Rayna

She dropped the girls off at school. Teddy had some sort of early meeting, hoping to gain some business connections, he said. She really didn't think it was necessary for him to go back to a full time job. Having him there for the girls had been a lifesaver, even if it hadn't originally been his choice. With her being out on the road a good part of every year, it had meant they'd had to employ a nanny for the girls when they weren't out with her. But she guessed she understood that he wanted something more, even if were just consulting work or something.

She'd been feeling a little at loose ends since the tour had ended. It had surprised her, since she'd been looking forward to getting home. She and Teddy had pushed back the getaway for the two of them, since they were planning the Thanksgiving week trip, but even that seemed to be tenuous. As she drove away from the school, she didn't really want to head home. She found herself driving towards the Warner Parks area and then to the place at Edwin Warner where she and Deacon had sometimes met, where they could talk in private, away from prying eyes.

It was never that they were hiding anything, but having a place where they could be really open and honest with each other – or at least as open and honest as their new relationship allowed – had been a blessing. It was a brisk day, with a stiff breeze, and she was glad she'd bundled up. She drove down a secluded road inside the park and then pulled over just past a stone bridge that crossed over a small creek. She got out of her car and then headed gingerly down the slope to the creek bank. There was a concrete picnic table along the creek's edge and she stepped up and sat on the table top. She wrapped her arms around her waist and leaned slightly forward as she watched the water race down the creek bed. She knew, when they had heavy rains, this creek flooded easily, but it was a clear sunny day and it was well within its banks.

She lifted her face towards the sun, closing her eyes, and just relaxing. She let her mind wander back to the night of the CMAs. She had felt strangely sad that Deacon had only come for the performance, but it hadn't really surprised her. He had never been one for awards shows or after parties or anything really that had required he get dressed up or make small talk. He had told her after their performance that he'd be home in time to see her categories, but she hadn't won either one, so she supposed it didn't really matter in the end. She knew he was planning to head back to the cabin and that, with everything going on at the holidays, she would probably not even talk to him until the new year.

She had been surprised that he'd kept the place they'd always referred to as 'the cabin'. It was a lake house, really, but it had been her dream house. The one she'd described to him early in their lives together. He'd bought it, for her, after his first time in rehab. She had recognized it immediately as her dream house, which was why she hadn't been too mad at him for doing it. She'd been stunned, really, by just how close it was to the place she'd always told Deacon she wanted, as a sanctuary of sorts. Someplace near the water and secluded. Her mom had some property out along the Cumberland River and in her mind, this was like that, only with a house.

It had become a retreat for them, but it had also been a place he had used when things were too overwhelming for him, back when he was still drinking. When she couldn't find him, she would often find him there. So the fact that he'd kept it, and that he still went there frequently, always gave her the tiniest pause. It had also been the place where he'd asked her to marry him, back when she'd started dating Teddy, and she thought he was on track again. She'd said yes, but the next morning she had been faced with the reality that nothing really had changed, that he was still drinking, and that he didn't even remember that he'd proposed the night before. And, of course, six weeks later she'd discovered that she was pregnant and had known, without a doubt, that the baby was his.

She unexpectedly felt tears in her eyes. She wasn't sure if they were from the breeze or her emotions or both, but she brushed them aside and then steepled her hands over her nose and mouth. The past 10 years had been something of an emotional rollercoaster, although not all the time. The matter of Maddie had been the thing that had been the most fraught with angst. On the one hand, there was the overhanging knowledge that the paternity secret she held so close to her chest was unpredictable. In a perfect world, it would never be an issue. There would never be a situation in which the fact that Deacon was Maddie's father and Teddy was not would need to come up. Of course, there were issues such as illness or injury, where DNA mattered, but the likelihood was not huge. What weighed more heavily was just the knowledge of it, the intent and then the continued actions to deceive.

She could validate her reasons – to herself. Deacon was an alcoholic at that time, an active alcoholic, and there were questions of safety and care that were primary in her mind. He was volatile, irresponsible, undependable, none of which were conducive to being a parent. She could cover a lot of that, but it would have been difficult, especially with her career. She had never once believed Deacon wouldn't have loved Maddie and would wanted to be a good father, it was a question of his ability to do so. It would have required a strength of character and a resolve to stay sober that she had questioned. An ability to stay sober. Teddy's offer to marry her and raise her baby as his own had meant she hadn't had to consider the alternatives.

Somehow, though, it had seemed to require not telling Deacon and that had been the part she'd waffled on. Tandy had made it all seem so easy – and her sister had finally convinced her of it – but the truth of the matter was that it had never been easy. She had done it, and over time it had gotten easier and more natural, but it had never left her, the fear that it would all come tumbling down around her. What had really kept her on the straight and narrow was her belief that Deacon would collapse back into the cycle with the knowledge, that he would never forgive her, and that he could not be the kind of father Maddie deserved. Her faith in him was conditional, as it turned out, and it depended on him not having to deal with something as emotionally powerful as knowing he'd been a father all this time and never having been given the chance to be one. It was the thing that scared her the most and a big part of what kept her silent.

She knew a lot of her focus on this had to do with the situation with Teddy. Although she'd come home with the intention of renewing her commitment to their marriage, something still felt off. He was doing all the right things, saying all the right things. They were doing things as a family like family dinners and movie nights and game nights, but he was still going off for meetings and she wasn't sure he was being completely candid about them. Just trying to reconnect with people in the business world, getting those introductions. You know, trying to get back into the swing of things. That's what he'd say, or some variation of that. She hadn't seen anything developing out of that, but he kept telling her it was early and things like that took time and attention. She wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him.

She sat there for a long time before she finally got up and walked back to her car.

Deacon

The wood was getting low again, so he spent some time chopping enough to last for several more days. He'd been back at the cabin for 2 days. After the CMA performance, he'd driven home and was able to catch the last 45 minutes of the awards show. He was disappointed for Rayna that she hadn't won either award she'd been nominated for, but it had also been hard to argue against those who'd won instead. He thought she'd looked so beautiful, back in the sexy blue dress, with her hair up. He'd never seen her not be beautiful though. He knew he was biased, but it was also the truth.

He stacked the wood and then carried some inside. He threw a couple pieces on the fire in the fireplace and then went into the kitchen to make coffee. As he waited, he looked out through the glass sliders at the lake beyond. The breeze was picking up and he could see the rough chop on the surface of the water. He'd be headed back to Nashville the following week for his Bluebird spotlight show and to get the house ready for Scarlett and her boyfriend.

He thought again about Rayna, about what she'd said to him at the CMAs, about how she wanted to talk to him about what was going on in her life. He didn't really need her to do that, he realized. She didn't owe him anything. The fact that she'd said it had embarrassed her made him understand that it wasn't his business. He'd known her for 20 years. He understood her better than anyone else. She didn't like being blindsided. She didn't like not feeling in control. She didn't like being vulnerable like that.

He turned around and saw that the coffee was done, so he stopped his musing and poured himself a mug.

They were lying on the floor beside the fire, underneath a blanket. Her skin felt velvety soft against his own. She smelled a little citrusy and that made him smile. She smiled back. "What?" she asked lazily.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Just thinking about you being here. Like this." He brushed his lips with hers. "I missed you."

She lifted her head slightly and kissed him back. "I missed you too." She bit down on her lip for a second. "You know this is really the only place I ever wanted to be."

He nodded. "I know. And I ain't ever letting you go."

She shifted underneath him and he could feel she was ready for him again. "I'm never going anywhere," she whispered. "Ever."

He captured his mouth with hers and entered her slowly, loving the sound of her moan.

He sat up abruptly, his breath caught in his throat. The room was dark, except for the fading embers of the fire. He felt disoriented and, for a moment, wasn't sure where he was. His heart was beating hard. He thought he caught the faintest whiff of citrus in the air. He looked around and saw that he was alone. The blanket was covering him on the couch and he realized he'd fallen asleep. It had seemed so real, but it was only a dream.

He frowned. Maybe it was a dream, but it was from some time ago. It wasn't him and Rayna currently, It was from some time in the past. And it was so powerful, he was sure it was something that had actually happened. Or at least something very similar. He concentrated hard, trying to save the images he remembered. He'd told her he missed her. She said the same. That could have meant he'd been in rehab. When they were together, they'd really never been apart, except for that. Not really. When she'd pick him up from rehab, they always came to the cabin.

He pushed back the blanket and turned, putting his feet on the floor. He rubbed his face. The dream was feeling a little fuzzy now, but it lingered. The way her skin felt. The way her lips felt. The look in her eyes. The way she felt when he was inside her. But he really remembered those things. Because he had felt her skin against his own, her lips pressed to his. He remembered the way she would look at him, with pure love in her eyes, and the way it felt to make love to her. Those were things he'd always remember. If he never experienced them again, he would still remember what it had felt like to be deeply and completely loved by Rayna Jaymes.

He sighed, then stood up. He wouldn't see Rayna until probably after the first of the year. It was always like this at the holidays. That was family time and this year, with the longer tour, she'd be staying close to her family.

He was looking forward to Scarlett coming to Nashville. He hadn't seen her since the previous Christmas when he'd gone down to Natchez for a couple days. He never could stay long, because he and Beverly couldn't be around each other for more than a couple days. She had resented him for leaving her in Mississippi all those years ago, back when he headed to Nashville on his own. Of course, it had been her choice to stay, but she never liked telling – or hearing – the story that way. Scarlett had told him Beverly was mad as a wet hen that she was not coming to Natchez for Thanksgiving and it had made him smile to know his little niece was breaking away a bit.

She wasn't so little anymore and she did have some of Beverly's feistiness, but she'd grown up sweet in spite of everything she'd gone through. He was curious about the boyfriend though. He was a musician, Scarlett said, which could mean anything. Beverly had told him, when Scarlett had started seeing him, that he was nice enough and polite, but a bit scraggly. He couldn't figure out what that meant, but he guessed he'd find out soon enough.

He walked over to the sliders and, flipping the outside light on, opened them and walked out onto the porch. As they moved further into November, the temperatures got chillier and the wind started to pick up. He didn't have on a jacket, so he only stayed outside long enough to wipe the cobwebs out of his head and whisk away the aftertaste of his dream. Then he went back inside and headed for bed.

Rayna

She'd been surprised when Bucky had called and requested a meeting. At the label. It was a week until Thanksgiving. She and Teddy were still planning on taking the girls to Disney World over the holiday. They had decided to make it a surprise for the girls. They had bought the plane tickets, booked the hotel, and arranged for the full parks experience.

Teddy was spooning her and she relaxed in his arms. He'd surprised her by being a little rougher in their lovemaking that night, but she had liked it. Since she'd been home from the tour and they were sharing a bed again, their sex life had improved and she'd felt happier and was more hopeful about the future. "So I've been thinking about our trip. I'd like to make it a surprise for the girls," she said.

He didn't say anything at first. "I'm not sure I understand," he replied.

She smiled to herself, excited about the prospect. She rolled over to face him. "You know, we get the girls up that morning, tell them to pack, and then either tell them over breakfast or even on the way to the airport. You know how they both love surprises."

His face relaxed then. "They sure do," he said with a smile. "I'm in."

Teddy was taking the girls to school and she had taken her time getting up. She had taken a bath, something she never did when she was on tour. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as she let the warm water and the bubbles soothe her. She let her mind drift, imagining how excited the girls would be. She'd been assured that the crowds were smaller over Thanksgiving, so they'd be able to enjoy the parks, without all the lines. Then she thought back to when she was a young girl, singing with her mother in the sunroom. It had been a carefree time, something she never really seemed to have anymore. That's what I really need. Not a theme park, but someplace quiet, with no one else around. She smiled a little to herself as she pictured it.

"That looks relaxing." She sat up quickly, opening her eyes. She put a hand on her chest, where her heart was pounding. She looked up and saw Teddy smiling down at her. She hadn't heard him walk in.

"Teddy," she whispered. He was still smiling and she realized he could see her bare breasts and knew she was naked under the rapidly dissipating bubbles. She felt self-conscious, something that was certainly ridiculous. He was her husband and he'd seen her naked countless times. But she felt vulnerable, exposed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," he said.

She forced herself not to cover her breasts with her arm, which her instincts wanted her to do. She cleared her throat and breathed in deeply, trying to soothe herself. She forced a smile on her face. "Could you get me a towel, please?" she asked.

"Sure," he said, and he walked over to where she'd laid her towel and brought it over. It was one of those large towels – thank God – and he chivalrously held it out, shielding her. She stood up and carefully stepped out of the tub, then, with her back to him, took the towel and wrapped it around herself before turning back to face him. He smiled sweetly at her. "You look beautiful," he said. "Even in a towel."

She could feel herself blush and she could barely look at him. "Well, I needed to get out anyway, so I'm not late for my meeting." She walked over to the mirror and took her hair down, then flicked her eyes to his reflection in the mirror. "I, uh..." She wasn't sure exactly how to ask him nicely to leave her alone.

Luckily, he figured it out. "Hey, I'm gonna let you get ready. I'll see you downstairs before you leave."

She smiled then. "Thanks, babe." She watched him as he walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom. She put her hands on the counter and looked down, breathing in, then out. She looked back at the mirror and started to pull away the towel to dry off. She stopped and walked over to the bathroom door and closed it, then dried off and got into a robe before exiting to get dressed.

She walked through the main door at the label and headed for the elevator. When she got on, she pressed the button for the top floor, then waited for it to whisk her to the most exclusive floor for Edgehill Republic Records, the label she'd almost singlehandedly turned into one of the most influential labels in Nashville. She'd been their first artist and was now arguably their top artist, although they had a heady stable of talent signed because they wanted to be part of the label that had discovered Rayna Jaymes.

When the elevator arrived at the penthouse and she got off, she still remained impressed at the soaring ceilings, the windows that were just as tall, the quiet elegance of the offices of the top executives. She walked up to the reception desk and smiled.

"Ms. Jaymes," the receptionist said with a deferential smile. "They're waiting for you." She started to get up.

"It's okay. I know my way." She waved as she headed down the hall to the executive boardroom. It was all windows on one side and provided a sweeping view of the Nashville skyline. It still took her breath away. She was a little surprised, when she walked in, to find the label head sitting at the table with Bucky. Bucky had a concerned look on her face, which confused her. They stood up when she entered. "Hey, y'all. What's going on?"

John Hart, who had signed Rayna back when Edgehill Records had been a fledgling label, walked around the table and took her hand in both of his. "Rayna, it's great to see you." He gestured towards the nearest chair and she sat. He walked back around the table and both he and Bucky sat. "I hear the tour went well."

She smiled. "I thought so." She glanced at Bucky. "And we got some great video. We thought maybe we'd put out a live album since time is somewhat short before we hit the road again."

John looked a bit uncomfortable. "That's really what I was hoping to discuss." She frowned. "I think we need a standard album, Rayna. You know as well as I do that live albums don't sell as well. And I must admit I was surprised to find out that's the direction you wanted to take. You've always, since the time we met, kind of thought that was not the right direction for you."

She fidgeted with her hands. "Well, I know, but if we go back out in May, we need to start rehearsals in March." She breathed in. "And I don't have much written, so it might be tough to fill an album."

"You've got a few things on hold. And what about Deacon? I know it's been a while since the two of you have written together, but..."

She shook her head. "That's not really on the table, John." She frowned. "I don't understand this push."

He looked a little surprised. "I guess I just thought that, since you'd had to take some money, that you'd need something a little more...robust to release."

"What? I haven't taken any money." She looked at Bucky.

"We were looking at your accounts here and there have been a couple of withdrawals, back earlier in the year. Pretty sizeable."

"I haven't made any withdrawals," she said, completely confused as well as a little anxious. "And how am I not hearing anything about it until now?"

"Well, Rayna, it's your money. But the extra tour dates don't quite cover the amount."

She felt a mix of anxiety and anger. "So you're saying I'm no better off than I was before I added the extra dates?"

Bucky shook his head. "Basically, no."

She opened her mouth, then closed it. She wouldn't share anything about Teddy's financial dealings, but she was sure he had done this. Which meant the financial damage was much worse than just the significant amount that came from their personal holdings. She put her hands flat on the table. "I don't know what to say," she said tersely. "But it looks like I need to start putting together a track list for a new album. And quickly." She stood up then. "Appreciate it." She quickly grabbed her purse and hurried out of the room.

She ran past the receptionist with a smile and a wave, then out to the elevator lobby. She pressed the button, praying for it to open quickly. Luckily it opened immediately and she got on, hitting the button for the lobby. Then she sank back against the wall, struggling to breathe. Thoughts were racing through her head. Money gone, the need to quickly pull together enough songs for an album, Teddy, her girls. Just when she thought she had figured things out, it felt like everything was slipping through her fingers.

Mercifully, no one else got on the elevator with her. When she got to the lobby level, she headed quickly for the parking deck. Her phone buzzed and she pulled it from her purse. It was Bucky. She debated whether to answer or not, but realized he would just keep calling if she didn't. She lifted the phone to her ear. "Bucky, I can't talk right now. I just can't," she said, hearing the quiver in her voice.

"Okay. Just let me know how I can help." His voice, as always, was soothing. She felt the tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Thanks, Buck," she said and disconnected. She got to her car and got in, locking the door. She breathed in and out, deeply, not wanting to cry, not wanting to give in to all her emotions. She looked at the phone in her hand. The first person she thought of was Deacon, but she knew he was the last person she should reach out to. She needed to figure this out on her own, without putting herself in a precarious position.

She put the phone back in her purse, started the car, and backed out of her parking place.

She pulled into the driveway and got out, walking to the kitchen door and letting herself in. She didn't see Teddy's car, so he obviously wasn't home. She wondered where he was and then decided she wasn't sure she cared. She set her purse on the counter and then walked upstairs to the bedroom, where she changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. She felt numb as she walked back downstairs and around to the music room. She walked in, closing the doors behind her. Standing in the middle of the room, she looked around.

There were framed album covers on the walls for every album she'd done so far. Awards and honors were on shelves and also on the walls. One side of the room had been painted with the musical score for Rose Colored Glasses, her mom's favorite song. A couple notebooks were on the coffee table, along with a coffee mug filled with pencils. On the back wall was a recording booth and in front of it, a studio workstation. Sitting on the workstation was a laptop computer and she walked over and sat down in front of it, turning it on. She spent time cancelling their flights, hotel, rental car, and reservations for the following week, then shut off the computer. Then she put her elbows on the table, clasped her hands and leaned in, resting her forehead. She didn't even want to cry, she just felt disappointed.

"Rayna?" She sat up and turned when she heard her name. Teddy was standing at the door, looking concerned. He walked in. "What's going on?"

She got up from the chair where she was sitting. "I should ask you that, Teddy," she said.

He frowned. "I don't understand."

"Did you think I wouldn't find out that money was missing from my account?" At least he didn't pretend to be confused. "It wasn't enough to use our savings, but you took my money too? How did you even manage to do that?" He opened his mouth, but she shook her head. "Never mind. It doesn't even matter anymore." She sighed. "I cancelled the trip for next week. We really can't afford to pay out several thousand dollars on a trip." She put her hands on her hips. "I think you need to move back to the guest room. I don't even think I can look at you right now. I sure as hell don't want you in my bed." She headed for the door, then turned to look at him. "I'm going over to Sound Check to do some writing, since now I have to do an actual album and I don't have near enough songs for one right now. Then I'll pick up the girls from school."

She left him in the music room and headed for the kitchen. She picked up her purse and keys and went back out to her car. She wasn't really sure what she was going to do next.

She stood in her closet trying to decide what to wear to her father's for the annual Thanksgiving dinner. She never enjoyed going, but especially in light of the financial disaster Teddy had created, she was even less enthused. She had either spent all her time at Sound Check or closed away in her music room. Instead of the roadblock she thought the current circumstances would mean to her creative process, she'd found that she couldn't stop writing. There was song after song of lost love, the rage she'd felt at betrayal, and the crossroads she found herself at, when all the dust had settled. Her spidey sense kept telling her there was more, but she wasn't at all sure she could handle more. How many of the songs would see the light of day was a question, but she felt better.

She had also written a beautiful ballad for her girls, based on something that had woken her up one night, leaving her compelled to write it down before she could fall back asleep. Let me be your sanctuary, let me be your safe place to fall. She'd known instinctively that it was about all the people in her life, those she held dear, those who were truly her family. She had cried as she wrote it and then cried as she started to put it to music. The songs she held closest to her heart were all the songs she and Deacon had written, over all those many years they'd been together. Those songs had told a story of true love and a primal intimacy that she knew didn't come along often. She loved them still, because they told her story, even if that story was over. But this last song was probably the truest version of herself and how she felt the need to be the strength for all the people in her life.

That one was still on her mind as she pulled things in her closet to look at them, not really paying a lot of attention to what she was looking at. She really wanted to put on jeans and a sweater or flannel shirt, along with a pair of Uggs, but that would not be appropriate for Thanksgiving dinner at Lamar Wyatt's. That was always a formal affair, with the same stilted conversation every year, watching the girls squirm uncomfortably with the formalities. She sighed. Finally she pulled out a pair of dressy black slacks and a maroon colored cashmere sweater dusted with tiny sequins. She slid on a pair of black suede booties and added some gold tone jewelry suitable for fall. She brushed her hair out, added some lipstick, and considered herself ready.

She walked down the hallway, sticking her head in each of her girls' rooms. "Maddie, put the book down, sweetheart, it's time to go." "Daphne, you look so pretty. You ready to go?" She got both girls on their way down to the kitchen, where Teddy was waiting for them.

Teddy was smiling at the girls, but it faded a bit when she walked into the room. "Are we ready?" he asked.

She nodded. "I think so." Teddy let them all head out of the house in front of him and then closed and locked the door behind him.

The food was delicious, as always, even if the atmosphere was tense. She picked at her food though, not having much of an appetite. Every now and then, she'd bring something to her mouth, but barely tasted it. Fortunately she had not been Lamar's target that day. Yet. She watched as her father turned his attention to the girls.

"I'm sure you two are happy that your mama's home," he said. He glanced at her and she raised her eyebrows.

"We are, Papaw," Daphne said. "She was gone such a long time." She steeled herself.

"Hopefully she'll stay at home longer this time," he said, sounding pleasant, but she knew he did not mean it that way. "A mama needs to be home with her children."

She dropped her fork on her plate. Everyone looked at her. Tandy, who was sitting next to her, touched her arm lightly. "Daddy, I think the girls know that I wouldn't stay out any longer than I have to. And I'm always home for the most important things. Like the holidays, their birthdays."

"And we get to go out on the road with her in the summer," Maddie offered, smiling.

He looked at her and smiled, but she could see nothing pleasant in his eyes. "Well, now that you girls are getting older, maybe she'll cut back some."

He had never stopped picking at her, trying to make her feel bad for the path she had chosen, especially after the girls came along. He wouldn't know, of course, that they were living on the edge, after all the terrible financial decisions Teddy had made. If it weren't for her, they would be living on the street. But she'd spent the past week pouring out her emotions onto the pages of her notebooks and all of that was still close to her heart. She took her napkin from her lap and put it on the table. She started to get up, looking over at Teddy.

"I really have a terrible headache, Teddy," she said. She gave her best polite Belle Meade smile. "I hate to do this to everyone, but I need to leave." She looked at Maddie and Daphne. "Let's go, girls."

Daphne made a face. "But we haven't even had dessert yet."

Her father gave her a cold look. "I'm sure we have something here you can take, Rayna, and you can lie down."

"No, Daddy, I appreciate that, but I really want to lay down on my own bed." She started for the door. "Girls, we'll have some dessert later on after we're home."

Tandy rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Please, sweetheart, don't go," she whispered fiercely. "Don't let him get your goat. Think about the girls."

"I am thinking about the girls, Tandy. I don't want them to be around someone who openly doesn't support their mother." She shook off Tandy's hand. "Besides, I really do have a headache. About more than this."

Tandy frowned. "What's going on?"

She waved her hand. "I don't really want to talk about it." She turned back towards the dining room. "Let's go, Maddie, Daphne." The girls looked confused, but then her father appeared at the door.

"Maybe you should think about whether your insistence on continuing your career is more important than being home for your family, Rayna," he said, narrowing his eyes.

She set her jaw, then walked to the coat closet and pulled out her coat as well as the girls'. "Let's get out of here," she said to Teddy, and walked out the front door, letting Teddy and the girls come behind her.

"Why was Papaw saying all those things?" Maddie asked, as they headed for the car.

"I don't know," she said. "I think maybe your Papaw had too much to drink and lost his manners." She caught a glance of Teddy smirking and, even despite their own issues, she appreciated that he saw things her way.

Deacon

He picked up his keys to head out to the airport. He looked around one last time. He'd spent the previous day getting things ready for Scarlett and Avery. He wasn't usually much for housework, but he'd made the effort to straighten things up and do some basic cleaning. He'd hesitated about the bedrooms, wondering if the two of them expected to stay together. He frowned, thinking about it. She was still his little niece, although he realized she was a grown woman now. He still felt protective and worried that this Avery guy would take advantage of her. He'd put clean sheets on both beds, just to be safe.

He walked out the front door and then down the steps to the street. He got into his truck and headed for the airport.

"Uncle Deacon! Uncle Deacon!" He spotted her as she ran down the escalator steps, skidding just a little when she got off. A smile lit up her face and she practically bounced over to him, throwing her arms around his waist and hugging him tight. He couldn't help but smile. Ever since she was a little thing, she'd been cheerful and happy, in spite of the environment she'd been raised in.

"Hey there, girl," he said as he hugged her back. "How was the flight?"

She stepped back, bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands together. "It was great. Thank you so much for paying for the tickets." She turned back and reached her hand out for what looked like a kid. He was short and slight, with short brown hair that looked like he was growing it out. "This is Avery Barkley. Avery, this is my uncle, the famous Deacon Claybourne."

He laughed and shook his head. "I ain't famous, Scarlett."

Scarlett rolled her eyes at him playfully, then looked at Avery. "He's Rayna Jaymes' bandleader. He's famous." She looked back at him and smiled.

He shook his head again, then reached a hand out to Avery. "Glad to meet you, Avery," he said. Avery eagerly shook his hand and he couldn't help but think Scarlett's boyfriend might be a brownnoser.

"It's really great to meet you, sir," Avery said.

He raised an eyebrow. "I ain't a sir neither. Deacon's fine." Now he knew it.

"I hope to maybe get to pick your brain about songwriting while we're here, sir, I mean, Deacon."

"I'm sure we'll get the chance to do that," he said, then turned to Scarlett. "I'll take y'all by the house so you can get settled in. I got a show at the Bluebird tonight on account of Thanksgiving being on my regular Thursday. Thought y'all might like to go."

She grabbed his arm. "Yes! Yes! The famous Bluebird." She looked over at Avery, then back at him. "Avery's a songwriter. Really good at it too. I know he'll like that." She looked back at Avery. "Wouldn't you, baby?" He winced a little at the endearment. He hoped this Avery guy didn't hurt her someday.

Avery smiled. "Absolutely."

"Well, let's get going," he said and headed for the airport exit.

He hugged her hard. He didn't see her as often as he liked and it had been great to have her in Nashville for a few days. Avery turned out to be okay, if a little too intense when trying to make a good impression. The kid was a good songwriter though, based on what he'd shared. And he had slept in a separate bedroom from Scarlett, so he at least understood the unspoken rules.

"Thank you so much for having us," she said.

"I'm glad y'all could come," he said. He winked at her. "Be sure you give your mama a big hug for me."

She laughed, that laugh that sounded like little tinkling bells. "Hopefully she just ain't gonna be too mad still," she said.

Avery stuck out his hand. "Thanks for having us," he said.

"Well, Avery, I'm glad I got to meet you," he replied, shaking the younger man's hand. He then pointed at Scarlett. "You just take good care of her."

Avery nodded. "I will."

He watched as the two of them headed for the terminal doors. Scarlett turned back and waved and he raised his hand and smiled at her. He waited until they were through the doors and then he went back to his truck and got in. His duffle and guitar were in the back and he was headed back up to the cabin. He turned the ignition but before he could put the truck in gear to head out his phone buzzed. He frowned and picked it up. He was surprised to see Rayna's name. He lifted the phone to his ear. "Hey."

"Hey," she said. "I was hoping maybe you had just a few minutes to talk. Oh wait, is Scarlett still here?"

"Nah, I just dropped them off at the airport." He paused. "What's going on?"

"No, I mean talk at your place. Can you meet me?"

He was curious now. "Uh, yeah, I can do that."

"Okay. See you there."

He disconnected and stared at the phone for a moment, then set it down. He put the truck in gear and headed for the exit, wondering why in the world Rayna Jaymes wanted to talk to him the Friday after Thanksgiving. And, for that matter, why she was in Nashville when she was supposed to be out of town with her family. He breathed out, shook his head, and headed for home.

A/N: It's exciting for me to know y'all are looking forward to every chapter. I wish I could get them out faster, but I really do a lot of proofing and rewriting so I really feel like I'm putting something out there you'll enjoy. So patience! ;-) Also, I do have the outline of the next Bristen and another Deyna story in the works.