Chapter 2:

Rayna sat at the top of the venue looking out, watching the crew move around the stage. They had been on tour for three weeks and it was going surprisingly well. She was starting to see the silver lining in switching off and on the closing set. Going on first allowed her more time after the show to decompress and get a couple more hours of sleep which was appreciated, especially at the beginning of the tour with press and other responsibilities. Once the girls were out, it would give her more time to spend with them on the nights when she closed. It would also make things easier with looking after the girls. Deacon would be able to take them during the day when she had work obligations and could stay with them while she performed, and she could relieve him when he had to go onstage. They agreed to give the hard-working nanny a much-deserved summer vacation, as she was usually out on tour with either herself or Deacon, depending on who had the girls. It was good she reminded herself. Her fears about having to spend time with Deacon had abated. She really hadn't seen much of him since the start of the tour. She figured they were both doing a great job of avoiding one another, a skillset they had perfected over the years. Then, as if her thoughts had conjured him up, he appeared beside her.

"I didn't know you were still doing this," he said sitting down, a seat in between them.

"Usually in the mornings, with all the other things going on, doing it after soundcheck cuts it a little too close. You still do it often?"

"Every show," he said giving her a million-dollar smile. "You know how it is with me, old habits die hard."

"Don't I know it," she added smiling up at him. She never thought his demons would be something that they would joke about, she figured they would either lock them away or drown in them. It was good to see him like this, healthy and happy.

"Tonight should be another good one, I know how you like strutting your stuff for a packed house."

"Hey now… I do not strut."

"Baby you strut, though I don't know how you do it in those damn heels of yours. It's a miracle you haven't taken a tumble on those things."

She looked at him in mock outrage. "I do not strut," she said again, this time with a little more dignity like she was in fact a queen.

"Whatever you say Ray." 'I miss her', that was always his first thought when he saw her. She was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He hadn't seen her perform live in years, always doing his best to avoid it if he could. Watching her on the stage sent shock waves through his body. It was always that way from the first moment he spotted her singing at the Bluebird. He didn't know what it was exactly but when she sang it was like she would touch his soul. He missed that feeling, he missed performing with her and he definitely missed what they did after those performances, the adrenaline running, the tension between them, lust you could cut with a knife. He shook his head trying to rid himself of the thoughts. That wasn't their life anymore and it would be a mistake to let his head go there. "You excited to have the girls out?"

"Absolutely, you know I miss them terribly when I am out on tour. How about you? Going to be nice to have them all summer."

"Yeah, that will be a nice change. I thought this might be the year when Maddie would object to coming out, thought she'd want to stay home with her friends. You know if she and Talia spend more than a week apart the world's gonna end," Deacon mused.

"I swear, I am going to start charging her parents rent. She's been spending more and more time with us. I think with her dad and his wife having a new baby, she is feeling a little left out and she's not a big fan of her momma's new boyfriend."

"I know, I heard all about it. I think Maddie wanted me to understand her disgust not just on Talia's behalf but as a warning as well." Deacon eyed her, knowing he was on dangerous ground here.

"What did you tell her?" she asked curiously, making sure to keep her face neutral.

"Them," Rayna looked at him puzzled. "Talia was there too," he laughed when she shook her head. "I told them the change happens but a parents love can't be replaced by a boyfriend or wife or new baby and that sometimes it may take a minute for parents to realize that a kid is feeling left out and that Talia should let her parents know how she feels."

"You're such a good daddy."

"Yeah well… I'm trying. So, when do we get custody of Talia?" he asked trying to change the direction of conversation to something a little more lighthearted.

"You're quick Claybourne." She said laughing at him. "She is coming out for two weeks in July."

"Remind me to be on vacation in July," he groaned.

"You wish, I'm not dealing with two teenage girls all by myself. "

"Been a lot easier if we had boys."

"I know I didn't finish high school but from what I remember, you have no one to blame but yourself for that one," she finished laughing.

"This was nice," he said honestly, giving her a soft smile, one that made he go weak at the knees.

"Yeah it was," she said smiling back.

"Maybe we'll do it again in Jersey?"

"I'll pencil you in.

He shook his head laughing as he got up from his seat. She always was outrageous. "Bring it down tonight," he said over his shoulder.

"You know I will."

'Damn' she thought, after all this time he could still make her feel like that teenage girl he met all those years ago and for the first time in a long time she felt relaxed and she knew she was going to have fun tonight.