Disclaimer – Nashville is not mine
Author's note – Hey y'all! Okay, there will be no update tomorrow as it is my prom! Eek! So excited!
Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter, there is another slight cliff-hanger at the end so don't hate me too much. Thanks also to all of my incredibly reviewers: swimlets3, nashvillefan4life, Guest, natbenson, Nashvillefan, agus87, BeckPo, soaper410, funloverr, Guest, heth.
Back in the Limelight
That afternoon, Rayna Jaymes returned home later than usual, however she was surprised to see her husband was there. Usually unless he had picked her up he would not get back until gone seven. So when she walked through the door, a sleeping Maddie on her hip with her little head resting in the crook of her mother's neck, Rayna was surprised to see him sat at the Island in their kitchen. She smiled at him and nodded towards the little girl, signalling she would talk to him in a moment.
The country singer couldn't help but smile, being out with Deacon had been brilliant; she just wished it always could be. Whilst she understood Teddy's worried about his alcoholism, Rayna knew him better than anyone. She knew when he was about to relapse, hell she'd watched him do it four times. But this time something told it was different. The way he smiled, the way they had driven past bars and he'd not even looked in longingly. She honestly believed with all of her heart that this time he would stay sober. Rayna just wished she'd known the fifth time would work when she took him.
Smiling at her daughter, sleeping softly she made her way down the stairs, hanging her coat up and grabbing her mobile before entering the kitchen. She placed her phone down on the island and went to make herself a cup of tea. "You want anything?" She asked him softly, as she turned to grab a mug.
"No, thanks." He stated, and whilst the kettle boiled she turned to look at him, sensing that something was wrong, he was never home this early, and never not working.
"What's going on Teddy?" She asked softly, feeling him distancing himself from her emotionally.
"Did you even listen to my wishes Rayna, hell did you even care?" He didn't shout, he asked it calmly, but his voice was hoarse with emotion and his tone was laced with ice and bitterness.
"What are you talking about?" She questioned him, not entirely sure what he was on about, or what she had done that was so very wrong.
"Don't play daft! You were with him today Rayna!" She turned around and poured the boiling water into the mug, playing a little with the tea bag and to delay the inevitable explosion. "I saw you! Walking out of the studio together, laughing and joking. Him cooing over Maddie!"
"What were you doing there? I told you I was fine!" She questioned, turning around and diverting her eyes from the tea,
"I wanted to surprise you; I thought I'd spend some times with you both. I didn't realise he was going to be there! You said he wouldn't be!"
"And is it really so bad that he was there Teddy? Deacon is Maddie's father, and you know what? I thought that it was a good sign, that it might help him."
"She is not some sober companion for an alcoholic!" He shouted at her.
"No, she's not. But that alcoholic is her father Teddy!" she shouted beck. There was something about him turning up that didn't sit right with her, she felt like he was watching her every mood, like he couldn't trust her. That was what worried her most. She turned and threw the tea bag in the trash, adding a splash of milk and staring at him. Not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry okay?" She sated, not meaning it but not wanting to fight.
"Why Rayna, after I asked you not to?"
"You told me Teddy. You made it sound as though I had no choice in the matter. She is my daughter too, and whilst I love you for everything you have done . . . Deacon is her father." She spoke softly, treading on eggshells.
"He's an unstable son of a bitch who left you in pieces Rayna!"
"And yet I manage to forgive him." She said, before looking away. "Look, if you feel that strongly about it then . . ." She began, not knowing what she was even going to say. "I can't promise he won't see her, because I kinda want him to Teddy. But I can promise you she will still love you, and that I will run it by you before he sees her."
Her husband simply nodded, "okay." He mumbled before walking away. But Rayna knew it was not the last of the matter. She was certain it would be raised again. She watched him walk away, not knowing what to do, but then she sat that her phone had been unlocked and on the screen was a picture of Deacon with Maddie. Ray knew that there was why all this had started, because as she looked at the picture she was well aware that to anyone that saw it there was no mistaking Maddie was his daughter.
Even knowing the picture had caused yet another argument, it still made her smile slightly. What she didn't know was that Teddy was watching from the entrance. He'd spoken with Lamar when he had found out, and his father-in-law's words rang clear in his mind: "You want a career in politics? Then that child is your best bet. Keep her Teddy, with or without Rayna." Yet it was now he realised what Lamar had meant. Sighing he knew he had to do something, yet he also felt nothing. No regret, or self hatred for what he was about to put her though.
That evening they ate tea in relative silence. Even Maddie must have picked up that something was wrong; because she sat there silently playing with her wooden blocks not making a sound. Teddy had a large glass of wine but Rayna didn't, since giving birth she'd almost completely stopped drinking. Than again before hand she hadn't drunk much, not when she was with Deacon anyway. It didn't feel right to drink around someone who was trying to stay sober.
Once they had both finished he left to go into the office whilst Rayna was left at the table. She sighed and cleared away the dishes, loading the dishwasher before going to get Maddie ready for bed. When the little girl was changed into a pink onesie the country singer leant down and kissed her head. "I love you." She whispered before returning into her own room to change.
She washed her face, pulled on a pair of slim fit grey joggers and an emerald green scoop neck t-shirt. Rayna sat down on the bed, it was only around seven in the evening, but she felt shattered. Opening her bedside cabinet she grabbed the old leather bound notebook she had had for years. Opening it up she smiled at all the little bits of paper that were inside it, creased and town. This book held the original draft of some of her most famous songs, and even some that she'd never even got round to recording, some that were too raw with emotion.
Sighing, she grabbed a pen and looked down at a blank page. Writing seemed to be the one constant in her life these days. IT was the one thing she could do which allowed her to show how she felt. Slowly but methodically she began to write down lyrics to a new song, words that had been in her mind ever since she'd seen Deacon earlier that day.
The storms of life are gonna blow through, baby
You know we've all seen a cloud or two
But I meant it when I promised I would have your back through sky black or blue.
Do you remember how we swore forever till the sweet or the bitter end
Well, this is what they mean when they say you got the real thing in a friend.
Rayna sighed and put her pen down. It felt wrong to be writing about another man when she was married. But it was about Deacon, all of her songs were about Deacon. Her phone lit up and she picked it up, desperately trying to forget about Deacon for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.
What were you thinking letting Deacon be a part of Maddie's life?!
It was Tandy, and Rayna internally groaned before throwing the phone down and making her way out of the room. IT was her life and nobody else's, so why did they all have to start interfering?
The floor was cold against her bare feet as she silently padded downstairs. Walking towards the office she heard Teddy talking, and paused outside. Not deliberately listening in, just trying to figure out who it was. Or at least that was until she heard what he was saying.
Teddy spoke quietly, not wanting his wife upstairs to hear him. "Lamar this had gone too far now. She'd demanding Deacon see her." Stated Teddy through the phone to the older man.
"As much as she is my daughter, I have to agree. This needs sorting Teddy."
"What are you thinking?"
"That Rayna is suffering from Post Natal Depression and is struggling to bond with Maddie."
Teddy knew that Lamar was making it up, but at the same time he found himself agreeing with the older man. "Yeah, I would say that sounds right."
"She is your wife; I think you need to look out for her."
"How? And how will any of this get him away from Maddie?"
"There is a private ward at the hospital, helps woman struggling. It's open to anyone at any time. Take her there."
"Will they let her in though? I mean, if she doesn't agree."
"Leave that to me, you just give them a ring."
"Thanks Lamar." With that teddy hung up, and smiled wickedly, before ringing the hospital.
Rayna was still stood outside when he rung the hospital. Slightly confused and bewildered at only hearing one side of the conversation she decided that she would listen in a little longer. After all it did seem to be about her.
"Hello, this is Teddy Conrad. Lamar Wyatt recommended you. My wife is suffering from post natal depression and not bonding with our baby girl. I'm worried about her and he recommended a long time stay in your facility . . . no I don't think she would come willingly. . . I do yes, she is definitely not well. . . That's it? Bring her there? . . . Okay . . . thanks."
Rayna stood there in absolute horror. She waited two minutes before moving, the floorboard creaking under foot as she did. She softly opened the door, and smiled sweetly at him. "Hey? I thought you were sleeping." He stated, almost as though nothing had even been said over the phone.
"Nah, got Maddie down but I couldn't sleep, started writing." She stated, smiling as realistically as she could. "Were you talking to someone?"
"No, no. I was actually just thinking, why we don't go for a drive. Maddie can sleep in the car."
"Erm . . . sure. Let me go tidy up first then fine. Oh and I'll go and sort out the car seat too."
"Okay, well I need to make a call, and then we can go."
She nodded before leaving the room. She felt faint, and dizzy. All Rayna knew was that if she didn't do something then she would be locked up in hospital and Deacon wouldn't see his daughter. So she ran upstairs, going into her room she pulled on an old pair of converse pumps from the back of her wardrobe, along with a hoodie. She pulled her handbag out, and randomly threw her phone and journal into it before heading into Maddie's room.
Rayna grabbed the ready set up Nappy bag which contained milk and food for the little girl as well. Picking up her sleeping daughter the singer quickly wrapped her up as fast as possible. Then, loaded up with bags she made her way downstairs, knowing only one thing: she needed to run.
At the bottom of the stairs she paused, and listened. Teddy was on the phone and her car keys were on the side cabinet, she needed to hurry.
"It's all sorted; she'll be locked in there before the morning." She heard Teddy say, and that was the last straw. She grabbed the car keys and went outside. Thankfully he thought she was getting Maddie in the car, otherwise she would have been stuffed. But thanks to months of practice it took mere seconds, and with the front door still wide open she started the engine and drove away.
Her hands were shaking as she drove along the dark roads she knew so well, the heater was on full blast as to keep the little girl warm, and yet Rayna was still freezing. The singer looked in her rear-view mirror every two minutes, sure that she would have him following her. But thankfully as of yet he was not.
It was only after she had set off that she realised she had no idea where she was going. Her home was where he was, her father was in on it and no doubt her sister too, so she had only one place. And a look at her daughter confirmed it; she was going to have to take Deacon up on his offer of being there whenever she needed him. And right at that moment, she really needed him.
A/N - At this point in time Maddie is 11 months old. I'm not great with what children are like at certain ages, so if anyone has anything they want Maddie to do, or pointers that would be great!
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