"Hey, Deacon…Can I ask a really big favor?" Lauren asked as Deacon fed Mason jarred prunes one early Thursday in July.
"Sure, anything…" he smiled. Deacon had really come to depend on Lauren a lot with 3 kids in Rayna's absence. His career was suddenly taking off and he'd needed her a lot more than originally agreed upon. She'd done it without question, was amazing with the kids, and he knew he owed her a lot.
"My best friend from Iowa called this morning. She's on her way to Nashville. I didn't know she was coming. She heard I was at the Bluebird tonight with you, and ordered a ticket online. She has a hotel booked, but I haven't seen her in more than a year. Would you mind if she stays here?"
"uuuuhhh…..sure. It's not a problem. Rayna's due back on the 5th, but I have no idea what time, or what her plans are. I was gonna take off and head up to the cabin, but I can't get there. The crew working on the access road is running behind after all the rain. Rayna's probably not gonna be happy I'm here, but it's a holiday weekend. I have as much right to be with my kids as she does. Probably be a crazy weekend around here, but your friend is welcome. I really appreciate all the extra time you've spent here helpin me with the kids."
"Thanks so much, Deacon! Carrie will be thrilled. She just bought your album. She's probably gonna be a little star struck. She's a farm girl from Iowa. This trip is pretty amazing for her. I hope she's not too over the top fangirling!" Lauren laughed
"No problem. I'm still tryin to wrap my head around all the attention. Rayna's always been the star, and I've never really wanted all of this attention. Perfect Storm hitting number one last week still blows me away. The album climbing and expected to go platinum by the end of the month is bigger than anything I ever imagined."
"I'm so happy for you. Congratulations again on all of it, and thank you soooo much for getting me this spot at the Bluebird tonight."
"You're good. You're gonna be right up here with me soon! I just hate to lose you as a nanny when it happens." He smiled
"I think you're safe for a while." She laughed
"Well, I gotta go. More PR crap, and I've got a meeting with Belcort. Rayna's sister is watching the kids tonight. She's gonna pick up the girls from school, and swing by for Mason around noon. I'll be back later to meet Carrie, and the 3 of us can go to the Bluebird together if you'd like?"
"That would be great, Deacon. Thanks again for everything."
"No, thank you. I couldn't do this without you. You've been great with the kids and takin on all this extra work and time here. I really appreciate it, Lauren."
"I don't mind really. How many jobs do you get where you sit by the pool all day?" she laughed again
"Yeah, we'll see if you're still so relaxed next week when the girls are outta school for 2 months." He laughed knowing what poor Lauren was in for with Maddie
"Rayna will be here, right?"
"uuuhhh…yeah, I guess. I don't really know her plans these days. Suppose to be back sometime on the 5th. That's all I really got, and I think the only reason I got that was she's hopin I'll leave while she's home, which I'm not planning to do now with the cabin inaccessible. I was gonna go to a hotel, but the more I thought about it the more it pissed me off. I've been away from the kids a lot too lately. I have just as much right to spend the holiday weekend with them as she does."
"Soooo, things still aren't great between you two?" Lauren asked
"Not really sure. I haven't talked to her. I thought she might call when Perfect Storm knocked her boyfriend's smug ass outta the number one spot, but I guess my first number one doesn't rate high enough even for a congratulation's call." He said sadly
"I'm sooo sorry, Deacon. Do you really think there's anything going on between Rayna and Luke?"
"You heard the fight a couple weeks before she left. Hell the whole damn neighborhood heard it. I'm surprised the damn tabloids didn't get a hold of that one."
"It was pretty epic." Lauren said looking away not wanting to pry to much, but she knew a lot living with Deacon and the kids.
"Not my finest hour! I'm still sorry you had to hear that." He apologized for the umpteenth time
"…but anyway, I gotta go. Bye buddy. Be good for Aunt Tandy tonight. I'll pick you and Carrie up for the Bluebird around 6. Bye Lauren." Deacon said kissing Mason, squeezing Lauren's shoulder and rushing out the door
Rayna collapsed on the couch in her dressing room. 90,000 fans were still going crazy at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The noise was deafening even backstage. All she wanted was a long, hot bath and her hotel suite bed. She'd been on tour with Luke for a month. The start was rocky, but she'd found her passion for performing again after a few shows.
She was looking forward to a couple weeks home with the kids starting 4th of July weekend. Luke was looking forward to a couple weeks home with his kids too.
Their 4th of July show in Austin Texas had just been cancelled. Drought conditions had made fireworks too dangerous. The city had decided to move the whole celebration to a later date including the Wine and Moonshine show.
Rayna was actually thrilled to get to go back to Nashville a couple days earlier than planned. They were keeping it quiet. Hoping to avoid a lot of media attention and sneak back to Nashville with little fanfare. Bucky was the only person that knew Rayna would be back on the 3rd rather than the 5th. She also wanted to surprise the kids and Tandy so Bucky was sworn to secrecy.
"It's been a great first run!" Luke said as he joined Rayna in the limo headed back to the Hotel Bel Air
"Yeah, but I'd be lyin if I said I wasn't happy as hell Austin got cancelled. I'm soooo ready to go home for a couple weeks." Rayna said slumping against the seat
"I don't mind bein on the road, but I do miss the kids. Couple weeks with them will be nice. I plan to get in some horseback ridin time and maybe a little shootin." Luke said relaxing in the plush seat
"I just wanna relax by the pool and do nothing for a few days."
"Ya know I'm thinkin about putting a little 4th of July party together at the ranch. Why don't you bring the kids and come out? I'll have Sage and Colt. Probably invite some friends, but nothin too big, maybe 20-30 people for fireworks, food and fun." Luke asked
"I dunno, Luke. I really just wanna relax with the kids."
"OK, hey…I understand. The offers open if you change your mind. I do have the Olympic sized pool ya know. You're more than welcome to bring all 3 kids and relax by my pool."
"Yeah…3 six year olds, a 2 year old, and a 6 month old…that doesn't sound very relaxing." Rayna laughed
"Hey…I got a 24/7 nanny on hand. She can corral 'em in another part of the house if you want peace and quiet." Luke offered
"I wanna be with them as much as possible. Mason's only 6 months old. He's gonna be a toddler by the time this tours over. I hate being away when he's so young." Rayna teared up a little thinking of all she's missing with Mason
"Have you thought about bringing him on the next leg?"
"I'm not sure Deacon would go for that."
"I'd say Deacon's gonna be doin some major touring before the years out. He did just push both of us down a coupe notches on the country charts with that first number one." Luke seemed a bit jealous
"Yeah, he did. I don't know. I'd love to bring Mason out on tour. He's pretty good natured. He might do OK with it. Maddie didn't do well when we tried with her, but she was already 18 months old and used to a schedule. Mason might be young enough to adapt still. I'll think about it, and maybe bring it up to Deacon just to see what his reaction is."
"Have you talked to Deacon at all?"
"Not since he called about Scarlett's adoption."
"It's none of my business, Rayna, but are you sure you want to do that? I mean, you'd be legally and financially responsible for another kid that's not even yours."
"I love Scarlett like my own. When we thought it was gonna be a major custody battle I had a lot of reservations, but Beverly gave up her rights. Now it's just a simple hearing and sign a few forms. I'm OK with it. We'll have to deal with visitation and custody over 2, why not 3?"
"Get some rest. We have early PR and then the flight home." Luke said as Rayna exited the limo and headed toward her suite
"You too. Night Luke."
Alone in her suite, Rayna had just started running a bath when her phone rang.
"Hey, sis…haven't heard from you in weeks. I was just wondering how the tours going?" Tandy asked as Rayna answered her cell
"Good, we got off to a rocky start, but it's been good since about the 3rd or 4th show. Luke's been great. He's been keeping that asshole Jeff Fordham off my back. That helps a lot. What's new with you?" Rayna asked
"Same old, same old…board meetings, political drama. Daddy's difficult as ever." Tandy laughed
"Sounds exciting."
"Yeah..hey, the reason I called is someone can't sleep and really wanted to talk to you. Here's Maddie."
"Mama I miss you. When are you comin home?" Maddie whined into the phone
"Soon, baby. How are you?"
"OK."
"Just, OK? Aren't you happy? Last day of school tomorrow before summer vacation?" Rayna asked
"Yeah, but I miss you. Daddy is gone all the time now too."
"You like Lauren, right?"
"Yeah, she's nice, but I want you mama." Maddie became whinier as she got tired
"Sweetie, I'll be home real soon. You sound tired. Go to bed and be a good girl for Aunt Tandy, please?" Rayna begged
"OK, Love you."
"Love you too. Put Aunt Tandy back on, please?"
"Why do you have the kids? Where's Lauren?" Rayna asked concerned as Tandy took the phone back
"I guess she's at the Bluebird with Deacon and some other girl, Carrie I think was her name."
"WHAT?" Rayna asked
"I dunno, Rayna. Deacon asked me to take the kids for the night. Something about Lauren going to the Bluebird with him. When I picked up Mason there was another young woman at the house. Lauren said her name was Carrie. A friend from Iowa."
"SO DEACON HAS 2 YOUNG WOMEN WITH HIM AT THE BLUEBIRD TONIGHT? ONE OF THEM OUR NANNY, WHO SHOULD BE WITH THE KIDS?"
"Yeah, I guess. He didn't really say much when he asked me to take the kids. I have no idea what's going on. Have you even talked to him lately, Rayna?" Tandy asked
"No, we're giving each other space, and time to think."
"Well, maybe you're giving him too much time and space?" Tandy suggested hearing Rayna's anger.
"Did Deacon seem interested in either of the women?" Rayna asked
"I didn't see him with them. It was just Lauren and Carrie at the house when I picked up the baby."
"Well, did Deacon say anything about ANYTHING when he asked you to take the kids?" Rayna asked
"You mean, did he ask about you?"
"Yeah, I guess." Raya softly said
"No, sweetie. I'm sorry. He didn't."
*****silence*****
"Are you OK, Rayna?" Tandy asked
"Yeah, I gotta go. I'll see you sometime soon. I'll be home for a couple weeks." Rayna said close to tears as she hung up.
She stared at Deacon's number on her cell display for several minutes. Tempted to hit the call button, but finally decided against it. She wasn't sure what she'd even say if she did call.
She decided against a bath, and took a long shower instead. She fell into bed exhausted, but unable to sleep as she thought about Deacon and what was going on at home.
