April 21st 1990
Dear Dairy,
Today has been the best and the worst!
Watty got Deacon and I, six live gigs! He told me after our Bluebird set tonight. I was so excited I may have kissed him. It's kind of a blurr. He even hired us a band! We have a freakin band! I can't wait to be on the road with Deacon, even if they are small shows, and within driving distance of Nashville. I know it's going to be amazing. I feel like there's nothing I can't accomplish with Deacon by my side. I'm really starting to believe that this is the beginning of really big things for both of us.
The bad…
I'd kept my Bluebird gigs and late night dates with Deacon quiet. Daddy has asked the staff to watch me since the birthday date disaster and 2am arrival home. I'd managed to get around the staff by making them think I was in my bedroom while I was out with Deacon.
I thought I was safe tonight. Daddy wasn't supposed to be home until tomorrow night. Deacon dropped me off after 1am. Daddy was home and waiting. He's mad as hell. The staff is also all pissed off because they are in trouble too for not watching me. I can't even make a phone call to tell Deacon what's going on.
Daddy has taken the phone out of my room. I'm not supposed to use any of the other phones in the house. Someone is always watching. He's also taken away both sets of keys to my BMW. The keys to all of the cars are locked in his office. He personally plans to drive me to and from school and I'm not allowed to go anywhere else until further notice. If he can't, a staff member will be taking me. I feel like a prisoner.
…and it gets worse. He checked the security system. He knows my comings and goings from the past month. I had forgotten the alarm company kept a log of when the system was armed and disarmed. So, while he doesn't know where I was or who I was with, he knows I've been out practically every night until midnight or later. I'm sure he's also requested a phone log to see who I've been talking to. It's only a matter of time until he gets Deacon's name.
I need to find a way to call Deacon. Maybe I can sneak away from school at lunch or study hall to the pay phone at the gas station across the street.
The night before…
"Oh my gosh! Really? We have 6 live gigs around the state? I could kiss you, Watty! I'm sooo excited! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!" Rayna was over the moon as she threw her arms around Watty's neck hugging him tightly
"You're gonna make it, kid. It's all you. You did the work. I just set up the venues. Your mama would be so proud, Rayna." Watty lifted her twirling and hugging in the back room at the Bluebird after a Thursday night set with Deacon.
"What are we so excited about?" Deacon asked as he came in from putting his guitar and amp in the truck
"Watty got us 6 live gigs, Deacon! 6 whole shows, just us! Can you believe it?" Rayna gushed and jumped into Deacon's arms for another twirl and hug with him.
"That's great, baby. I love seein you so happy. So, when and where are these shows?" Deacon asked setting Rayna down
"The first is in Johnson City a week from Tue. You get 90 minutes on stage. I lined up a drummer, keyboardist, and bass guitarist to help out with the 6 shows. We'll go from there if we book more. Edgehill has agreed to a small stipend per show to help with expenses, but it's not much. Pretty much just covers payin the band for shows and rehearsal time. I'm surprised they're doin that much since you're not technically signed… YET! Shows they're really interested in seein what you two can do. I'll set up some rehearsal time with the band. We gotta make this good. There's no room for mistakes or less than your best now." The business side of Watty was coming out as he explained what was happening
"It's really happening, Deacon! Aren't you excited?" Rayna asked as she slid close to him on the bench seat of his truck, wrapping her arms around him, nibbling his ear
"You keep doin that, I'm gonna have to pull over, baby." He smirked as he stole a quick kiss before returning his attention to the road
"Well, I left the TV on in my bedroom. My cars out front. As far as any of daddy's spies know, I'm in my room studying. No one suspects I'm not being the perfect daughter." She laughed as Deacon quickly took a side road towards the country, away from Belle Meade
"I'll take THAT as in invitation." He laughed as he found a quiet, wooded area to pull over.
"Make love to me, Deacon." Rayna breathlessly whispered in his ear as she straddled him in the driver's seat of his old truck, after several minutes of heavy making out
"I'd love to, Ray, but we talked about this, baby. I want our first time to be special. You deserve candles and fluffy pillows, a nice dinner out before. Your first time should mean somethin. Shouldn't be in the front seat of an old truck."
"I know. It's just hard waiting. I want you so much." Rayna pouted in his arms
"Gimme that lip!" Deacon playfully bit her lower protruding lip as she pouted
"It doesn't matter when or where, Deacon. It'll be special because it's with you."
"I know that, and I can't wait either. Soon, baby! I'm savin up. Don't you worry. I have a plan." He laughed knowing secrets and surprises drove Rayna crazy
"You're so sweet for wanting to make all my dreams come true, Deacon. How did I get so lucky?" she teared up a little
"I'm the lucky one, Ray! You've already made my biggest dream come true. I got you!"
"You do, forever and always!"
"Well, I should probably get you home. School night and it's after 1am. Plus, I need to go home and take a VERY cold shower." He laughed as he reached around her to start the truck
"Oh shit! Daddy's home! He wasn't supposed to be back tonight." Rayna noticed every light in the house on, and Lamar's Cadillac parked next to her BMW in the driveway, as Deacon parked in his usual spot just down the street from the house.
Lamar was away on business a lot. He'd been keeping closer tabs on Rayna the past month since her 2am arrival home on her birthday. He'd asked the staff to keep him more informed of her comings and goings, especially the times. The staff rarely bothered her if she was in her bedroom. She'd devised a plan of leaving her TV or stereo on loud enough to hear it in the hallway. She'd have Deacon pick her up down the street, leaving her car in the driveway. It had worked well for over a month, until now.
"You want me to come in with you?" Deacon offered
"No, babe. There's never gonna be a good time for you to meet daddy, but I doubt tonight would be pretty. I'll make up something. Thanks for the ride. See ya tomorrow." She planted one last quick peck on Deacon's lips as she got out
"Hey…call me later. Let me know you're OK? I don't care how late it is." He said grabbing her hand, pulling her back for one last kiss
"Another cold shower?" Vince laughed as Deacon quickly went to the bathroom upon arriving home
"Shut Up, Vince!" Deacon snapped slamming the bathroom door
"Did Ray call?" Deacon asked as he flopped on the couch with Vince after his shower
"Jesus, Deke! Ya just left her. You really got it bad for this one, don't ya?" he laughed again
"Ray's different. She's not just another fling. I care about her, a lot!"
"…and you're still not gettin laid?" Vince just laughed, shaking his head
"It sure as hell aint cause she doesn't want it. I could have her anytime. It's my choice to wait. I have some special plans in mind. Ray's still a virgin. I feel like I need to make it special for her, ya know? I've almost got enough money saved. Gonna take her out for a nice dinner, and to the Peabody in Memphis for a weekend soon."
"What the hell's gotten into you? You're whipped, Deke!"
"I aint either. It's my choice. She don't know nothin about it, and she'd never ask for anything like that anyway. She'd be happy to do it in the front of my truck on an old road. That's what makes her so special. She don't expect nothin. Just likes me, for me. No idea why, but she does." He smiled thinking about her
"I like you for you too. You're a pretty hot guy, Deke! Wanna beer?" Vince jokingly kissed Deacon on the cheek as he got up to go to the fridge
"Get off me!" Deacon shoved Vince away as he made fish lips and kissing sounds all the way into the kitchen
"Is that what ya tell Rayna when she wants you?" Vince laughed flopping back on the couch with two beers
"Shut the hell up." Deacon laughed and threw his bottle cap at Vince
"Wanna watch a porno?" Vince asked
"No, I just took a cold shower. You go ahead. I'm goin to bed." Deacon retreated to his bedroom with the beer in one hand and cordless phone in the other to wait for Rayna's call
He woke around 8:30am, sun streaming into the bedroom, the phone still next to his head on the pillow. She hadn't called. He went to the kitchen for a drink of water and to put the phone on it's charging base.
"Hey, the phone didn't ring, did it?" He asked a groggy Vince as he moaned on the couch
"I didn't hear it if it did." Vince slurred, several beer bottles rolled off the couch to the floor as he rolled over, and quickly passed out again
Deacon switched off the TV still displaying Vince's porno VHS. He sighed in disgust as he looked at Vince surrounded by empty beer bottles. He flopped back on his bed, hoping Rayna was OK. It wasn't like her not to call when he'd asked her to. She'd be in class by now. He couldn't reach her if he wanted to. He drifted back to sleep not waking again till after 2pm. Vince was still snoring on the couch as Deacon made himself an omelet.
"You make me one?" Vince asked siting up
"Yeah, in the skillet. I aint servin ya." Deacon snapped as he ate in front of the TV
"Ya know you could put some pants and a t shirt on." Deacon called as Vince wandered to the kitchen in his underwear
"Why? It's just you." Vince laughed
"I gotta work at 4. Since you aint workin maybe you could clean this dump up a little?" Deacon asked as Vince kicked some beer bottles out of his way in front of the couch
"Why are you in a mood?" Vince asked
"I aint. I just think maybe you could spend less time in your underwear and more time job huntin. As long as yer not workin you might as well clean up the place a little."
"Rayna never called, huh?" Vince retorted
"What the hell's that got to do with anything?"
"You're always a crab ass when you aint heard from her in more than 12 hours." Vince laughed and tossed his empty plate on the coffee table
"Shut up, Vince!" Deacon snapped as he grabbed Vince's dirty plate and tossed all the dirty dishes in the sink with a clatter
Deacon slammed his bedroom door. He got dressed for work. Vince was snoring on the couch 20 minutes later when he came out.
"Hey, you gonna do anything today?" Deacon asked yanking Vince's covers off
"It's almost 3. Days about gone. I'll try again tomorrow." Vince pulled the covers back
"Clean this place up before I get home tonight!" Deacon snapped as he waded through beer cans and bottles
"What are you, suddenly my mother?" Vince snapped back
"I'm the guy payin rent and all the damn bills, not to mention keepin your ass in beer, which aint cheap! Least you can do is clean up after yourself. I can't even bring Rayna here it's such a damn mess. What the hell would she think?"
"Since when do you care if the apartment is clean or up to a woman's standards?"
"Just clean up your messes, huh?" Deacon slammed the door on his way out. Vince had been right. He was irritable because he hadn't heard from Rayna
He didn't need to be at work until 4. It wasn't quite 3. He drove to the high school hoping to spend a few minutes with her when she got out of class at 3:30. He searched the lot 3 times. Her red BMW was nowhere to be found.
"Surely, she would have called him today if she'd stayed home sick." He thought as he left the lot confused
His mood hadn't improved as he neared the half way mark in his shift at the Bluebird. He took his dinner break and retreated to the back office.
"Hey, Sarah…ahhh Rayna hasn't by chance called, has she?" he asked
"No, no calls for you. Sorry, Deacon."
"Alright, thanks. Maybe I'll try her at home." He replied reaching for the office phone. It rang several times, never going to the machine, which normally picked up on the 4th ring if she couldn't answer. He hung up confused and getting worried. Not a day had gone by in over a month that they hadn't at least talked on the phone.
