"Rayna Jaymes' performance last night of her hit 'The Best Songs Come From Broken Hearts' was nothing short of awe inspiring. Last night's performance was her first since the near fatal car crash that she suffered through with long-time ex-lover and ex-guitarist Deacon Claybourne. Rumors that Jaymes' voice was damaged during the wreck have now been put to rest. Despite her beautiful performance, it appears that Jaymes' personal life has taken yet another turn for the worse, when her father Lamar Wyatt was arrested yesterday on multiple federal charges. Between the rumored issues she is having with on-again-off-again lover Deacon Claybourne and her criminal father, Jaymes may have a little bit too much on her plate to keep the momentum going in her professional life."
Rayna points the remote at the television and turns it off. She is sick of hearing the reports.
"Well you can look on the positive side. At least they're still talking about you on the news. It should help keep your record sales up," Bucky tells her.
"Thanks, Buck. You always find a way to brighten my day," Rayna answers with a slightly sarcastic tone in her voice.
"It's what I'm here for," he says with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I guess I should be glad that it isn't any worse," she replies.
She knows it could be a lot worse. The media still hasn't found out the reason why Deacon was drinking that night. She hopes that they never find out. It would break her heart to see Maddie suffer any more than she already has.
"You think you might want to go back out on tour anytime soon now that you've gotten back on the singing wagon?" Bucky asks her.
Rayna shakes her head slightly.
"I don't know, Buck. Maddie has been doing better since we talked but I'm not sure I feel comfortable leaving the girls and going out on tour with everything that they've gone through lately," she responds.
"I figured you would say that. How about a few local shows just to help keep the momentum up?"
"I'll think about it but I think I'd rather focus on Scarlett and Highway 65 for now," she answers.
"I'm fine with whatever you want, as long as you aren't giving up on music," he says.
Rayna's eyes widen as his words give her a strange sense of déjà vu.
"Don't you ever say you're done with music."
"You either, okay?"
She feels her throat constrict at the thought. She knows that she can never give up music. It's a part of her, just like he is a part of her, even now.
"You and music, there's no difference you know. It's the same."
"Don't worry, Buck. I don't know who I'd be without music. Your job is safe," she jokes.
"You know I'm here for you no matter what, Rayna. Give me a call if you need anything," Bucky replies.
Rayna nods at him and then watches him as he walks out the door.
She looks down at her phone, almost expecting, or perhaps hoping for, a call from Deacon. She knows they need to be moving forward but that doesn't make it any easier. It doesn't make it easier to walk into his house and see him with another woman. It doesn't make it easier to talk to him when he calls about Maddie. It doesn't make it any easier to fall back into the rhythm of pretending that they have no history together and that they don't still have feelings for each other.
"Damn you, Deacon," she murmurs.
The best songs come from broken hearts, busted dreams, and beat up guitars.
She sings in her head as she walks toward the piano.
At least she doesn't have to give up on music and even though he can no longer be her escape, at least she can still escape in the lyrics.
