Growing Up Is Hard to Do: Chapter 2.

Sitting on your door step, waitin on your call, puttin in the time, ain't gonna do it no more...'

'Ooh, I like that one. Little different than your usual. It's got a little edge.'

'Think so, Scarlett?'

'Yeah. It's good.'

'Well, i hope Carrie Underwood likes it 'cause she's asked me to write some more for her next album.'

'Seriously? Is that why you were meetin' with Kelly Sayler last week?'

'How'd you know about that?'

'Word get's around. '

'Hm. Yep. Looks like Carrie wants me to fill in on guitar and play few duets together at some upcomin shows, too. Should help boost sales of my album.'

'Well, well, things are lookin up, Deac! Hey, I been meaning to tell you that i'm proud of you.'

'For what?'

'You know, for keepin it together through this whole Rayna thing. I know you haven't been a couple for a long time, but I this must still be hard for you.'

(Big sigh) 'Keepin myself as busy as I can. Pouring in all into this guitar.'

'Well, it's workin for you. Hey, I think i've got a new place only about a mile from here. I can move in first of the month, and that way you won't have to worry about space for Maddie.'

'That's great- but you do know I'll always have room here.'

'Thank you, UncleDeacon. Not sure what I would've done without you this year. I think Maddie's a lucky girl to have you in her life .' (she kisses him on the cheek).

'Well, now that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me in a long time. I'm sure glad you decided to stick around Nashville. You gonna need help movin?'

'Nah, I've barely unpacked as it is. I'll just keep it that way. Is Maddie coming over again this weekend? '

'Yeah. Should be interesting.'

'Oh yeah? '

'She sure is a teenager. Think my honeymoon as 'Deacon-the-wonder-dad' is over. We sure had it out last weekend. She is so mad about this Luke thing. She's mad at me for not makin it better. I think her last dagger was 'well, maybe if you hadn't been so busy drinkin all those years I wouldn't be in this situation.'

'Ouch.'

'You can say that again. Cause in a way, she's right. But nothin I can do about that now. just be here and help her through it.'

'Well, I'm not a mom, but doesn't seem like the smartest move to me. '

'You're a wise young woman, Scarlett.' They both smiled.

Deacon didn't think it was such a smart move for Rayna to marry Luke either. It was very hard on the girls, who already had a complicated family situation. Sometimes, in fact, it made him angry. Why would she just jump into something like this? Why the rush? Then again, she really didn't have much of a choice. He really hadn't seen it coming and he didn't think Rayna had either. She and Luke had been together for less than a year- Rayna had barely been divorced two years. Just seemed too soon. And the thought of never having a chance to be with her again- he couldn't go there. That was dangerous territory. Nope, he wasn't gonna put himself in the middle of this one. Rayna was going to have to figure this out on her own and he would help Maddie the best he could and focus on his music. That would have to be enough to keep him busy...for now.

'Hi, sugar!'

'Hello!' Luke planted a big kiss on Rayna. They hadn't seen each other in a few days.

'Ah, so good to see you. mmmm. Love those sweet kisses.'

'Darlin, you get these for the rest of your life.'

'I'm lookin forward to it!'

'So, how 'bout we do some planning tonight, since the kids won't be back till late.'

'Sounds good'

'Let's think of the date. You were thinking June next year.'

'Yes, that's my favorite month.'

'Okay, let me look at my calendar. Damn, it's Jenny's highschool graduation and we've got family comin into town. I think that might make June pretty difficult- trying to get everyone out here twice. But let me think about that.'

'Well, then May. I love May, we can make it more spring-like. '

'Darlin, your tour won't be over till mid April.'

'I completely forgot. '

'Okay, we may need to push back a bit till the fall.'

'August before school starts?'

'Got it! Let's both look at our calendars- and check with family over the next week.'

'Perfect. I wanted to talk to you about something else too, get your opinion. I know this is crazy, but I want to hire Will.'

No w hold on there, I believe anyone in American should love who they want, honey, but that's suicide for Highway 65.'

'Yeah, if I put him on the stage, but what if I just had him write some songs, sing backup, help with the crew, just to keep him in the business until all the hoopla dies down?'

'You're feelin guilty, aren't you?'

'Yes, a little, but I really feel this is the right thing to do. What's happening to him is not right. What you'd think people would judge him for is draggin that poor girl into this, but you and I both know, that's not what this is about. He's getting blackballed.'

'I think you're crazy on this one. You better think real hard on this.'

What Rayna really wanted to do was talk to Deacon. They had similar minds on these types of issues and she'd know whether or not she was off base. But Deacon didn't want her to confide in him anymore and she didn't think Luke would like that much, either. It was almost every day now, that some thought came across Rayna's mind and she'd want to call Deacon. She always knew they'd had a close relationship, but she hadn't realized how much she'd relied on him. She heard the door open.

'Hey, Mom. '

'Hi, Honey, you're home early. I thought you had choir practice till 5?'

'We were supposed to, but we aced rehearsal so we got out early. Ellie's mom drove us home.'

'Well, great then. You still have homework to do?'

'Yeah. What are you two doing? I thought Luke wasn't coming over till the weekend?'

'Honey, Luke is right here and you can say hello, with the manners I raised you up with. '

'Hi, Luke.'

'We're working on wedding dates, maybe next August.'

'August? August is the big folk festival that Daphne and I are signed up in. You just never talk to me before making any of these decisions. Just like the engagement. I hate this! I hate you!'

'Now Maddie.'

'No, Mom! Is this how it's always going to be now?'

Rayna had never seen Maddie so angry.

'Rayna, you just gonna let her get away with that? Not in my household. My boy acts like that and he's grounded for a week.'

'Come on, Luke, we need to cut Maddie some slack. Her life's been turned upside down more than once this year already. And she is right, we didn't talk to her or Daphne or your kids for that matter before getting engaged.'

'Well, I don't run my family that way. That's the problem with families these days- always working around your kids. Kids need to adapt- they do anyway. '

Luke saw the look of disapproval on Rayna's face. He was just starting to interpret Rayna's looks. He hadn't seen this one before but he could tell he wasn't going to win this battle tonight.

'But, hey, they're not my girls, and they are wonderful girls and you're a wonderful mother, so you're right, I'll just stay out of this one.'

'Thank you.'

Luke put his arms around her again and started kissing Rayna's neck. She was ready for an intimate night with Luke. It had been a while. But with Maddie home, she felt uncomfortable. It was still too soon.

'Honey, I do miss you, but I think we need to wait 'till the girls aren't home or at least until the dust settles more. I know, how 'bout I come over to your place during the day tomorrow. Your son's not here until the weekend right?'

'That sounds perfect. I can break for lunch. Noon?'

'Perfect.'