Chapter 10:
The album was a bona fide hit, but the label was another story. Rayna couldn't have imagined how difficult it could be to work with young artists. She thought that would be the easy part, finding talent, nurturing it and watching her artists grown. She didn't realize it was going to be like adding a group of teenagers to her already complicated life.
Her first artist was officially Deacon's niece Scarlett. She knew Scarlett since she was a baby but had no idea how amazingly talented she was until Watty insisted he give her and her partner an audition. Her partner Gunnar never showed but Rayna was blown away. Scarlett signed but backed out a week before starting to record, explaining she couldn't do it without Gunnar and she never should have signed without him in the first place. Rayna was hesitant to add Gunnar to her label. She didn't want to have any issues, and between Watty telling her they were the next Rayna and Deacon and Gunnar being brutally honest about why he didn't show, she didn't think it was worth the trouble but Scarlett was family and that is what she wanted her label to be, so her second artist was the duo that was Scarlett and Gunnar. Her next big find was Will Lexington, a friend of Scarlett's. They had agreed to a deal and sealed it with a handshake but before Rayna could have the papers drawn up, Marshall from Edgehill stole him right from under her. She then signed an indie band that had a good following, but they practically broke up halfway through recording their first album and she wasn't sure how stable they would be.
She had a lot riding on this label, and she couldn't seem to get things going with any sort of consistency. She was currently the only artist releasing a record and making any money. Thankfully, her album was making a killing. Liam was a wildcard and not a traditional producer for a country album, but it worked. She also didn't mind the personal release he offered. There were a few late night make out sessions and a trip to St. Lucia. He was young and fun, and she appreciated the escape, but she knew it wouldn't last. Right before the album release, she officially called it quits on their romantic entanglements much to his disappointment. He claimed she broke his heart, but she knew better, men like Liam didn't stay in love long, there would always be another woman in another city, and she would just become some anecdote he would tell at a party someday.
She was however, seeing a lot of Luke Wheeler. Luke was a friend from her early touring days and was one of the most well-known countries artist of their time. They had seen each other over the years but it wasn't until the past fall that they started to really get to know one another. He had asked her to sing at a charity event he was putting together in Napa. It was his event she was flying to the morning after her fight with Deacon. She was devastated and though she didn't tell him why, he did his level best to cheer her up. He didn't succeed that night, but he did manage to get a foot in the door, and he had been opening it wider and wider ever since. He agreed to put Scarlett and Gunnar on his tour which helped to soften her to him. She was also surprised when he announced, on one of their regular phone calls, that Deacon would be joining his tour as a solo artist.
She wasn't even aware that he was pursuing a solo career. It was something he tried early on in their relationship and she was always encouraging but after a disappointing album and no luck finding a major tour to pick him up, he resigned himself to being her guitarist and band leader. She always wondered if he regretted not trying harder, but he always claimed it was his decision to be the man behind her and had no regrets about that. She had to wonder now if he was changing his mind.
It wasn't the solo career that struck her as odd as much as Luke asking him to join the tour and Deacon agreeing. Though they all started off as friends, Deacon grew to dislike Luke. They had gotten into a few fights early on and he hit the roof when Luke had filled in for him when he missed a gig because he was drunk. He was convinced Luke had a thing for Rayna and was trying to come between them, but Rayna always blew it off as if Deacon were crazy. Back then Deacon thought every guy was making a play for her whether it was true or not. Rayna was also hesitant to believe that Luke forgave Deacon for breaking his nose in their last fight. He couldn't sing for weeks and had to miss out on playing on George Strait's tour, which couldn't be easily forgotten or forgiven. When Rayna brought it up, Luke laughed and called it water on the bridge, and she decided to go with it.
On the Deacon front things were also a little better. They hadn't been able to move onto friendship, but he did seem to soften. Maybe that had more to do with him and Stacie, she didn't know but she was grateful. Daphne was a fan and talked about how cool it was that Stacie was a Vet and how fun it was when she would bring her dog over to Deacon's. She always wanted a dog but the life of two traveling artists didn't lend itself well to having pets, so this was, in some way, a nice compromise for her. Maddie was still on the fence, but she was friendly enough according to Deacon, so Rayna didn't push the subject. It was nice seeing him happy and he seemed to be lighter and more fun, not too dissimilar to how he was last summer, before everything exploded.
When Rayna was finalizing her tour, Luke was adamant they cross paths as much as possible. She figured it wasn't a bad idea with having to co-parent with Deacon this year on separate tours. Maddie of course was refusing to go out on the road at all, but for at least part of the summer Rayna was insisting she spend time with her family. Rayna just about blew a gasket when Maddie casually asked her grandfather if she could stay with him this summer instead of "going out on some stupid tour". Lamar, in his glory, told her that of course she could, he would even give her an internship at his office. Maddie gladly accepted only to be told by her mother that it would happen over her dead body. Maddie threw a fit but was pacified when she agreed to let her stay with Tandy for three weeks and Talia for two weeks, as long as they and Deacon agreed. Deacon begrudging agreed and the tour was finalized.
The last thing she had to do was to go over some details with Deacon before she could consider the tour planning officially done. That's what brought her to Deacon's doorstep today. She knocked a few times on the door but he didn't answer, which was strange since he knew she was coming. His truck was out front, and his windows were open, so she was sure he was home. She tried the door and found it unlocked. She felt out of place being here now, especially since he had a serious girlfriend. She called out his name but got no response. She hesitantly decided to check his bedroom but before she made it there something in the bathroom caught her eye.
"Deacon!" she screamed as she ran into the bathroom. He was passed out in front of the bathtub his face pale. "Deacon, baby, wake up," she urged.
He started to come to and let out a groggy "Ray". She helped him sit up slowly. "What happened?"
"I have the same question for you. You didn't answer the door and I found you like this. Do you remember what happened?" she was anxious, more than that she was scared.
He rubbed his head still a little loopy, "I got sick," he said looking up at her confusion on his face. "I think… I guess I was leaning back against the tub and… I must have passed out."
"Are you feeling sick now," she asked concerned.
"No," he said shaking his head.
"Okay babe then let's get you into bed," she said before helping him off the floor.
"No, the couch." She acquiesced and he leaned on her as they made their way to the couch. He sat down but his face paled again so he quickly laid down. "Now I remember. I was dizzy and got sick." He looked over at Rayna who was sitting on the coffee table looking more than a little scared now. "It's okay baby", he said reaching out to squeeze her hand, "I think the new medication I'm on doesn't agree with me," he finished trying to give her a smile.
"Where is the medication?" she said standing. She hated to feel out of control and the only thing she could think to do was to act.
"Kitchen, why?"
She didn't answer but made her way to the kitchen grabbing all his medications and bringing them into the living room, then she pulled out her phone and began dialing. "Which one made you dizzy," she asked as she held the phone to her ear.
"Rayna its fine."
"Which one?" He shook his head knowing there was no point in arguing. He looked at the bottles then handed her the medication in question. For the next few minutes she alternated between asking him questions, which obviously a nurse or doctor was asking her, listening and nodding. When she finally got off the phone, she sat back down and handed him a glass of water. He thanked her and took a healthy drink before sitting it on the table beside her. She continued to watch him trying to work out what to say.
"Rayna, you're not really a quiet person and it makes me a little nervous when you stare at me like that."
"How serious is this thing?" It wasn't until finding him passed out that she realized she never actually asked him about his liver issues.
"Not bad," he answered but her face told him she was expecting more than that. He sighed, "it's stage two which means there is irreversible damage but nothing I can't live with."
"What if happens if it gets worse?"
"It won't."
"What happens?"
"If it gets worse than I am going to need to have a liver transplant most likely." At his words she stood and grabbed her purse. "Ray where are you going?"
"The doctor said the dosage was probably too high and called you in a new prescription. I am going to go pick it up for you."
"Rayna, you probably got a million things to do today, I'll go get it," he made a motion to get up, but she put her hands on his shoulders to stop him.
"Oh no you don't. You are in no condition to drive. You stay here and rest and I will go." At that she quickly made her way to the door not even looking back.
He knew what was wrong with her. He had scared her, and she needed time to process what happened and to calm herself down. He hated having someone taking care of him, especially her. She has spent so many nights taking care of him when he was sick from too much whiskey and nursing him through all day hangovers. He didn't want her to have to take care of him now as well. He was going through a list of all his sins, making sure they were all accounted for when he drifted off to sleep.
Deacon woke a few hours later to find Rayna sitting at his dining room table. She had a laptop in front of her and was talking quietly to whom he assumed was Bucky. He made a groan and she turned her head to see that he was up.
"Deacon's up, I have to let you go Buck, talk to you tomorrow." She walked over to him and touched his hand and then his forehead, like she often did when the girls were sick. "How you feelen?"
"Fine Rayna. What are you still doing here?" he asked as he sat up slowly.
"I didn't want to leave you until I was sure you were okay."
He looked at the clock and noticed it was just past five. "What about the girls?"
"I called Scarlett to let her know what happened and she volunteered to gets the girls so I could stay with you. She was on that side of town anyway. You hungry? The doctor said you should eat something with your medication," she finished as she made her way to the kitchen not even giving him a chance to answer.
"I'm not hungry Rayna," he yelled after her. Despite his protest she arrived a few minutes later with toast, water and his medication. He dutifully took his meds and nibbled on his toast.
"Deacon, I don't think this tour is a good idea."
"Rayna," he said, warning her to back off.
"I'm serious Deacon, what if something happens? Does Luke know you're sick?"
"No and I want it to stay that way, you hear me on this Rayna?" he gave her a firm look and she knew he wouldn't back down.
"Okay," she said putting up her hands in surrender. "Who else knows?"
"Apart from you? Scarlett and Stacie."
"I know you don't want to tell anyone, but I think we should tell the girls." Deacon started to protest but she cut him off. "I know you don't want to scare them or worry them but Deacon, I found you passed out, what if that was Maddie or Daphne? I don't want them to go through something like that but if they know that you have this disease then they can be on the lookout for when you are feeling sick or dizzy and god forbid something happens, they will know what to do and not to panic, like I did."
"Christ Rayna if that was you panicking…," he said trying to make a joke out of her cool composure.
"This isn't funny Deacon!"
She looked like she was ready to cry, and he hated to see her like that.
"I know Ray," he said as he reached over to grab her hands in hers. "I just hate all this. I did this to myself and it's my punishment, I accept that, but I don't want you or Scarlett or the girls taking care of me. I should be taken care of you all."
"Deacon, you don't deserve this."
"Baby, I spent fifteen years bathing my liver in cheap whiskey, I absolutely deserve this, but you and the girls don't, you never did," he finished wiping a stray tear from her cheek. Look, I don't want the girls to worry but if it makes you feel better, we can tell them, but I don't want to make this a big thing okay? I'm fine, it was just a medication mix-up." Rayna nodded her head and let out a deep breath. "Hey, I got something for you."
"You do?" she looked at him curiously.
"Yupp," he slowly got up from the couch and walked over to his satchel pulling out a thumb drive. He walked back to the couch and handed it to her.
"You shouldn't have," she said smiling at him.
He laughed. "It's a thumb drive Rayna, you know where you store digital stuff," he said dryly.
That made her laugh. "Oh, I know what it is, I just can't believe you do." Deacon rolled his eyes at her.
"It's my album," he said proudly.
"Deacon! Babe, that awesome, let's listen to it."
He stopped her from getting up. "You can listen to it later. It's not the final cut. Before it's finished, I wanted to run something by you." She tilted her head encouraging him to ask.
"I did it live at the Bluebird, that's what I'm callen it as well…"
"You should have told me, I would have been there," she said honestly.
He chuckled, "you were busy with your own album and the label but the girls where there, and that's what I want to talk to you about."
"Okay," she said cautiously.
"Well you know Maddie has been dying to get up on that stage…"
"Deacon," she said warning him to tread lightly here.
"…and I think we can both agree, we want the girls to have a childhood and not get into this crazy business, but I think we both know that is exactly where they are heading, whether we like it or not." Rayna sighed but nodded her head in agreement. "Now I told them that it was just for fun and I wouldn't release it, but I let them sing 'A Life That's Good' with me and its amazing Ray. I want to release it as a kinda bonus track."
"Deacon, I really don't know if that's a good idea," she said rubbing her forehead.
"I get it, I do and if your final decision is no then I am good with that but just listen to it first okay?"
"Okay,"
"Okay," he repeated.
"Now, you are looken as tired as I feel so why don't you go home, snuggle up with those talented little people of ours and relax."
She narrowed her eyes at him, "so your sayen I look like hell."
"Never Ray. I'm sayen you took care of me all day long and you deserve a little break. Besides, you are going to need all the energy you can get before goen out on that big tour of yours." He gave her one of his million-dollar smiles. She just shook her head at him then got up to gather her stuff to leave. "Thanks Rayna," he said honestly.
She smiled at him and nodded before walking out the door.
God, he loved that woman he thought as he laid back down to count his blessings.