Rayna
Maddie resisted going down for her nap, so it took a little longer than normal to get her settled. To be fair, it was also a little early for her nap, and Maddie was nothing if not internal clock driven. But she and Deacon needed to talk about Rita's phone call, a conversation that they'd been putting off for several days, even before she'd called. Not just about the phone call specifically, but she knew that the phone call had to do with what was coming up for him. And they did really need to talk about that. They'd danced around it for weeks, months really. They'd had big and small arguments, about everything and nothing.
She wondered sometimes if she had gotten too set in her ways or was just not flexible enough. Maybe if Deacon had started a solo career years earlier, before Maddie was even a thought, they could have navigated it differently. Or if her career had not exploded the way it had. It felt like they were going to be moving in different directions and she just really wasn't prepared for it. She thought maybe she should have been but she just wasn't. There was a lot tied up in that. His place in her band and as her songwriting partner. His place as her husband and father to their child. And, of course, his sobriety and his history. I should be as supportive of him as he always was of me. He was there for me back in the beginning when he really wanted his own career. He put it aside. For me. It's my turn now. And that was all true. But it was harder than she had imagined it would be. Plus, it wasn't as though she actually could set aside her own career.
Deacon was incredibly talented. His skill on the guitar was extraordinary and even at a young age the buzz about him was that he was legendary in that regard. He also was a masterful songwriter. He had upped her game considerably and she had no problem acknowledging that. He had a large catalog of songs he'd written on his own, both before and since she'd met him. It wasn't a surprise. He'd had a life that songwriting was built on. His demons, his struggles, as well as writing about the things that mattered to him in his life. He didn't often write with others – he didn't need to – except for her. And he had a large collection of demos that had resulted in a few other artists recording his words, but so much of what he wrote was either highly personal or about her that he kept most of that close to his vest. So the fact that it had taken so long for him to really be taken seriously as a solo artist was surprising to a lot of people. He hadn't actively pursued it, really, and it made her think back to what had started things this time.
He played a semi-regular spotlight at the Bluebird when they were off the road. They called it Every Third Thursday, although it wasn't strictly that. Sometimes she went with him, occasionally she performed with him, but especially after Maddie was born she rarely did that. It was a great outlet for him, and it highlighted his own music and he enjoyed doing it. She loved to see how much it bolstered him, especially since she'd known that his early aspirations had been to be a solo artist. She knew most people assumed he was no longer interested once her career took off and he came to be so closely associated with her. He was always very clear that he was satisfied with supporting her. She loved being able to have him be such a big part of her creative and professional life and so it had kind of surprised her when he came home one night full of excitement that was unusual.
She was standing in the kitchen when she heard the door open and close, then the sound of Deacon setting down his guitar case. "Baby, you're never gonna believe this," he said as he hurried into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her from behind, leaning his head over her shoulder as he pressed his face against hers.
She laughed, setting down the dish she had in her hands. "Tell me!" She turned in his arms to face him. His excitement was palpable.
His eyes were sparkling and his grin stretched across his face. "Ben Griffin was at the Bluebird tonight," he said.
"Ben Griffin, the A&R guy from Belcourt Records?"
He nodded. "He stayed after and asked me if I might be interested in a deal with them."
"A record deal?"
"Yeah, I think so," he said. "Wants me to come see him tomorrow at his office. Talk about my career."
She couldn't help but smile and threw her arms around his neck, giving him a hard kiss. "Babe, that's amazing," she said. "Did he give you any idea what it might look like?"
"He wants me to come to the meeting with a rough outline of what I'd put out on a record."
"Well, that sounds like the real deal." She leaned into him. "I think we should maybe celebrate or something."
He chuckled, pulling her close. "You don't think we should wait til I find out what he's got planned?"
She shook her head. "I'm already excited about this. If you know what I mean. We can celebrate tomorrow too. If you want."
He gave her a cheeky look. "Oh, I bet we could do some damn good celebratin' two nights in a row," he said. He reached up and unwrapped her arms from his neck, sliding one hand down her arm to take her hand. "How 'bout that?"
She laughed as she let him lead her to the bedroom. "I like your kind of thinking," she said.
The next day he came home with a record deal and a nice advance, along with an outline for what Belcourt had planned. She quickly realized that this was the real thing and what it meant, both for him and for the two of them together. It made her wonder then what the future looked like and, now that she was seeing it, caused her to wonder even more what it might do to them. She loved Deacon and she knew he loved her. She had no reason to doubt that, but she had worried – and still did – how they would navigate their future.
Deacon
While he waited for Rayna, he walked into the den and picked out one of the guitars on stands surrounding the fireplace. Most of his guitars were in the room they were turning into a music room, but some of his favorites were in the den where it was easy to get to them. He was working on a song back in the music room, so he didn't have his notebook handy. He didn't want to walk all the way back there to get it, so he passed the time by just playing random riffs and bridge music from some of his – and their – existing songs.
One of the things he really missed was writing with Rayna. When they had first started writing together it had taken a little bit of time for them to mesh. She had no life experience and he had more than his share. Writing what they knew and trying to combine those things had led to frustration and arguments. At one point he was ready to tell her it was pointless to try, and he was pretty sure she wanted to tell him the same. It all changed the night she showed up at his apartment, in tears but angry as hell.
He met her in the parking lot at the place called Scooters out near Ashland City. She was waiting by her car as he pulled up next to her. When he got out, he gave her a little kiss. "You ready?" he asked, with a smile.
She twisted her fingers together. "I think so," she said.
He went around to the back of his truck to get his guitar. Then he came back around to where she was still standing. "You're gonna do great, Rayna," he said.
"You sure?" She looked uncertain. This was her first paying gig though. The man who owned the place had seen her perform and Watty had negotiated a flat rate for her, plus any tips. "Deacon, I feel like I'm gonna throw up."
He chuckled. "You ain't gonna throw up. You're gonna get up there and knock 'em dead with your music."
"I'm glad you're with me."
They walked across the parking lot and into the restaurant and bar. It was one of those places with tables and booths on one side, right beside the wall of windows. The bar was tucked in a back corner with a small platform stage across from it. There was a small area for dancing, in case people wanted to do that, and it was encircled with high top tables and stools. It smelled like a mix of bourbon, beer, and burgers. Someone was already on the stage, ahead of Rayna. She had an early slot but at least it wasn't the first. Watty got off his stool at the bar and walked over to them.
"You ready for this?" he asked, with a smile.
She breathed in deeply and then smiled back. "Yep."
She did great, as he knew she would. She'd been on top of the world when they left. They'd stood in the parking lot kissing for a long time afterwards. Finally, she left to go home, on top of the world. He stood and watched her drive away, thinking that this was the beginning for her.
When he got home, he had settled in with a beer, clicking through channels on the TV. It was just before midnight when a knock came at his door. He frowned. He wasn't expecting anyone, but he got up and opened the door. Rayna was standing there, tears on her cheeks and a fire in her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Daddy kicked me out."
"What?" He stepped back to let her in and then closed the door behind her.
"He kicked me out. Told me I couldn't play any more of that hillbilly music" – she used her fingers to quote 'hillbilly music' – "and live in his house. Same thing he's been saying, but this time was worse. It was the biggest fight we've ever had about it."
"And he told you to leave?"
She nodded. "I think I'm on my own now, Deacon," she said and then she burst into tears.
He'd held her all night, as she alternated between crying and her anger. As the crying began to subside, she started talking more about what she was going to do next. She was fearless, he remembered thinking. Driven and determined. He'd never known anyone quite like her. What happened that night had fueled her though, allowing her to have the life experiences he'd told her she needed to write a good song. She turned her back on her past and created her future, day after day, week after week, month after month. And now she was at the top of her game, although she was never satisfied with the status quo.
He heard her footsteps coming down the stairs and he set aside his guitar and turned to watch her as she walked across the kitchen to the den. "Maddie go down okay?" he asked. She nodded and then sat down at the other end of the couch, pulling her legs up underneath her. "So, we can talk about Rita's call."
"We don't have to right now," she said, her voice sounding almost dismissive.
"But you want to," he said.
He could see that her thoughts were banging around in her head as she decided how to respond. Finally she breathed in sharply. "Deacon, I'm interested in what's going on with you. I don't know why you wouldn't think I am." He started to interrupt her there, but she held her hand up to stop him. "I know you think I'm being selfish about this..."
That pissed him off and he did interrupt her. "I never said you were selfish. Just that you make all the decisions."
"Okay, you think I make all the decisions. But that's not even really true, Deacon. This has always been us, together, doing this. You're my partner. You've always been my partner. You make decisions on a lot of things."
He shook his head. "I make the setlist. But it's your career, Rayna. And even beyond that, you make all the decisions about our life together."
"You know that for a lot of years I had to do that. It wasn't because I wanted to." Her voice was steely.
He closed his eyes for a moment. They were getting off track. When he looked back at her, it looked like she was closing herself off. "Look, I thought we were gonna talk about what Rita told me."
She nodded. "Then tell me."
"She thinks she may have another tour for me to get on after Toby." He thought he detected a little bit of surprise as she looked at him, but he couldn't be sure.
"With whom?"
"I don't know yet. She's got some things that she's working on."
"When will you know?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Sometime before August, I guess."
She didn't say anything at first. "So you may not come back then," she said finally.
"Maybe not." He breathed out. "Does that make you mad?"
She grabbed her ankles then and leaned forward, seeming like she was buying some time. "It doesn't make me mad," she said finally. "Am I sad to think we might not be doing this together anymore? Of course. But it's even more than that. What about Maddie?"
He frowned. "What about Maddie?"
"When will she see you? How's that going to work?"
"Rayna, it ain't like we both tour 7 days a week."
"For the last 6 or 8 months you've been gone weeks at a time, and we don't see you."
"You coulda come out with me."
"Yes, I could have, but with a 3 year old it's harder. I tried to offer some ways to make it easier, but you didn't want that."
He breathed in deeply, trying to stay as calm as possible, when what he really wanted to do was get pissed. "You know what? It just feels like we want different things. Seems to me that we could make this work if we wanted to, but it feels like you don't want me to do this."
"That's not true. And yes, it's hard and it's complicated and I'm probably not handling any of it really well, but I want a normal life for Maddie. For us. At least as normal as we can make it."
"And that means me coming back to your band, don't it?"
She rested her elbows on her knees and dropped her head, then looked back at him. "I don't want to argue with you. We're going to be together until you leave, and I don't want us to be at odds the whole time. I will be happy for whatever happens. You truly deserve your chance." She crawled across the couch until she was perched right next to him, then got onto his lap and put her arms around his neck. "I love you, babe," she murmured.
He put his arms around her. "I love you too." He moved so that he was stretched out on the couch, with her lying back against him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her gently on her neck. "I don't wanna fight either."
Rayna
She stood in front of the window in the den. It was the middle of the night but she hadn't been able to sleep, so she had come downstairs. It felt like things were spiraling out of control and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She'd been taken off guard by Deacon's announcement that Rita was looking for another tour for him after he wrapped up with Toby. Maybe she shouldn't have been surprised though. Actually, she knew she shouldn't have been. It was exactly what Bucky had done for her for years. She felt like she'd miscalculated though. This Rita Martin was more than she'd anticipated.
She thought about the conversation she'd had with Toby when she'd run into him at an industry event a few weeks earlier. She'd played the conversation as light and somewhat teasing, but she had admonished him not to keep Deacon out longer than the 6 weeks. He's an important part of my band and I need him too. I'm sure you understand. She had laughed as though she was just joking, but she knew inside she'd been dead serious.
She closed her eyes tight. Why can't I just let go and be happy for him? I really do want him to have a chance. I just hate that it's at the expense of us. Deacon would be furious if he knew what she'd said to Toby, and he'd be hurt to think she didn't fully support him. She knew she was being selfish, and she felt awful that she couldn't seem to get it under control. She also knew that if she didn't, she could damage what they had. She promised herself to work on it. No, to conquer it. There was just no other solution.
The Columbus show was a high energy show. The crowd was awesome, the song arrangements – and set list – were sharp, the band sounded on point all night, and she felt good about the show itself. When she finally came off the stage at the end of the encore, she was both exhausted and exhilarated. She had tried not to look over at the side stage too often. Deacon was standing there, his hands in his pockets, listening. When she did glance his way, he would smile. She couldn't help but wish he'd been out there on stage with her, standing behind her and beside her, making her better. But it helped having him there at all.
She raised her hands over her head one final time. "Thank you, Columbus!" she cried and then she turned to walk off the stage. As she walked, she pulled her ear buds out. She handed her mic to one of the crew. Her eyes never left Deacon's and she walked straight into his arms.
"Damn, baby, you were awesome out there," he murmured into her ear. "You killed it, like always."
She looked at him and smiled. "I think it was because you were here." They still used his set list and his arrangements, so other than the fact that he wasn't performing with her, it was as though a part of him was still on stage with her.
He kissed her. "I know you say that, but you've always been the star on the stage. Everything revolves around you, baby." There wasn't a single hint of anything other than pride in his voice or on his face. He'd always been her biggest cheerleader, her support system. Those were things she'd missed while he was gone. He let his hand slide down her back and then he took her hand. "You ready to go?"
There was no after party that night, at her request, and like always, after a good show, she was ready to go burn off some energy. She smiled. "I am." He smiled back and then led her away from the stage.
She couldn't stop kissing him on the elevator ride up to her room and they fumbled with the key card a bit when they got to the door. Luckily, in the hotel they were in, the bedrooms were on either side of the living room in the suite. They would still have to be mindful that Hannah and Maddie were across that space, but it meant they could be a little more vocal. Almost before she knew it, she was standing at the vanity in the bathroom, her dress unzipped and puddled around her waist. Deacon's hands were squeezing her breasts. He pulled the dress up over her ass, pulled off her underwear, and, after unzipping his jeans, thrust himself inside her. She gripped the edges of the counter as he took her roughly. He pressed her tight against the vanity as he thrust in and out. She was spiraling practically from the moment he entered her, and the intensity of his movement was taking her over the top. She started to moan, feeling her orgasm building. He put his mouth on her shoulder, sucking on her skin, hard enough so that she knew it would leave a mark. She didn't care though. He was inside her and she was tipping over the edge, then came harder than she had in a long time, leaving her breathless. His movements quickened and she knew he wouldn't last much longer either. He slammed into her one last time and she could hear the groan in his throat as she felt his teeth on her skin.
They stayed that way for what felt like a long time until he let go of her shoulder and her breasts and stepped back. They were both breathing hard, unable to move. After a minute, she felt him rub his thumb over the place where his mouth had been. "I'm sorry, baby," he whispered, still breathing raggedly.
She shook her head. "It's okay," she whispered back. They locked eyes in the mirror and it made her heart beat faster. She was reminded, yet again, that he was her soulmate. She turned to face him and he kissed her gently.
She knew they'd probably regret staying up as long as they did, but she had missed spending time with her husband. They were lying in bed, their arms and legs entangled. He was softly placing kisses on her forehead and her cheek, his hand stroking her arm. She made random tracings on his chest with her finger. The curtains in the room were still open and the moon cast a silvery glow in the room.
"I've missed this," he murmured.
She smiled. "Me too. I want to take advantage of every minute we have."
"Trust me, we will," he said with a smirk. Then he kissed her on the lips. She opened her mouth to his and wrapped her arms around him as he ran his hand down her back, pulling her closer.
Deacon
From where he sat on his bus, he could see Rayna's buses. That was the dream, to have multiple buses to transport your band, the equipment, and the crew. That was the sign you'd made it. For someone like him, just starting out really, having a bus was a big deal. It had 4 bunks, a kitchenette, seating space, and enough room in the hold for all the equipment and gear. When you were an opener, you didn't need as much. You depended on the roadies and crew from the headliner to take care of your needs on stage and it meant a lot less to transport. He, of course, had already made the jump up to a headliner's bus, by virtue of being Rayna's husband as well as her bandleader. Rayna had a great artists' suite in the back, which he got to share. Having this bus had been a gift though. He was grateful for it.
Rita had just left. She would be meeting him in Chicago and then hitch a ride on his bus for the first week of the tour. That part made him a little uncomfortable, but it often came with the territory when you were a new artist. She would meet up with him at various points during the tour as well. As they headed out of the parking lot, he caught a last glimpse of Rayna's bus. It felt strange, going out on a major tour without her. But he also felt exhilarated. He was finally doing what he'd always wanted to do and getting to be on a big stage performing for thousands of people was the dream. Of course, the people in the audience were there for Toby, but hopefully enough of them would like what they saw in him and become his fans as well. He wondered what it would feel like, after the 6 weeks, to go back to being just a bandleader and guitar player. As much as he loved Rayna and loved making music with her, he was ready to see what the future held for him as a solo artist. And he hoped the 6 weeks wouldn't be the end of that.
He was a week into the tour when Toby came out onto the stage as he and his guys were finishing up sound check. "Hey there, Deacon," he said with a smile.
He shook Toby's hand. "Hey, Toby." He and Rayna had known Toby for many years, although it was more of a casual relationship than a real friendship. "Thanks for giving me a spot."
"No problem, man. You're sounding great and I'm hearing good stuff about your sets. It's great having you out. And I'm glad to see you're trying your hand at a solo career. I never understood why you didn't do that years ago."
He shrugged and smiled. "Well, you know. There was a lot going on. The timing just wasn't right before and now it is."
"Well, good to hear." Toby clapped him on the back. "Keep doing what you're doing. I'm betting you aren't gonna have to go back and just be part of Rayna's band anymore. Hope she's on board with that." Toby walked away then with a smile and a wave, leaving him to watch, until one of the crew told him he needed to get off stage so they could set up Toby's sound check.
When he was back in his room that night, he thought about what Toby had said. It was what he wanted, to be a front man. Because of all the songs he and Rayna wrote together, they regularly wrote duets and that meant they could sing together. Not that he wasn't okay doing background vocals, but he always enjoyed the duets more, since they put him out front next to her. Of course, she was still always the star. He had a regular gig at the Bluebird where he sang on his own, but that was very different from standing on a stage in an arena or an amphitheater with as many as 20,000 fans in front of him. He dreamed of the day when he might have a bigger band to back him up. If he eventually could be a headliner it would be easier for him and Rayna to coordinate separate tours. But he didn't know how long that might take, plus he was approaching his mid-30's, an age when most solo artists were well into their careers. What he hoped was that, just like Rayna, each step was another step closer to a solo career. A chance to step out from behind and into his own light.
The following weekend things seemed to make a hard turn in a positive direction, but not in the way he'd imagined.
He raised his hand as he walked off the stage, reveling in the reception he was getting. At each stop, the response he got was better than the last. His CDs were available at Toby's merch table and they were selling more quickly. He'd always enjoyed being on a stage like this and playing to large crowds of people. When he was still with Rayna, this was the norm, and it felt good to have people hear his own music, rather than the music he and Rayna wrote together. This was different. These were songs he'd written on his own. Music from the CD as well as newer songs he was writing while he was traveling from place to place. Rita had told him she wanted him to get into a studio as soon as he was able to and lay down demos of the new music. She was already talking to him about the next CD although there wasn't a firm timetable for that. When he got off the stage, he was talking with some of the roadies when he felt a hand clap down on his shoulder.
"Freakin' Deacon Claybourne!" He turned to see Luke Wheeler standing behind him, a huge smile on his face. "How the hell are you doing?" Luke said, laughter in his voice. Luke had come up around the same time Rayna had and they'd crossed paths with him regularly when they were all on the state fair and festival circuit.
He made himself smile and they exchanged a firm handshake before stepping back from each other. "Good," he said, nodding.
"Well, I'd heard you were going out on your own and Toby told me he'd gotten you as an opener, so I thought I'd stop by and catch your set. You were awesome, brother."
Luke had always had a thing for Rayna. It had been obvious, and he had never liked it. He also thought Luke was pretentious and inauthentic, although Rayna disagreed with him on that. Of course, Luke had also built up a following and had become a big star, playing huge arenas and stadiums these days. Luke Wheeler was one of the top acts in country music. "Thanks," he said.
"So, Toby tells me that you're only on the tour for 6 weeks, although I think he might want to extend it. But I was thinking that, if you're planning to get on another tour anyway, you'd consider being one of my openers instead."
"Seriously?" That surprised him. As much as Luke bugged him, he had to admit that being on a tour like that would be a lot more prestigious than Toby's and would definitely get him more visibility. It might be worth swallowing his pride to do it. If Luke was serious.
"Hell, yeah. You'd be a perfect fit. Hell, I'll even give you the primary opener slot, right before me. Whaddaya say? Or do I need to ask Rayna's permission to get you to come out with me?"
He wanted to punch the smirk off Luke's face. "No, you ain't gotta do that," he said, keeping his voice under control. He didn't like the implication that Rayna made his professional decisions.
"Great. You have a manager?" He nodded. "Just get the information to my tour manager and he'll make sure that all the arrangements are made." He held out his hand. "I'm looking forward to taking you out, Deacon. I'll also let Toby know he slept on this one." As he walked away, he was laughing.
He wasn't sure if he was making a mistake or not.
Rayna
She sat at the table on the bus, watching the scenery go by. They were on the way back to Nashville from Kansas City. Maddie was asleep in one of the bunks and Hannah was up front, absorbed in a book. It would be late afternoon when they arrived back in town. Deacon was returning from Miami so it would be late at night before he was home. She found herself wondering what it might be like to have her own plane like some of the superstars had. She was certainly entering that galaxy, but she wasn't at a place yet where she could afford a plane. It would be nice not to have to ride in a bus, but then she also had a fondness for that mode of travel. For years it had been another place for her and Deacon to write. All their feelings for each other and for their relationship tumbled out and onto pages and guitar notes. Trucks and vans and buses kept them close and it was how they'd learned to rely on each other, how to be each other's best friend, and each other's partner. The fabric of their relationship was stitched in large part on buses.
She thought back to those early days, when she and Deacon went out on the road for weeks at a time, playing in small bars and dives. They weren't always the best places and that was when she was glad to be doing it with Deacon. Not that she couldn't handle herself, but in some cases it prevented things from getting really out of hand. There were many nights in the beginning when they slept in the truck because they didn't have enough money for even a cheap motel room. It was a hard life, but one filled with love and music. She and Deacon were growing together, creating the bond that carried them through the present.
She was glad for Deacon, being able to do what he loved, but she missed doing it together. It would be just a few weeks and he'd be back, and they'd be back to doing what they loved as a team again. Their schedules didn't completely sync and she missed him. Maddie missed him. She sighed, not sure how to remedy that.
She heard her name and felt herself coming out of a deep sleep. "Rayna." It was a whisper. She moved a little and then slowly opened her eyes. She blinked twice and then focused on Deacon kneeling by her side of the bed. She breathed in and then reached her hand out to touch his face.
"Hey," she whispered back, smiling sleepily.
He leaned in and kissed her. "Hey."
"What time is it?"
"After 1:00. Sorry to be so late."
She shook her head. "It's okay." She reached for his hand. "Come to bed."
"I will. You go back to sleep."
Deacon
He breathed in and out slowly, feeling himself relax into the familiar bed. It was comforting to be in his own bed, especially with Rayna. When he'd slid under the sheets, she had rolled over and tucked into his side. It hadn't taken long for her to fall back asleep. He could feel the rhythm of her breathing against him. He turned his head and kissed her forehead gently. She didn't move. He was tired, but he'd also napped on the bus, so his brain wasn't ready to sleep. He was going to have to talk to her about the offer from Luke the next day. Rita had flown out that morning but had given him an update before she did.
"Deacon!" He turned when he heard his name, then watched as Rita approached. As wary as he'd been having her traveling with him and the guys, she'd actually been a great help. She ran interference when necessary, which wasn't often. She was professional in all her dealings but had been a good sounding board when he'd needed one. He'd come to realize the value of having her as his manager. He already knew that having a great manager was both a gift and a necessity. Having watched Bucky manage Rayna's career for almost a decade had shown him the benefits of that relationship. He smiled as he thought about how he'd never seen her be casual. Even early on a Monday morning she was dressed in a business-like jacket and slacks, her hair pulled back off her face into a tidy bun. She had on sunglasses with lenses so dark it was hard to see her eyes. "Hey, I'm glad I caught you before you left."
He nodded. "Sure. What's up?"
"I wanted to let you know that Luke's team got me a draft of the contract. After you wrap with Toby, you'd have a week off, then join Luke in Boston. You'd be out with him through the end of September when his tour wraps."
"Sounds good."
"I'm doing a little negotiating on the pay and set length but nothing I think they'll balk on. The money's already more than what you're getting with Toby, but why not try for a bit more, you know? You've been connecting with Toby's audience and Luke's is similar, so I think you're going to be a draw. And I want you to have 45 minutes instead of 35. But this should be wrapped up in the next day or so and then we'll need to sign."
He took a deep breath. This felt good, but he also knew he'd have to let Rayna know he wouldn't be coming back on her tour as planned. She knew it was a possibility, but he was pretty sure she was counting on him to be back. "Sounds good."
"You need to be sure to tell Rayna, because I could have this wrapped up as early as tomorrow." She paused. "I know you were planning to finish out the tour season with her and I know she was expecting you to. I also know you don't actually have a contract with her, so this should be simple. Right?"
He frowned. "Yeah. It's simple." Except it wasn't. Rita was right – he didn't have a contract with Rayna because it hadn't been necessary – but it didn't mean it wouldn't be a difficult conversation. He knew Rayna wanted him to be successful, but she also depended on him being there. And the truth was, he liked being her bandleader. It meant spending time with her and with Maddie, which was important to him. Rayna was his wife and he loved her and loved making music with her. This was going to change that dynamic.
"Okay then. I'll call you when the contract's finalized." She reached out and took his arm briefly. "This is happening, Deacon. You're really on your way." She smiled.
"Thanks, Rita. For everything." She stepped back, raised her hand in a wave, and then turned and walked away.
He ran his hand over his face, then looked up at the ceiling. He was excited about the opportunity, even if it was with Luke, and energized. It could really be the stepping stone to where he wanted to be. He knew, because he and Rita had discussed it and because he'd had the experience with Rayna, that he might have to be an opener for a couple of seasons, maybe more. But the more he got his name out there and, with radio play hopefully, he could soon venture out on his own. This was huge for him. But now he needed to tell Rayna.
He'd laid awake for a long time, but had evidently fallen asleep at some point. When he opened his eyes he was in the bed alone. The light behind the drapes was bright, so he assumed it was mid-morning. He knew he needed to get up and talk to Rayna, so he rolled out of the bed and then went into his closet to pull on some clothes. When he was dressed, he headed for the stairs.
As he stepped into the kitchen, Maddie saw him. "Daddy!" she squealed, running towards him. He grabbed her and lifted her up, hugging her and kissing her cheek.
"Hey there, sweetie," he said with a smile. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes!" she cried, hugging his neck. "Did you miss me?"
He nodded. "So much." He glanced over at Rayna and smiled. "And I missed your mama too."
Rayna smiled back. "Maddie, honey, Daddy just got up, so let him get some coffee, okay?" He put Maddie down on the floor and watched her run into the den. Then he turned back to Rayna, who poured him a mug of coffee and handed it to him. "I hope you slept okay," she said. "I decided not to wake you up when I got up, since you got in so late."
"What time is it?"
"10:30." That was later than he'd thought. She leaned back against the island. "So how have things been going?"
He took a swallow of the coffee. "Good. Good." He cleared his throat and leaned on the island next to her. "Something came up I wanna talk to you about. Need to talk to you about."
She frowned briefly. "Toby wants you to stay on a little longer?"
He bit his lip, then shook his head. "Nah. I, uh, got an offer to jump on another tour."
"When?"
"I'd, uh, have a week off after Toby's tour and then pick up on the new one. Until fall."
She wasn't looking at him. "I see. So, is it one you'd want to do?"
He lowered his head for a second, then looked up, focusing on Maddie watching something on TV. "I already said I would."
"So you didn't think we should talk about it first?"
He turned to look at her. He could tell she wasn't happy. Rayna could hide her emotions really well to others, but she knew she couldn't with him and never really tried. "I kinda had to give an answer. And I thought we were on the same page about me pursuing a career."
"We are, Deacon, but that doesn't mean just make decisions without me. You knew I was planning on you coming back to my band."
He pushed off the island and jammed his hands into his pockets. "You don't want me to do it, I won't," he said, knowing he sounded pissy.
She shook her head. "That's not what I'm saying. I guess I just thought we were partners here, you know? Like maybe we talk about things that impact both of us before making decisions. Is it at least a good one?"
"Luke Wheeler."
"Oh, good grief." She took a step away from the island. "One of his beers and trucks and picking up women tours. Right in your wheelhouse." She turned to walk past him and he grabbed her arm. She looked down at his hand, then back at him. "What?" she asked, an angry frown on her face. He dropped his hand.
"It's a good tour for me, Rayna. Big audiences. Good money. Great exposure. And you knew this could happen." He breathed in. "We did talk about that."
She raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, we did. But I just assumed, I guess because we're married, that you would talk to me about something that important before agreeing to it. Something that impacts both of us."
"Did I need your permission?" He couldn't help but think about Luke's jab. Do I need to ask Rayna's permission to get you to come out with me? She glared at him and turned around, picking up her car keys and her purse before she walked out the door, slamming it behind her.
He clenched his jaw, willing himself to stay calm. "Where did Mama go?" He looked over at Maddie, who was looking over the back of the couch, her eyes wide and a worried look on her face.
He took a deep breath, then walked over to the couch, trying to give her a reassuring smile. He sat down and pulled Maddie onto his lap. "She had an errand to run, sweetie," he said, hoping she didn't hear the tension in his voice. "She'll be back soon."