My missing scene this time involves how Maddie and Cash get started writing together as well as Deacon and Rayna's initial discussions around that.

Maddie picked up her books from her desk when the bell rang. She wasn't really in any hurry to get to her next class and she hardly paid attention to the busyness around her, of other students rushing to leave the room, shouting at friends in the hallway, running past her and barely missing running into her. She looked around and then took the long way to her next class, so she wouldn't cross paths with Daphne. She hugged her books to her chest and sighed.

Now that her parents were back from their "mini-moon", as her mom embarrassingly kept calling it, they kept asking her about sitting down and working on a set list for an EP with Daphne. She really did not want to do that and she kept hoping if she just didn't talk about it, they'd leave it alone. She really didn't feel like she and Daphne were on the same page anymore, when it came to music. Daphne didn't understand all the grown-up emotions and feelings she wanted to write, and sing, about now.

As she was walking up the stairs to her history class, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and smiled. "Hey, Cash," she said. She was really happy to hear from Cash. The last time she'd seen or talked to her had been at the wedding. Even though Cash was older than she was, she hoped she could develop a friendship with her. They seemed to have so much in common and she liked the idea of them writing together.

"Hey, Maddie," Cash said. "I've been thinking about that little conversation we had a while back about getting together to write. You still interested?"

It's like she read my mind! "Yes, absolutely!" Maddie said. "You know, my mom has a music room at our house. I bet she'd let us write there."

"That would be awesome. Let me know when and we'll make this happen."

Thinking about writing with Cash put a big smile on Maddie's face and she practically ran to her class.


Deacon was surprised to see Rayna still awake when he walked into the bedroom that night. "How come you're still up?" he asked.

She screwed up her face. "How well do you know Frankie's daughter?" she asked.

He came and sat on the bed next to her, leaning in to give her a kiss. "Cash? I've met her several times, back when Frankie was still my sponsor. She seems like a good kid and she and Frankie have a pretty good relationship. Why?"

"Maddie wants to have her over. To write, she says." She reached for Deacon's hand. "What do you think about that? Isn't she around Juliette's age?"

He frowned. "Maybe. Close to that, I guess." He shrugged. "What bothers you about it?"

"I don't know. The age difference, I guess."

He squeezed her hand. "I know it bothers you how she looks up to Juliette."

She made a face. "Yes, it does."

He smiled. "Well, I can tell you that from what I know, Cash ain't no Juliette Barnes. She seems pretty level-headed, down to earth."

It was obvious Rayna still wasn't convinced. "I don't know, babe. Don't you think she'll steer Maddie down some more grown-up path with her writing? I mean, she's just sixteen, after all."

Deacon smiled. "You wrote with me when you were sixteen," he said.

She punched his arm gently and smiled back at him. "You were just nineteen, not twenty-something. And that was different. I mean, I was on my own, living on my own." He raised his eyebrow at her. "Alright. Living with you. So that made it kind of different. But if you think it's okay, then I'll let it go."

He leaned in and kissed her. "I think we see how it goes. Keep an eye on it. And they'll be here, right?" Rayna nodded. "Then one of us will be here. Okay?"

She smiled. "Okay." He started to get up and she tightened her grip on his hand. "Hurry up. There's another reason I stayed up." He grinned and then hurried into the bathroom to shower.


Deacon was standing in the kitchen when he heard the front door close. He assumed it was Cash leaving. Rayna had told him Cash was coming by again. Maddie looked surprised when she walked into the kitchen. "Oh, hey, Dad," she said. "I didn't know you were here." She came over and leaned against the counter opposite him.

"I just got home." He nodded towards the front door. "That Cash who just left?"

She gave him a curious look. "Yeah. I told Mom she was coming."

He thought she sounded a little defensive. "I know, she told me." He smiled. "You got anything you can share yet?"

She looked a little surprised, but then she smiled. "Not yet. We're still working on some things." She breathed in. "I'm trying to work on something that's a little more grown up. And it's a little harder than I thought."

He nodded. "Writing with someone new can be challenging too."

She looked at him for a moment. "It doesn't bother you, does it? I mean, that I want to write with someone else. I know we've written together some, but you know, you're my dad." She smiled a little self-consciously.

He smiled back at her. "I get it. I'm just your old man plus I'm just old." Maddie grinned. "It's okay, Maddie. You should try out lots of different things when you're writing. Especially when you're starting out."

"Thanks, Dad. It's fun writing with her. She really makes me think about what I want to say and how I want to say it." She smiled at him teasingly. "Plus we can write about boys." She laughed.

He grinned. "Yeah, you and I ain't writing about that, that's for sure." He reached across the counter for her hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm glad you're doing something you love, Maddie. That always makes me happy."

"Thanks, Dad. For understanding."


Rayna curled up next to Deacon on the couch. "Have you listened to any of the songs Maddie's been working on with Cash?" she asked.

He shook his head and smiled. "No. She told me they're writing about boys. I don't think I wanna hear that just yet."

She smiled. "Well, she and Cash shared a little bit of what they're working on. Not about boys, by the way." Then she frowned slightly. "It feels a little, I don't know, maybe too old for a sixteen year old. And definitely too old for her and Daphne to do."

He put his arm around her and pulled her in a little closer. "Everything she writes don't have to be for her and Daphne. I think it's okay for her to write about other stuff." He reached up and grazed her cheek with his knuckles. "She needs to spread her wings a little bit. She needs to write for herself."

She sighed. "I guess. I don't know, I guess I just want to keep her a little girl a little longer, you know?"

"She ain't a little girl anymore, baby. We gotta let her fly." He tucked her hair behind her ear. "We'll be here to catch her."

She nodded and then smiled at him. "When did you get to be such a smart dad?" she teased.

He laughed. "Just doing like you said, Ray. Doing the best I can."

"She's happy though, I guess that's something." She looked away and bit her lip pensively.

"What?" he asked.

She turned to look at him. "I don't know. Something just doesn't completely sit right with me, but maybe it's just because she's doing it with someone else." She reached for his hand and threaded her fingers with his. "And because I think it hurts Daphne's feelings a little bit. She was kind of quiet tonight and went upstairs to her room right after we ate."

He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. "That's just your mama bear coming out, baby." She gave him a distracted smile. "Listen, we'll keep a watch on it. If it feels like it's too much, we'll stop it. Okay?"

She nodded and gave him a more convincing smile. "Okay. I'm sure you're right. I'm just being protective of my girls." She leaned in and kissed him. "So, you want to celebrate our one month anniversary?" She grinned.

He chuckled. "Baby, I been celebrating every damn day. But yeah, let's go celebrate." He stood up and pulled her up by the hand, laughing as she followed behind him.