"Happy birthday!"

"Oh, goodness. Y'all shouldn't have! "

Her band and road crew as well as Teddy and the girls and Tandy were in the reception hall at the Staple Center. There were balloons with 4-0 emblazoned across them, black wreaths dotting the walls and a coffin-shaped cake on the table at the center of the room.

"Ouch. You really shouldn't have!" she joked good-naturedly. "Seriously, thank you. What a nice surprise. Just for the record though, I'm not ready to hang up my rhinestones just yet."

She scanned the room and took in all the faces of the folks that were family or who had become family after six months on the road. But, she couldn't help but notice that one face was absent – Deacon's.

She can't say that it didn't hurt, but she understood why he wasn't there. He tended to avoid after parties these days – to avoid the temptation of liquid inspiration. And, if he knew Teddy was going to be there, he would have gone out of his way to avoid the function. Those two tended to tussle when they were in each other's company.

"So, the big 4-0," Tandy teased.

"Just remember, my dear sister, that you'll always be older than me."

"You got me there. Where's the Deaconator? Thought he'd be here pining over you."

"Stop! I don't know. He's not one for parties or Teddies. Let's go get a bite, I'm famished."

Rayna put on her best performance smile and played the perfect host. She talked with everyone, making everyone feel special. She laughed at all the "over-the-hill" jokes they hurled at her. And, she thanked everyone for helping her to celebrate.

When just she and Teddy and the girls and Tandy were left, she kicked up her feet. Forty! She thought. That's not so old. At least she didn't feel old. Some things were starting to travel south, but all and all she could still give a 20 year old a run for her money.

Daphne interrupted that thought. "Forty! You're older than dirt, Mama," parroting one of the jokes that she heard the crew tell.

"Ouch. From the mouths of babes. You're lucky you're so cute, my baby," Rayna said as she squeezed Daphne tight. "Well we old people are tired. What do y'all say we blow this popsicle stand?"

"Speak for yourself," Tandy and Teddy said in unison. Then they conceded, "Yeah, we wouldn't mind going back to the room either."

They gathered up her presents and the leftover cake and headed to the waiting limo. Just as she reached down to grab her phone off her dressing table; she noticed it, a conch shell.

"You go on ahead," she yelled after Teddy, Tandy and the girls. "I'll catch up with you."

When she was alone, Rayna reverently caressed the shell and brought one hand to her heart. Then she raised the shell to her ear and placed her hand over her lips to silence the sob on the edge of escaping. "Put it next to your ear and it will whisper 'I love you' so you can always remember this day, Ray." He gave it to her on their trip to Mexico.

Deacon was here. He did remember.

And, she remembered that day. They were exhausted. They were in San Diego just finishing up a year-long tour as opening act, first for Dolly, then George Strait. They were flush with cash for the first time in a long time. It was Rayna's birthday and Deacon wanted to surprise her so he rented a car and started driving.

"Where we goin' babe."

"It's a surprise!" He said mysteriously.

"Okay"

Two hours later than were south of the border in Tijuana.

"You're crazy!"

"For you," he countered.

When they got to their hotel room, she jumped up in his arms and planted a long, passionate kiss on his lips. He reciprocated and upped the ante, sucking and licking, letting his tongue explore hers. They paused, breathless, but not before a moan escaped from Rayna's lips. She was on fire and could feel herself getting primed for him. He gently put her feet back on the ground and bent at the knees and as he stretched to stand erect he ran his hands up her silky, long legs and under her dress. He felt between her thighs and smiled against her – she was nearly soaking through her panties. "I think somebody wants me," he teased.

"Shut up," she said as she pulled him on top of her and fell back onto the bed. He immediately pushed her panties down. She worked his belt buckle urgently. When he was relieved of the leather strap she popped his button fly and whisked the zipper down. She folded back his jeans, releasing the pressure in his pants. He sighed appreciatively.

He jumped up from the bed and finished stripping down. Rayna was dressed except for her panties, but he had all the access he needed. He reached under her dress and worked her core with his skilled fingers while his other hand kneaded and squeezed her firm breasts, teasing her nipples. There was something to be said about a guitar man she thought. He worked magic with his fingers. When she was on the edge of sweet release, he flipped her on her stomach and she responded by raising her center fully exposing herself to him. He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her then started pumping her from behind until he collapsed on top of her, both gasping for air, spent.

They didn't see much of Tijuana that trip. They spent the next 12 hours in bed, making love and making music.

When they finally stumbled out of bed it was about time to head back and catch up with the tour. He grabbed her hand and ran with her to the beach. "I'm not leaving here without taking a dip in the water."

"Babe, I don't have a suit."

"Me neither" And with that, he proceeded to strip down to his boxers.

"Come on sweetie there's no one around," he coaxed her.

"You're insane. We could get caught!"

"Yeah? So?"

"Who's going to bail us out of a Mexican prison, babe?" Rayna challenged his sanity, but conceded, "Ok. What the hell." Rayna giggled and followed suit.

The water was freezing so it was a quick dip. After they were put back together, they sat on the sand, a towel wrapped around them to keep them warm. Deacon spotted the conch shell. He grabbed it and held it to her ear. "If you listen closely, you can hear me say 'I love you.'"

Her heart melted then and they made love on that beach wrapped in a towel.

The gift had the same effect on her anew.

Deacon walked past her door right at that moment and simply said, "Happy birthday, Ray."

Her throat was constricted as she gulped back the sob threatening to escape. She was literally speechless. She looked up, her eyes filled with tears and nodded.

He paused, touched his heart, hung his head and moved on.

All she wanted to do was acknowledge what was in her heart. She wanted desperately to say in return, 'I love you, too'. Instead, she headed out the door to go home to be with her family.