Introduction: Taking place many decades in the future, Rayna has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease late in her life (she doesn't die in the end btw). Maddie (a successful musician) and Daphne (the current CEO of Highway 65) are adults now both married and have children. Deacon and Rayna have been happily married and have been living full time at the cabin. He's been struggling to care for her in his advanced age, and Maddie decides to step up and move her parents in with her to relieve the stress on Deacon.
Maddie sat in her office, her desk placed strategically so she could look out the massive window that showed the rolling hills of the 16 acres of land she and her now husband Colt Wheeler owned. They reconnected after Colt finished his training in the Army to which he's still active in. They have two children together, a son named Lucas John whose 10 and a daughter named Stella Ray whose 8. Colt wanted to raise their kids out of the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, and their tiny farm was the perfect place to do it. Maddie really enjoyed the simple life they had there.
Maddie's music career really blew up and she's a pretty successful Pop Star. She spends most of her time in Nashville now writing and goes out to California when she needs too. But that will all be put on pause due to her mothers declining health.
Rayna has been battling Alzheimer's disease for the last 5 years. It's been a painfully slow decline, and Deacon has gratefully suffered through it. She's still lucid and can still do a lot for herself but it is becoming evident that the disease isn't slowing down. Deacon's been very strong but Rayna is becoming hard to handle alone.
They've been living in their cabin full time, which was a godsend in the beginning but it's not going to be safe for much longer.
"How's the letter coming along babe" Colt walked into Maddie's office and began to rub her shoulders.
She looked up at him and pouted, "it's so much harder to do this then I thought".
"Can I read what you have so far" his lips rested on the top of her head.
"Sure" Maddie moved over so her husband could see the computer screen, and he read her letter;
As you may know, our dear mother Rayna Jaymes has been battling Alzheimer's disease. We were reluctant to tell the world of her diagnosis, since our mom took pride in keeping our private lives private. But it was important to her to show those who also are suffering with this disease that they aren't alone.
We plan to continue to update y'all as often as possible and as long as our mom is okay with it. She and our father have been dealing with this head on and unfortunately things have and will become more difficult for one person to do alone.
We tell you this because Maddie has decided to take a break from the road to help care for our mother. She will continue to write and record but she will remain home with her family. And of course Daphne will hold down the fort at Highway 65 and keep our mother's spirit in it as much as .
Thank you all for your love and support you've shown us over the years. We appreciate you and know that we love you immensely.
-Maddie, Daphne, and Deacon
"I think that is perfectly written babe" Colt looked to Maddie with a smile.
"You think so? I don't want it to sound too robotic, but not too much like a sap fest either you know" her hands ran through her hair.
"I do think so, it's the perfect mesh of robot and sap. You should send it to Daphne and your dad. I think they'll agree" Colt assured her.
Maddie agreed and sent her dad and sister the finished letter, just as she hit send voices rang out asking for a snack.
The early morning sun bounced off the windows, right into Deacons eyes waking him up slowly. He turned over to expecting to see Rayna and of course she wasn't there.
His heart skipped a beat, she'd been getting up way earlier then normal these days. He'd find her outside, too close to the water, or wandering down the driveway confused as to where she was. He jumped out of bed and ran out of their bedroom, down the small hallway and to the kitchen.
There she was, coffee in hand, staring out the window at the dewey morning glow. Deacon let out an audible breath that caught Raynas attention.
"Good morning sleepyhead" she said with the biggest smile.
"Good morning Ray" he walked over to her and kissed her softly.
"I'm not an invalid you know. I can get myself up and make a cup of coffee" she added as she sat on a bar stool at the kitchen island.
"I know baby, I know. I'm sorry. I worry a lot these days" he was rummaging around the kitchen trying to find his favorite coffee cup.
Rayna walked up behind him, opened the cabinet right next to the fridge and took out his cup. "See…not an invalid" she smirked, "maybe you're the one loosing your mind not me" Rayna lovingly rubbed his back.
"Honestly you're probably right" they both laughed.
They sat out on the front porch in their matching rockers, taking in the day. It would be their last one here together for a while. Today they'd be moving in with Maddie and Colt and the grand babies.
Rayna couldn't live at their beloved cabin anymore which really killed Deacon. He wanted to live there with her until they died. But there are too many doors and not enough eyes to make sure nothing happens. They planned to come back when the time was right, just to visit, maybe with the whole family.
Deacon looked over at Rayna, her hair still the beautiful auburn it had always been, maybe not as natural anymore but still beautiful. He could tell she knew what was happening, she was really taking it all in.
"When's Maddie coming over? I want to make cookies before they get here" Rayna asked breaking the silence.
"They texted a bit ago, they should be here soon. I don't think you'll have time to make cookies Ray. Besides all of our stuff is packed away" he could tell that she was trying not to be disappointed but he could read her like a book. "But hey, maybe you can make some when we get to Maddie's. The kids would love to do that with you", that instantly cheered her up.
Before long Colt and Daphnes husband Evan pulled up with the moving van, Maddie and Daphne were right behind in an SUV.
"Look all this! You'd think we're moving across the country with this van" Rayna stood up and hugged Maddie as she came up the front porch step.
Daphne was right behind, carrying her new baby Nora. Maddie's two came up with hugs for their grandparents. They haven't reached the top cool for hugs stage yet.
"Oh I know! This was the only van available" Daphne passed her baby to Deacon and stood arm in arm with her mom. "I told Evan it was gonna be too big but I don't know what I'm talking about" mother and daughter giggled.
"We're very glad you all could come help move all these boxes. Lord knows there's a ton" Rayna remarked.
"It shouldn't be a problem. We've got lots of strapping men, right Lucas" Daphne ruffled her nephews dark brown mop of hair.
He smirked and held his arms up to show his muscles, "oh yeah".
They spent the entire morning and a lot of the afternoon moving all the boxes and furniture Deacon and Rayna wanted to bring with them. Some stuff would stay, they wouldn't need a lot of furniture or kitchen appliances but they did have a lot of crap.
"I think we're all done, Mom are you ready to go" Maddie asked Rayna who was laying on the couch in the living room with the baby.
"No, but I don't think I have a choice" she shed a small tear.
"It's gonna be okay Ray, I promise" Deacon sat beside her and kissed her temple.
Everyone gathered up and piled into the SUV, Colt and Evan got in the moving van. They drove off, Deacon and Rayna held hands tightly.
"Our new adventure awaits" Deacon whispered in Raynas ear.
The months after Deacon and Rayna moved in flew by. Maddie was enjoying their company and the kids loved having them there too.
Deacon taught Lucas A Life That's Good on the guitar which made him really happy that his grandson shared his talent. He couldn't get Stella to learn though, was a lot like her grandmother and couldn't really pick up playing. She sang along though, and music echoed through the house it was beautiful.
It was really late one night, Maddie and Rayna we're still up watching the latest episode of The Batchelor.
It ended and Maddie looked to her mom, "Can I ask something"
"Sure honey" Rayna turned towards her.
"Do you remember the first time you met dad" Maddie reluctantly asked, bracing for an answer she might not be expecting
She remembers the nights he'd come calling
His yellow-silk tie
In love she saw him falling for her in the fire of July
Maddie smiled and listened to her mother tell their story...
Then one day as the nights grew longer
Blackberry winter in a little white church
Stood a young pretty bride
Forever changed,
Nothing ever stays the same
Forever named,
Forever changed
"What about the day I was born" Maddie asked, she realized how special this was and began recording her mother on her phone. This was something she could look back on in the future.
"Oh, I remember like it was yesterday"
She remembers the change in her body
The blooming within
And how her heart seemed to flutter with the wind
Then one night as the days grew longer
That Indian summer
She brought love into the world
Cried and held me then
Forever changed,
Nothing ever stays the same
Forever child,
Forever changed
They spent the whole rest of the night chatting about the past, remembering funny stories from Maddie's growing up. It was like Rayna was her old self again.
Years passed and as it does, Alzheimer's took more and more of Rayna. She never lost her spirit! She never lost her voice either.
The family would find her listening to the radio, or at the piano humming a tune. Music always brought her back even if it was brief.
It was evident though that she was slowing down. She sat in her recliner longer then she used too, she couldn't go for long walks anymore, she spent a lot of time watching the world pass by...
Somedays she'll talk about aunt Tandy
The sister she lost
Asking when she's coming over
And why she hasn't called
Maddie clung to her mother, Daphne too when she was able to come by. The three of them would sit together, not a single word shared...
Somedays I just hold her fragile hand
As time creeps across the floor
Somedays it almost kills me
To watch her memories slip away a little more
Forever changed
Maddie spent a lot of time writing, way more then she had since she was a teenager. She'd listen to the recording she had from when her mom and Deacon first moved in. It really inspired her and she wrote a song about it, called Forever Changed. She recorded it in her studio, even asked her dad to sing back up on it.
They could barley make it through the song at first, it was almost too real. But they pushed on and it sounded amazing.
They played it for Rayna, who clearly took the song in the way she would when she was managing Highway 65. She was so moved by it that it made her cry.
"Aww Ray, do you like the song? Maddie wrote it just for you baby" Rayna was cuddling up to Deacon her eyes filled with tears.
"It's a beautiful song Maddie" she reached out and squeezed her daughters hand.
From that day, every so often they'd hear Rayna singing the very last verse of that song Maddie wrote...
Nothing ever stays the same
Forever named,
Forever child,
Forever loved,
Forever changed.
