Well long time no see guys! A lot has happened since I last updated. A lot of personal stuff as well as finishing the semester and now working a lot more since it's summer. I'm not going to get too into it because you guys are here to read the new chapter haha!
BUT YAY to Nashville being picked up by CMT after it being cancelled (boo you ABC). And it was announced that both Connie AND HAYDEN will be back so clearly Juliette didn't die in the finale (of course Javery got the shaft in the finale, not surprised tbh). I honestly can't wait for the new season and for Javery to work their shit out and be the adorable couple and family I know they can be!
AND (last thing I promise), I saw the Nashville Cast on tour back in May in NYC and it was AMAZING! I even stayed after and met Chip and JONATHAN! He was so soft spoken and so freakin sweet and humble with every kind word everyone said to him. I can't. UGH. Oh and Chip is the best selfie taker, he literally takes your phone and makes sure there is good lighting HAHA. But yeah it was the best thing ever!
I'm going to shut up now and let you guys read lol. This is basically a part one since the next chapter I have planned is going to be a direct continuation of this chapter. I hope you all like it!
Again PLEASE REVIEW if you like what you read. Reviews are great motivation for me to write the next chapter and they are so appreciated.
Avery and Juliette sat in the Vanderbilt hospital emergency waiting room, distraught and concerned over Cadence. Glenn and Emily joined them soon after they had arrived to the hospital. It was around midnight and the only sounds heard throughout the waiting room were the tv and the shuffling and small chatter of the secretaries behind the desk.
Avery shifted his position in his chair so his elbow rested on the arm of the chair and rested his head on his fist. Him and Juliette had been growing impatient over the past hour and a half they were waiting to hear back about their daughter.
He stood up from the chair and walked up to the front desk. "Can I?" the lady started to ask before Avery interrupted her.
"I need to know when I can see my daughter, Cadence Barkley."
"Sir, just please sit back down. Her doctor will be out shortly."
"Okay well I don't know what this hospital's definition of shortly is because if it means waiting almost two hours…"
"For Cadence Barkley," said the doctor who just entered the room. He started to approach Juliette, Glenn, and Emily with an update on Cadence. Avery stepped away from the desk and joined them.
"Yes, I'm her father," said Avery.
"And um…I'm her mother," Juliette added.
"I'm Dr. Clement and I have an update on Cadence. I just want to let the two of you know the severity of her accident. The impact she had was quite severe, but she is recovering well."
Sighs of relief came from the four adults as the doctor told them the news. He looked over Cadence's chart once more so he could discuss details. "The only thing I am slightly concerned about is Cadence's head trauma from the accident. Now like I said, she is recovering so what I'm saying is not severe. But there is a slight possibility of some memory loss."
"Memory loss?" Avery asked.
"It's just a possibility after she wakes up, which can take a few days. Other than that, she has suffered a rib fracture in her right ribcage as well as her right arm which we took care of as well."
"Wait it's going to take a few days for her to wake up?" Juliette asked.
"I know you both are concerned about your daughter but she has suffered an accident that I have seen paralyzed people, sometimes even worse with the impact Cadence suffered in the accident. She is definitely a fighter."
"When can we see her?" Avery sighed in distress.
"You are both welcome to see her, just you two for now."
Juliette looked over at Glenn and Emily who were still concerned. "You two need to see her first," said Glenn.
"Please stay here, unless you both have to leave," Juliette asked.
"Of course," said Emily. "We're here for you and Cadence, both of you," she added, her eyes gazing over to Avery. She opened her arms and exchanged an embrace with Juliette. Glenn did the same when Juliette parted from Emily.
Avery watched the three of them, it was hard for him to feel anything for Juliette and he couldn't believe how they still could years later.
He waited until Juliette joined him in following the doctor to Cadence's room. She followed behind Avery, letting him be ahead of her. Dr. Clement then stopped at one of the rooms, "She's in here. Now she is still resting and she will wake up on her own time. Let me know if you two need anything. The nurses will be coming in to check on her every now and then."
"Thank you so much Doctor," said Avery, shaking the man's hand before entering the room.
"Thank you," Juliette added following behind her ex husband. She held the door open with her hand as she moved into the small hospital room. Both her and Avery paused at the sight of Cadence. Her face was scratched and bruised as well as her arms and partially her legs. Her right arm was casted and held in a sling. A clear tube hooked behind her ears and went to her nose for air.
Avery sniffed as he tried to hold back his tears, his eyes fixed on his daughter in her fragile state. Juliette remained nearest to the door, watching as Avery walked over to Cadence's bedside. He slightly bent forward and carefully lifted Cadence's hand and held held it in his own. Avery looked at the monitor with Cadence's heart rate where the beeping in the room was coming from, then looked over at Juliette.
"I think you should leave Juliette."
"Leave?"
Avery let out a breath, "You shouldn't be here, you haven't been there any of the other times she has been sick. There's no point in having you here now."
"That is the point Avery, I am here now and she is my daughter too."
"It's your fault she is here in the first place!"
"No it's your fault! If you didn't refuse for us meeting maybe she wouldn't have lied to you," said Juliette angrily, trying to keep her voice down. "I'm staying here and you can't keep me away from her anymore. You'll have to get someone to drag me out of here."
She then went to the side of the room and pulled one of the chairs over to the other side of where Cadence was. Avery watched her every move 'till she sat down, "I'm not leaving."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning, Juliette and Avery were still in the same positions they had been in since the night before. The two of them were trying to stay awake just in case Cadence would wake up so they would occasionally fall asleep.
"Juliette," Emily whispered as she entered the room. She noticed that Avery and Juliette were asleep and Cadence was no different since she left almost two hours ago.
"Juliette," she whispered again, slightly shaking Juliette's shoulder to wake her up.
Juliette quickly shot up, worried that it was something involving Cadence, "Ye-yeah?"
"It's just me," said Emily. "I brought back what you wanted." She handed Juliette a bag full of things like clothes and small toiletries for her since she hadn't changed or freshened up since the day before. There were a couple of things in another bag for Avery that Emily had stopped at Target for.
"Oh thanks Em," she said taking the bag from her and setting it on the floor.
"Still nothing?"
"No," said Juliette. "A nurse came in after you left to check on her and everything was fine."
"She's going to be fine Juliette, her body is recovering that's all."
Juliette nodded, she stood up and took the bag with her into the bathroom. "I need to talk to Glenn about the tour. I need to push it back."
"You're pushing back the tour?"
"Well we were supposed to have left Nashville five hours ago. Doesn't look like that is happening anytime soon does it?"
"I was just…I didn't think you would have wanted to postpone the tour."
Juliette entered the bathroom, turning around to face Emily who had followed behind. "You really thought I was going to go on with the tour? With Cadence like this? Do you really think I'm that heartless when it comes to my kid?"
"No Juliette that's not what I meant!" Emily defended herself after closing the bathroom door behind her, careful not to wake Avery. "Sure things have happened in the past that may have given me doubts. I just questioned it because I wanted to make sure that you were sure about this. But now and the way I have seen you in the last week and how much you love that girl in there, no doubts entered my mind."
"I'm sorry Em, I just haven't really slept and when I have it was in a chair. I'm so stressed and worried and anything I do Avery has to say something about it," Juliette started saying, getting choked up.
Emily walked closer to her friend and opened her arms and pulled her in for a hug, "It's going to be okay Juliette. We just need to take everything a day at a time."
"Thank you," Juliette sniffed, trying her best to hold herself together. The two then pulled away from each other.
"I'll go talk to Glenn about the tour while you stay here and freshen up," said Emily, taking further charge of the situation. Juliette nodded and waited until Emily left to start changing.
Meanwhile outside of the bathroom, Avery started to wake up from his uncomfortable slumber. His sleepy eyes were quick to open looking over at Cadence to see if anything happened or changed. Avery stood up to look at her, hoping to see even the slightest change, hoping maybe she moved her head or if her eyes had opened, but nothing.
He heard water running in the bathroom and assumed it was Juliette. Avery sat back down in his chair and held his daughter's hand just like he had been the night before. He hated that he let go during his sleep. "Grandma, Aunt Savannah, and Molly are on their way to see you. Scarlett and Gunnar too with Noah and Harper. They're so worried about you sweetie," he said aloud in the quiet hospital room.
"Why did you do this Cadence," he said doubtingly. "Why didn't you just stay at the party?"
Before he could go on, the bathroom door opened and Juliette walked out in a more comfortable outfit with her hair pulled back. "Hey," she said softly. "Um, I had Emily run out and get you some things since you probably didn't bring much with you."
Avery swallowed hard, "Yeah I didn't, thanks."
Juliette sat down in the chair she had been sitting in, "No problem."
There was silence between the two for a moment until Juliette spoke up again, "So I'm pushing back my tour for a bit."
Avery took his eyes off of Cadence to look over at her, "For how long?"
"For as long as I need to until Cadence is better."
"Really?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Yes," said Juliette. "We have no idea right now what is going to happen after she wakes up and I know for certain I'm not on a plane right now at my first tour stop."
Avery decided to push aside his personal feelings about Juliette for the time being. She was with Cadence and had shown how much she is willing to dedicate herself and her time. Though it would take a while for him to fully trust her again, he was willing to do what he needed to do for Cadence. "Well as soon as Cadence has recovered we're heading back to Ohio. She still has school and I have to get back too."
Juliette nodded and understood, "If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing now?"
Avery sighed, "Running my own music store. I've had it for the past ten years now."
"That's really great," said Juliette. "And what about Molly? How long have you two known each other?"
Avery's face became puzzled as to how she knew about Molly and Juliette took notice. "Cadence told me," she added.
"We've known each other for a little over a year now. We're getting married in the fall."
"Congratulations," said Juliette, letting a small smile appear on her face.
"Thanks," he said, before looking back at Cadence. "I'm not fully convinced she's happy about it though."
"Yeah well, I don't mean to rat her out to you but she told me her and Molly aren't too close," said Juliette.
"I know, they aren't," said Avery. "I should have talked to her before I proposed."
Juliette adjusted herself in her seat, "She just wants you to be happy. That's all I wanted for the two of you…but clearly that's not the case."
Avery let out a breath, "She has wanted you her whole life Juliette. I cant even count the times when you could have handled a situation better than I could have. It's me who kept her from you."
"Avery, all week I kept thinking about how well you raised her. She is such a great kid and it was none of my doing. It was all you, so don't doubt yourself for doing what I couldn't do."
"Thanks," said Avery. "Savannah has helped a lot over the years but since turning sixteen, she could use you."
"You think?"
"She's becoming more like you as she gets older and I don't think I can handle that…or even Molly for that matter," Avery joked, both adults letting out a chuckle.
"Yeah you're right," said Juliette, the room falling silent again.
"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner that she was with me. I was being selfish and she didn't either but deep down I knew it wasn't fair," she added. "I'm sorry for a lot of things."
Avery nodded, accepting the apology, "Me too. Now that we're where we are, we need to compromise for her."
He swallowed hard, "I'm willing to do this if you are, for Cadence." From what he could tell from last night and on, there had been a change in Juliette. He was willing to give Juliette one last chance, something that was still hard for him to even do. Avery knew he had to start loosening the reigns a bit when it came to Cadence and Juliette because what he was doing before led him to his daughter's hospital room.
Juliette agreed, "Me too, for Cadence."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A few hours had passed and nothing much had changed. Emily and Glenn had brought coffee for both Avery and Juliette and the nurse had come in a couple of times to check on Cadence.
There was a sudden buzz on Avery's phone, it was a text from his sister. "Molly, my sister, and my mom are here. I better go see them," said Avery.
The blonde nodded, "Go ahead, if anything happens I'll call you."
"I shouldn't be long," he assured her, keeping his eyes on Cadence until he had to open the door. He hated even leaving her for a second.
Juliette bit her inner lip, nervous to see Avery's family again after what had happened. She could only image the words Mrs. Barkley had to share with her, same with Savannah. Even though they had never met in person, both women knew of each other and Juliette knew how much she cared about Avery. Molly was a whole other storm, knowing she already had her own thoughts and opinions about her was something she didn't want to face either.
For the time being, Juliette had pulled out her phone and started going through her missed text messages and emails.
While on the bed, Cadence started to open her eyes slowly. A full view of the gray speckled ceiling had become clear. She could see out of the side of her eye the machines she was hooked up to and started to worry. Cadence started to think about what had happened that led her to being in the hospital.
The car accident
Drew
Paparazzi
The party
Dad and Mom
How bad am I hurt?
Am I paralyzed? Can I move? Oh god.
Cadence started to move her head to her right and saw Juliette sitting down, focused on her phone.
Juliette is here okay
But where is Dad?
Try moving, try speaking.
"He-he," said Cadence, not able to say a full word.
Juliette looked up with wide eyes. She stood up and approached her daughter quickly, placing her phone on the side table. "Cadence sweetie, you're okay. I'm here," Juliette cried, taking the sixteen year old's non-broken arm and holding her hand. Cadence holding onto her's just as tight.
"Wh-where's da-dad?"
"He just left for a moment," said Juliette as she picked up her phone with her free hand so she could call him.
Glenn had started to walk in when he saw what was going on, "Cadence oh my god!"
"Go get one of the nurses Glenn," Juliette ordered. Avery had been walking back to the room when he saw Glenn rush out in a hurry.
Avery went up to him urgently, "Glenn, what's going on?"
"Cadence is awake, Juliette told me to find a nurse."
Avery went right into the room to find Juliette by Cadence's side, "Cadence, Cadence, I'm here," he said as he rushed over to the side of the bed where Juliette was. "I'm right here baby," he said as Juliette stepped back and let him be closer to her. She still remained by Avery, not willing to move any further away.
"He-hey," she said with a smile forming. She wanted to say more but she was struggling.
"What happened?" Avery asked the older blonde.
"I just saw her moving her head and she started talking," said Juliette.
Avery sighed with relief as a nurse and Dr. Clement entered the room.
"Well look who decided to wake up for us," he said as he went over to the machines and observed them diligently.
"Everything looks good here," he said. "Cadence can you move all of your fingers for me and your toes as well."
She did as she was told, moving all of her fingers, even her arm that was in a cast, as well as all of her toes. "Perfect, now I know you're very sore but I'm going to help you sit up okay?"
She nodded as she accepted Dr. Clement's help. The nurse adjusted her pillows as Cadence moved. She winced slightly at her pain and soreness which Avery and Juliette were quick to take notice of.
"How was that?"
"It hu-hurt a bit," said Cadence, still struggling with her speech.
"Now her talking like the way she is, is that permanent?" Avery asked with concern.
"No, nothing was damaged to that part of the brain. It is most likely because of all the trauma. It's just going to take a few days for her to be talking normally, nothing permanent. Water and drinking fluids will help because her mouth is also dry, am I right?"
Cadence nodded, watching as the nurse went off to get her some water. She soon came back with a filled cup along with a separate pitcher if she wanted more later.
"I'm going to help you okay. I know your arm is still sore so just blink twice when you want me to stop," the nurse explained as she started to assist Cadence by tipping the cup back for her to drink. She eventually blinked twice and the nurse stopped.
"Great," said Dr. Clement. "That must be better."
"Yeah," said the teen much more easily.
The doctor smiled, "Well everything physically checks out great for the stage of recovery you are in right now. I just want to ask you some questions to see how your brain is recovering okay?" Cadence quickly tried to think back as much and as far as she could before he asked her anything. She didn't want there to be anything wrong when it comes to memory.
Avery and Juliette held their breath, this was what the doctor wasn't sure about.
"What is your birthday, if you can't remember all of it that is okay."
"April 8th, twenty fifteen," she said slowly, but still sure of herself.
"What state are we in right now?"
"Tennessee," she answered.
"Who are they?" he asked in reference to Avery and Juliette.
Cadence swallowed, "My dad and…my mom."
"Okay and last question, do you remember what happened before you woke up here?"
"Ye-yeah, um, I was in a car accident with my friend Drew. H-he was speeding and I ke-kept telling him to slow down. The paparazzi was chasing us. He was taking m-me back home."
Dr. Clement nodded and looked at Avery and Juliette, "No memory loss."
Both adults sighed with relief but still showed concern about Cadence retelling the accident. "Thank God," said Avery, letting out a sigh of relief, moving back closer to his daughter.
"Like I said before, she is a tough one. Not many patients would have made it out as well as she has," he said. "I'll give you guys some time before I come back to talk more about recovery."
"Thank you so much," said Juliette.
"Yes, thank you," Avery added before Dr. Clement left the room.
"See? Everything is fine," said Juliette, turning back to Cadence.
"We're so glad you're okay," said Avery, leaning down to press a soft kiss on her forehead.
Never would Cadence had thought she would witness such interaction between her parents. This was something completely new for her and while she wanted to be happy, she also started to remember all of the fighting and arguing at the party. All of the awful things she said to both of them.
Tears started to form in her eyes, both Avery and Juliette taking notice. "Cadence, what's wrong?" Avery asked.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Both of you guys, th-the party…I said awful things to you guys. I'm prob-probably the worst daughter in the world," she said as she cried, trying to say what she was feeling.
"Cadence…" Juliette started to say.
"I'm so sorry, I di-didn't mean it. I didn't mean a-any of it," Cadence started to cry harder. "I could have not even made it and m-my last words aren't wha-what it would have been to either of you. I fe-feel awful," she said as she continued to cry.
"Don't say that honey, you're here now," said Avery in an upset tone, thinking of how opposite the current situation would be. He was upset earlier with her words but not now. Avery knew his daughter well enough to know she didn't truly mean what she said. "I know you didn't mean it."
Avery and Juliette were on both sides of the bed, as close to Cadence as they possibly could. "I am the worst kid, I don't know why I did what I did. I don't act like this. It's all my fault," she said looking between the two of them.
"No it's not Cadence, you weren't the one driving that car," said Juliette.
"It was Drew who was reckless and I swear he is going to pay for what he did to you," Avery said angrily. Just thinking about what he did to hurt his baby girl made his blood boil.
"Dad it's not his fault!" Cadence said in a higher tone, quickly adjusting herself in her hospital bed but the pain on her side where she was still healing stopped her. A shooting pain went up the side and she winced in pain. "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Okay you need to rest," Juliette said as she tensed up, worried about Cadence's apparent pain tolerance. She looked over at Avery who looked back at her, both of them angry at the boy who did this, as well as the paparazzi who chased them.
They both had Cadence lie down and relaxed, "You need to rest as much as you can," said Avery. "We'll talk about everything later."
Cadence was hurting and too uncomfortable to continue the discussion so she agreed and chose to rest. "Can the nurse give me anything for pain?" she asked, holding her right side with her left hand.
"Yeah we'll get her in here," said Juliette, slightly rubbing the top of her arm before stepping away towards the door.
"We'll be right back sweetie," said Avery, kissing the top of her head once more. He watched Cadence nod before stepping outside with Juliette, where they were met with Emily and Glenn.
"Nurse," said Avery, grabbing her attention. "My daughter is complaining of pain on her right side. She accidentally moved too quickly and she must have stressed it out too soon."
"I'll get her something right now," she said as she left her station across from Cadence's room.
Before they could even give an update to Emily and Glenn, a voice was heard from down the hall, "Avery!"
The four of them turned in the opposite direction where Avery's name was called. At the end of the hallway, Molly, Sandra, and Savannah were making their way as fast as they could to him.
Molly was the first to get to Avery, "Oh Avery," she said sympathetically, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, one that Juliette was sure to notice.
"Where is she? Is she okay?" Sandra asked with tears in her eyes, as she got closer to her son and hugged him tightly.
"She's okay Mom, she's doing fine," said Avery. "I'm so glad you guys are here."
"Of course we're here," said Savannah, taking her turn at exchanging an embrace with her brother. "Whoever did this to her is going to hear it from me directly."
As Savannah was speaking to Avery, Juliette caught eyes with Sandra. A pair of eyes she was afraid of meeting after sixteen years. A woman who had been on her side before. But by the anger in her eyes, Juliette knew that wasn't the case anymore.
She then looked at Molly, who had already been observing her with an already formed opinion. She was Avery's height, wearing a dress that showed her long tan legs. Her brown, wavy, hair was down and flowed down her back. Molly certainly wasn't the type Juliette ever thought Avery would be with. She was the complete opposite of herself from what she could tell.
"Can we go see her?" Savannah asked.
"We're letting her rest for a bit, she's in some pain right now," Juliette bravely explained to the three women.
"Why is she in pain?" Savannah asked again, only looking at Avery as if Juliette wasn't even there.
"She's recovering from a car accident Savannah, she's going to be in pain for a while," said Avery as the nurse walked past them with a medical bag with pain medicine for Cadence. "She moved too quickly in bed just now so she really needs to rest, that's all."
"This is probably going to be a while. I know you guys are out of town, so if you need somewhere to sleep or freshen up, the three of you are welcome to go to my house," Juliette offered kindly. Trying her best to make the situation as positive as possible.
"That's alright, we'll be here mostly. And if we need anything, we'll check into a hotel," said Sandra.
"We'll go wait in the waiting room until Cadence is ready," said Molly, looking at Avery who nodded.
"I'll let you guys know, okay?"
"Sounds good," said Sandra as she, Molly, and Savannah walked back down the hallway.
Juliette looked at Avery before they headed into Cadence's room and turned to Emily and Glenn, "This is going to be great, just great."
