Come and find me

Highway 65

Today is a special day for the fifteen year old Daphne Conrad. She will finally sign with the record company that her mom started, Highway 65. Even as a little girl she had always known that she wanted to be in the music industry. Fortunately, she has all the talent that is needed to fulfill a dream this big. Because of her famous mom she basically grew up in the music industry. She already knows how to face that inner doubt that every songwriter has to deal with and she was determined to stay true to herself as an artist, no matter what. Technically speaking the fifteen year old already had a contract with the label but this time it was different. Years ago, her mom had decided to sign her and her sister Maddie, knowing that it was the only way to protect her little girls from this sometimes cruel industry. Daphne is already an artist but after today, the young girl would be able to call herself a recording artist.

Deacon had invited everyone who was important to the label or to Daphne. Maddie, Scarlett, Bucky, Zach, Glenn, who would now manage her career, and Ilse, her mentor on Nashville's Next. Juliette had decided to fully step away from the spotlight and to focus on her family. She would never be able to quit music but she did not need the fame anymore in order to enjoy the music. She would take some time for herself and figure out who she was as a songwriter and producer. However, this also meant that Glenn needed a new job. Deacon didn't even need to think about asking Glenn. He knew that Glenn would take care of his daughter as if she was his own and that he would do everything to protect her from the media. After working with Juliette Barnes Glenn probably had more experience with the tabloids than any other manager in Nashville.
Deacon had come home from his tour only two days ago. It felt good to be on a stage again and even though in the beginning it had felt a little weird to be in the limelight, he realized it was something he could get used to. The applause gave him a satisfied feeling that could not even be replaced by alcohol. After all, it is often said that applause it harder to get off than heroine. For years he had lived the life that many artists write about. He knew all about life on the road, one night stands, unreachable love and addiction. Now it was time to tell his own story. It was time to tell the people how he struggled with alcohol, how he met the love of his life, how he would do everything to be with her and how thankful he was for his two beautiful girls. When he was on the road, Daphne and Maddie had had the house for themselves. This way Maddie would be able to show that she was responsible enough to live on her own and Daphne would have some time to figure things out. Of course Scarlett and Bucky also kept an eye on them and the girls had promised to call their father every day.

Gideon, Deacon's father, had now found a place to live on his own. After the incident with Daphne, he hadn't touched another bottle. The girls loved him and had forgiven him for the pain he had caused their father. Yes, in the beginning Maddie immediately tried to solve all the problems that Deacon had with Gideon. However, she later came to realize that Deacon's father was one of the causes that her father started drinking and therefore also one of the reasons that her parents could not be together for so many years. This had caused her to grow up without knowing that Deacon was her father instead of Teddy. To her, Teddy would always be one of her two daddies, no matter what would happen. The only difference was that she would never be able to bond with him the way she was able to connect with Deacon. Teddy really loved her and her sister and they would always be his daughters. He just didn't speak the language of music. Both Maddie and Daphne saw Gideon as their grandfather. Things happen the way they happen and to both of them it was 'okay' that they had missed those years with him.

Daphne hadn't been able to get a lot of sleep, this was a very exciting day. It felt like she would finally have that second home. When she, Maddie and Deacon arrived at the office, Zach, Scarlett and Bucky were already there. Deacon and Zach gave each other a hand and Daphne and Maddie walked over to Scarlett to give her a hug. Scarlett had always been like another big sister. They loved her and they knew that she would always be there if they needed her. A minute later the photographer arrived and they only had to wait for Glenn who could be there any moment. When she heard the door Daphne turned her head assuming it'd be Glenn. Much to her surprise a blonde woman entered the room, Ilse. She walked up to Daphne and said with a big smile "You didn't really think that I was going to miss this important moment, did you?" Daphne was positively surprised and gave her former mentor a hug. With her arms still around the girl, Ilse smiled at Deacon who had invited her. Maddie and Scarlett gave each other a look that made it clear they had both noticed the little moment. They both had no idea that Deacon had invited Ilse. Maddie now understood that Daphne's contract was not the only reason for her father's enthusiasm.

After the finale of Nashville's Next the guitar player had held Ilse's hand briefly and she had asked him about his headlining tour. Nothing too meaningful was said but it was clear that they liked each other's company. Nashville might be a big city but it feels like a small town. The only reason they hadn't run into each other was because they both disliked the industry parties. They didn't know each other but they did know the other person's songs. In Nashville, hundreds of songs are written every day. They both new that writing together means that you have to share a part of your life with someone. Even if you don't know that person very well.
Rayna and Deacon had written many hits together. Sometimes it seemed like the two were speaking music. Every time when they were not able to say what they were really feeling they would write it down. Sometimes alone, often together. For many people it is hard to find the right words or the right chords but for the two of them it was easy. Deacon had written some songs after Rayna's death; most of them about her. He had learned to write again and to process things with the help of songwriting but after Rayna's death he hadn't written with someone else. It had felt too personal and he did not know what would happen if he would go there. He would probably get lost in the pain when he would even talk about her. He wanted to. He just couldn't. When Ilse had asked him to write sometime he wasn't scared. After hearing that song about her father "love goes on", he knew that she would understand him. He also trusted her because of the way she had treated Daphne. She seemed to be a very positive person and he felt like he could use some of that happiness after everything that he had been through.

After the a little flirty conversation the girls had teased him about a possible romance. He knew that it was difficult for his daughters, especially for Daphne, to see him with someone else than their mom. He understood it and it was okay because he knew that they both wanted him to be happy. Maybe he did move on to fast with Jessie. He didn't regret it because she had really helped him and at that point she might have been just what he needed: someone who could help him to get out of that dark cave. He smiled at the idea of Daphne getting along so well with Ilse. Ilse hadn't helped her because she got paid to do it, she did it because the fifteen year old reminded her of herself when she was a teenager. Hopefully the woman hadn't heard the teasing comments from Maddie, Daphne and Scarlett after their conversation.
Meanwhile everybody had arrived at the Highway 65 office and Daphne couldn't wait to sign her contract. They all gathered in Deacon's office and after a little speech the girl became the youngest artist of Highway 65. Applause followed and the Daphne knew that this was a moment she would never forget. As a little joke her older sister Maddie had brought a bottle of that way to sweet children's Champaign. Scarlett had brought a delicious homemade pie. It was at the end of the day and most of the employees had already left the office so that the family could celebrate the record deal. They were having some drinks and pie while they enjoyed being together. Everybody was curious what the future would hold for Daphne. It was obvious that this girl was touched by God.

After he had finished his cake deacon left to go to the bathroom to wash his hands. After about ten minutes he still hadn't come back. Ilse, who wanted to redo her lipstick, went looking for a mirror. After she had left the group she saw Deacon leaning against one of the desks. A sad expression covered his face. She knew what he was thinking about. The first episode of Nashville's Next, her first performance at the Grand Ole Opry, every single bluebird performance. She always thought about her father when she did something for the first time or when one of her dreams came true. At that moment she just wished that he would be able to see her because she knew that he would have been proud.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked with a kind voice while she came closer. She already knew the answer but this was an easy way to start a conversation. He looked up and she saw the pain in his red eyes. "Yeah I'm fine. It's just times like these that I wish… I'm okay." He wiped his tears away with his sleeve. He didn't want to talk about her right now. He also didn't want to cry in Ilse's presence. "That she would have been able to see this?" Ilse finished his sentence.
Deacon nodded. "She would have been really proud of her. And of you." The woman hesitated a little before she said the last part. He looked at her, hoping for some kind of explanation. She took a seat next to him on the desk and responded "This world is not easy you know, especially not when you are young. It can break you. Daphne is super talented and people are going to want things from her. It is important to have the right people around you. People who you can trust and people who will protect you. You know that. With this label you can give that to her. Running a record company is not always as fun as being on a stage and I know that it must have been quite a challenge to compete with the big dogs on Music Row. You kept it going and now you are able to give her a place where she can discover who she is as an artist. I didn't know Rayna but I do believe that this is one of the reasons why she started this label." "Thank you, really. I always thought that I needed to do this for Rayna. She started Highway 65 because she wanted a refuge for artists. She really had to fight for this. It feels like I would leave her, again, if I gave up. I've been trying so hard to move on that I forgot how much this label could mean to Maddie and Daphne as artists." Tears rolled over his cheeks when he said that last sentence. This time he didn't care. "I really want to do right but sometimes I just don't know how. I'm still a guitar player. Everybody expects me to know what I'm doing and to move on with my life and I need to stay strong for the girls, they need me." Ilse put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at her. "Deacon, please listen to me. You will always love her and you will always miss her. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But you don't have to keep this pain inside of you forever. Take your time and do what feels right, but don't hide it."

These words hit him. They did not really know each other but Ilse was right. He now realized that moving on didn't mean that he needed to stop missing her. With his eyes still red, he got up on his feet and pulled Ilse in for a real hug. It was a thank you that could not have been said with words and a desperate need for comfort at the same time.
Meanwhile, the others were leaving the conference room. Laughing and joking with each other. Both Maddie and Daphne saw the two together and they did not know how to interpret it. Maddie said laughing "Seems like dad ain't opposed to this either."