I decided to take a shot at what could happen after the finale...hope you enjoy!
The dreadful weekend was finally over. Rayna had never been more thankful for a Monday morning. She busied herself around the kitchen while Daphne kept Luke's two kids entertained at the breakfast table.
It was their first weekend as a family after the big engagement. Luke's daughter hardly ever left his side. "There's Daddy's girl." As Luke often said before picking the girl up and carrying her everywhere. At 9-years-old Rayna felt the girl was too big to be picked up but she decided not to say anything, reminding herself that Luke rarely got to see his children.
He came running downstairs, his fingers fastening the top button on his shirt and making his way over to the stove where Rayna was making French toast. "Morning." He drew closer to her as she tilted her head slightly towards him and smiled. "Morning." He quickly kissed her cheek before opening the fridge to pour himself a glass of milk.
He looked over at Daphne and his children at the breakfast table. "Well would you look at that beautiful family!" Daphne turned around in her chair to face him looking from the empty seat next to her than back at Luke. "We're missing one. If she's even still apart of this family."
Maddie had been absent most of the weekend spending most of her time locked in her room. This new blended family was an adjustment for everyone and Maddie wanted nothing to do with it.
Rayna rolled her eyes. "Of course she's still apart of this family." She walked over to the stairs and hollered her oldest daughter's name then turned back to Luke who shot her a look. She knew that look all too well. He had been telling her all weekend that they needed to set some rules down for the kids especially Maddie who tried her best to make sure everyone had a rotten weekend. As Rayna returned to the stove to finish making breakfast she felt Luke's eyes on her. "It's just a teenage phase. She's going to get over it." She assured him.
They were just about to grab their plates and join the kids at the breakfast table when Maddie came stomping downstairs. Rayna and Luke both looked at the girl who avoided total eye contact. Her brow frowned as she opened the cupboard grabbing a box of cereal and a bowl then slammed it shut. Rayna jumped clearly startled by Maddie's anger. After a long stressful weekend Rayna didn't have the energy to deal with her daughter's nonsense today.
"I made you a plate. We're having French toast." Rayna said gingerly holding out Maddie's plate ignoring her rude behavior. Maddie ignored her as she opened the door to the fridge and pulled out the carton of milk to pour on her cereal. Luke gave Rayna another look, shaking his head before sitting down at the breakfast table with the kids. Rayna stood there for a second, her hand on her hip leaning up against the counter as Maddie walked past her.
Frustrated, Rayna quickly turned and grabbed Maddie's arm before she could get out of reach. "Maddie." Rayna said in a sharp tone turning the girl around to face her. Maddie glared at her mother annoyed. "You are the oldest and I expect you to set a good example and be respectful." Not saying a word, Maddie just rolled her eyes.
With that Rayna grabbed her plate off the counter and joined Luke and the kids at the table. Maddie stood there for a moment holding her breakfast in her hand. She watched as Luke wrapped his arm around the back of her mother's chair, pulling her close.
There was no way she was eating breakfast while watching THAT so she walked around the counter and pulled out a stool, taking a seat at the counter with her back to everyone. Luke noticed as he nudged Rayna with his shoulder glancing over at Maddie.
"Maddie." Rayna said gently but Maddie ignored her again, continuing to eat her breakfast. "Maddie." Rayna repeated more forceful this time. Maddie tossed her spoon in her cereal bowl, the sound of the spoon hitting the glass echoed through the room. "WHAT?" Maddie shouted annoyed as she turned to face her mother. "This behavior of yours is not acceptable in this house." Maddie shrugged. "Fine then I'm moving in with Deacon." Maddie said turning back to her breakfast. Luke leaned real close to Rayna. "Just a phase huh?" She hated that Maddie was hurting so bad to the point she was lashing out but she hated Luke judging her a parent even more.
Thankfully, Luke had a meeting at the studio that morning and the kids were off to school. Finally alone, she tidied up a bit after everyone was gone.
A little while later she heard a knock at the door. When she saw the white haired man at the door she smiled. "Hey Rayna."
"Watty!" She wrapped her arms around him. "Come in." She said as she stepped back from the door.
He took a seat on the sofa in the livingroom. "Can I get you anything? A glass of water?" She offered standing a few steps away in the kitchen. "No thanks I'm fine."
She joined him in the livingroom sitting across from him. He didn't say anything for a minute, just sat there with his arms crossed shaking his head. Rayna tensed a bit noticing he was staring at the giant diamond on her finger. "I gotta say that was some show y'all put on the other night." Rayna sensed his sarcasm. "Come on now, don't start. Luke is a good guy."
Watty had been a friend of the family's for years but Rayna had thought of him more as a father figure. After her mother died, Lamar never cared to talk about her even when Rayna begged him to tell her a story but when Watty came around she didn't have to beg. He'd just pull up a seat with a smile on his face, always finding a new fascinating story about her Mama to tell. Until recently, Rayna had always guessed Watty was a longtime friend of her mother's like maybe they went to school together. Often she wondered why Lamar hated him so much until she found out about the affair.
"How is everyone taking it?" Watty asked curiously unfolding his arms. Unsure of how to answer that question especially after this morning, she shrugged. "The kids are adjusting." Adjusting was an understatement she thought to herself. Without hesitating he leaned forward and asked the loaded question. "And Deacon?"
Breathing suddenly became an issue for Rayna. Her eyes darted over to the kitchen counter where just a few days ago Deacon had kissed her so tenderly leaving her wanting more. The look in his eyes when he reached for her hand, she willed him to take Luke's diamond off so they could be a family just like he said but instead he closed her fingers around the ring. HIS ring. "This is yours. I never should've taken it back." He softly whispered to her. She stared at the ring for a long time after he left. It felt more like he put his heart in her hand asking her to hold onto it until she was ready to give him hers to hold.
She glanced down at the floor, fidgeting with her hair. "You know I've been really busy with the album launch I haven't really talked to him." She fibbed wondering if Watty knew Deacon had gotten to her again.
"Oh hey, congratulations on your album." Rayna smiled, relieved he had changed the subject. "Thank you. I think we finally got this label up off the ground." He nodded. "You sure did Rayna. Your Mama would be so proud of you."
"You have no idea how much that means to me. I just wish she were here." Rayna said as he reached across the coffee table for her hand. "Me too Darlin'. She was the love of my life." Rayna smiled with a tear in her eye. It was always comforting to know how much he cared about her mother.
After a bit Watty stood up. "Well I better get going." She stood as well. "I'm glad you stopped by." He started to walk out of the room when he noticed a picture on the stand next to the sofa. "What's this?"
He picked it up to admire the photo. "Oh it's just something Maddie made from the benefit concert at Fort Campbell." Watty looked from the picture back at Rayna. "Maddie. Deacon's daughter." It was more of a statement than a question but Rayna nodded anyway. "I see it now. She looks a lot like him. A nice blend of the two of you."
Rayna smiled remembering the day Maddie was born. Peaking at the little face wrapped up in her pink blanket, she knew before they got the paternity test back that this little precious person she and Deacon created. Although she had known it for years it was nice to hear people take note of the resemblance.
"Well she certainly acts like him. Stubborn. I thought Deacon had a temper but I'm beginning to think Maddie's is far worse." Rayna said with a laugh recalling this morning's events. Watty placed the photo back down. "Don't forget that." He said matter-of-factly still glancing at the photo. "Oh believe me she makes it very hard to forget. Teenagers I tell ya."
He turned his attention back to Rayna. "No I mean don't forget that feeling you get when you talk about Deacon and you're family together. I still get that same feeling when I talk about your mama and what our life would've been like if she didn't go off the road that night." Rayna swallowed hard. She hated to recall the details of her mother's death. "Watty." Rayna said trying to stop him from going on.
"No Rayna listen." He begged. "Marrying Luke Wheeler will not change your feelings for Deacon. Believe me I waited for Virginia to leave Lamar and when she finally did it was too late. Don't wait Rayna. Please before it's too late."