despite his emotional commitment he doubted he deserved her. This would end he expected mainly because she was famous and he was nobody. That would be the end of him; he would be destroyed. He could never be worthy of her over the long run. His past had secured his lack of self confidence and even though he was emotionally overwhelmed he had no idea how to proceed.
Of course, that was the weakness in their relationship. Juliette had exactly the same doubts and inferiorities. Her upbringing had been so traumatic she had absolutely no sense of self worth either. On her good days she felt so elated she was convinced this love that swallowed her was a divine gift. She was not a religious person but that was the only explanation she believed; a gift from a supreme source, from God for want of a better name. But then on most days she would remember Jeff Fordham's callous assessment; mildly talented trailer trash. Worthless and the last person a man would love. Put simply, unworthy and definitely unworthy of a man with Avery's qualities.
That was what she spent most of her adult life in search of; love. She really had no idea of how to form a relationship with another person. She had never even had a friend until Avery declared his friendship to her. That was an experience. She navigated her way through it like a ship without a rudder, or a keel. Somehow though, despite some hiccups they came out the other side the firmest of friends.
Love grew from there but inferiorities on both sides limited their full development. She learnt what making love was and how it fulfilled her. Previously she thought sex was love. He taught her the difference.
However, he lacked the skill to demonstrate committed love. Those little touches that mean so much. The quick kiss, linked arms instead of the more intimate holding hands, a gentle hand on the small of her back; he neglected these all important gestures. Direct evidence of his lack of confidence.
Finally the insecurities and imagined jealousies developed into a catastrophic situation. The worst disaster he could imagine. The results were anguish, hate, contempt, misery, heartbreak, drunkenness, pain; all the absolute worst aspects for any relationship. It should have destroyed them immediately…but it didn't. Their love survived this most severe of trials and they reached a point where they both knew they were meant for each other for life. Marriage was so obvious. It was the only option. When didn't matter. They just knew it was right, so they did it.
Juliette remembers in her private moments. She still believes they are God's gift for each other and she sometimes offers a short prayer of gratitude.
She even has Avery partly convinced of her divine theory however he has a slightly different attitude. God works in mysterious ways. He threw that disaster at them and what they learnt from it reinforced them to each other for life. Then, as compensation for the pain, he squared himself off by giving them little Jolene. Just as the song goes, 'Life sure is good'.
"I'll freely admit it son," Carl confessed, "she is the most beautiful grand daughter I could imagine. She looks just like her mother."
"Thanks very much Dad," Avery joked, "aren't you going to give me any acknowledgement here. I was involved you know."
"Your father knows that Avery," his mother interjected, "no matter how you look at her anyone can see she has your eyes."
In the lightness of the moment Avery gave Juliette a huge smile of admiration. He had been with her for her for most of the pregnancy and the entire duration of the birth. That was an essential of the Lamaze method they were following. He went to all the classes with her, learnt how he should help and support her, watched the videos, everything he was supposed to do, he was completely there for her. But nothing prepared him for the actual event. Being completely there felt woefully inadequate to him. He did all he was supposed to do but to witness her agonies was tragic. However he was grateful for not forgoing the experience. To see her strength, her bravery in face of what must have been to him unbearable agony was the most distressing; yet she withstood it all. She even offered him words of comfort a couple of times between contractions when she saw how concerned he was. "We will meet her soon." He shed tears for her in response to her courage.
Then it was over. His relief was immense. The doctor put an unwashed Jolene on Juliette's chest. "Great job," she said to Julliette. "That was an excellent birth; really well done. We'll clean the baby and bring her back to you in the ward."
"An excellent birth?" Avery thought. The idea of what a bad birth might look like made him cringe.
He met his parents outside the waiting room. "Everything is great," he told them. "They are both fine and the baby is beautiful. Juliette will be coming back to the ward soon and then they're going to bring the baby. You are both officially grand parents."
As soon as Juliette was returned to the Ward Avery took her hand and held it to his cheek. So looked physically drained but that was no surprise. "You are amazing," he said. "I love you so much. How are you feeling?"
"I'm proud and tired and full of love. Thank you so much for everything. I am so lucky. Thank you for being there for me…not just the birth but for everything. I love you my darling. Have you seen her? Jolene? She was just a blur to me when the doctor gave her to me."
"Yes, she is beautiful, just like her mother. They will bring her in soon. By the way, Mom and Dad came down as well. I'd better be polite and not try to keep you all to myself."
He moved back a little and watched his parents with his wife. All love and smiles and kisses and hugs; he observed in satisfaction. Everything he dreamed was coming true. More than anything, to celebrate Jolene, Avery wanted Juliette to have a real family, something she hoped for but she had resigned was out of her reach. It is so rewarding to witness the scene in front of him. Juliette has her family, they have their family.
He thought again of Juliette's divine theory. Perhaps God still needed to make amends for throwing that trial of a lifetime at them. Whatever the reason it was all coming together and maybe he has a debt of gratitude to express. He quietly looked up at the ceiling and whispered, "Thank you."
The nurse returned with the wheelchair and he was snapped from his reminisces back to present realities. "Time to head home," he remarked. "We have a new and wonderful life ahead of us. No doubt about it, Life is good."
He knew his wife, perhaps even better than she knew herself. Once she was one hundred percent back to herself she will want to get back to work. That means joint song writing, an album maybe even a tour of some sort. He wasn't exactly sure how it would be organized with Jolene to consider but he did know one thing. 'A Life that's good' is going to be on the first album they make. It was their anthem, as far as he was concerned.