April 28th, 1990
Dear Diary,
I'm sitting in Deacon's truck. I've been out here for almost 3 hours. It's after midnight. Daddy is gonna kill me, but I need to talk to Deacon before I go home. I'll probably never get out of the house to talk to him again.
I'm not sure what he thinks, but he's really upset with me. Tonight was the first time I'd really seen him get mad. His temper scares me. His face gets red and he yells. Daddy has never even yelled at me that way.
I just hope we can work things out. I'm not even completely sure why he's so mad. He's awfully sexy when he's pissed off. I can't believe I think that, but I'm not sure there will ever be a time when I don't find Deacon Claybourne irresistible.
Earlier in the day. End of Deacon's Bluebird shift (or so he thought)…
"Hey, Deacon! I'm glad I caught you. I need a really BIG favor?" Sarah asked as Deacon reached for the door handle of his truck in the Bluebird parking lot
"OK, whatcha need, boss?" Deacon asked
"I hate to ask, but I'm stuck. I know you already worked an 8 hour shift, but Jerry called in AGAIN! I need you to stay and cover the 4 to midnight, Please? I'll pay you double time." Sarah pleaded, desperate for a bartender to cover the Thursday night crowd
"Double time, huh? Man…that's hard to pass up, but I dunno. I really didn't wanna be here tonight." Deacon sighed
"Please? I'm stuck. I can't stay. My kids sick. Double time, and you can have tomorrow off PAID! I'll have Jerry cover your Friday night."
"Friday night off PAID, huh? Can't say no to that. Alright…I'll stay." Deacon sighed again as he followed his boss back inside.
He still hadn't heard from Rayna. It had been a full week tonight since their last writers round at the Bluebird together. He assumed his guitar playing services were no longer needed, since he'd heard nothing from her, and she hadn't even asked for rehearsal time.
He'd done his best over the past week to drown his sorrows in a bottle of Jack. The last place he wanted to be tonight was here, to watch her in the round. He sat down in the back room rubbing his scruff, wondering how he'd handle facing her. He was hurt and angry she'd blown him off for a week as he took his 2nd shift of the day behind the bar.
Across town in Belle Meade…
"Daddy I really need to finish this science project with Kelsie tonight. It's due tomorrow, and you haven't let me outta the house in a week. I'm gonna flunk science! Is that what you want?" Rayna whined as Lamar pulled into the driveway. He'd picked her up and dropped her off from school everyday himself since grounding her a week earlier.
"Fine, Rayna! Kelsie can come here to finish the project." He calmly replied as he put the car in park
"…but Daddy! It's a lot of material. Info boards, and video. She has everything at her house and her dad's letting us use his video equipment."
"How do you plan to get there and back home?" Lamar asked as Rayna followed him into the house
"She has a car. She'll pick me up. I promise I'll be home by 9."
"Alright, but not a second later. Do you hear me?" he replied distracted by a ringing phone in his office
"Thank you, Daddy!"
"I gotta take this. I mean it, Rayna! You will be back in this house at 9pm!" He snapped as he turned towards the ringing phone
"Thank you soooo much, Kelsie!" Rayna said as she jumped into Kelsie's car a couple hours later
She quickly stripped off the bulky clothes she had covering the night's real outfit, and slipped on her turquois lucchese matching boots. She did her makeup in the visor mirror.
"How do I look?" she asked Kelsie
"Adorbs! So, you get to see Deacon tonight?" Kelsie asked
"Oh My God, yes, I've missed him soooo much. I can't wait to be in his arms, and kiss him." Rayna was gushing after a week away from Deacon
"Do you need a ride back home?" Kelsie asked as Rayna quickly jumped from the car excited to see Deacon's truck already there
"uuhhh, No…I'll have Deacon take me home. Thanks and if daddy calls you, just lie and say I'm in the bathroom. I don't think he'll call. He's distracted with some big business deal tonight. I'll deal with him when I get home. Thanks again. I reeeally owe you BIG!" Rayna practically ran into the Bluebird excited to see Deacon
He was gorgeous as ever behind the bar. The Bluebird was extremely busy. Vince Gill was making an appearance tonight and tickets had sold out. There was a huge line waiting to get in as Rayna entered through the back artist entrance. The bar was busy, and Deacon hadn't noticed as she approached. He was in the middle of a large drink order for one of the waitresses.
"Hey…." She smiled wide as he looked up from the order
"Hey…" he mumbled flatly, barely acknowledging her
"Deacon?" she was confused by his distance as he ignored her and continued taking and making drink orders
"I'm kinda busy here, Rayna! What do you want?" he snapped harshly
"OK, sorry. So, I'll see you in the round?" she asked
"WHAT?" he snapped, confused, and getting angrier that she'd just blow in and act like everything was fine
"Aren't you playin for me tonight?" she asked
"NO, why in the hell would I do you any favors after the past week?" he asked
"…be…I….thought you were my guitar player?" she fumbled for words, taken aback by his anger
"Yeah, well…I thought I was a hell of a lot more than that! I don't know what kinda high school game you're playin here, Rayna, but I'M DONE!"
"Deacon…I…please, let me explain what's…."
"LOOK, I'M BUSY HERE, RAYNA! IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, I GOT A BAR FULL A CUSTOMERS! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS SHIT, AND FRANKLY I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! GET YOURSELF A NEW GUITARIST OR WHATEVER THE HELL IT IS YOU'RE LOOKIN FOR! I GOTTA JOB TO DO HERE!" He really snapped, cutting her off, his hurt and anger from the past week overwhelming him.
Rayna burst into tears and ran to the back room. She'd been so excited to see him, and thought he'd feel the same. His anger and temper had completely surprised her.
"Show's over folks! Sorry for the disruption." Deacon apologized to the crowd near the bar that had stopped and taken notice of his little spat with Rayna. He quickly began taking drink orders again.
"Hey, sweetie…what's wrong?" Watty asked a distraught Rayna as she burst into the back room
"I can't do this tonight, Watty!" she fell into his arms, burying her face against his chest crying
"Rayna, tell me what's wrong?"
"Everything! Daddy is keeping me practically a prisoner at home. Deacon and I just had a huge fight and I'm not even really sure why." She sobbed hysterically
"Rayna, come on. I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems. Look, normally I'd say the show must go on no matter what, but with Vince Gill here tonight the round is kinda pressed for time. I'm sure if you opt out tonight, it won't be an issue. You need to get it together though, OK?"
"I'll try, Watty." She sniffled feeling a little better in Watty's arms. He was more like a father to her than Lamar ever was. She couldn't remember the last time Lamar had let her cry in his arms. Probably not since she was a very little girl.
"You need to do more than TRY! I've got these 6 gigs set up for you and Deacon. Edgehill is watching. You need to make these count regardless of your personal issues. I gave the band the score sheets for your music. You'll need to meet with them at least a few times before your Tue show in Johnson City to rehearse as a group. I've set up a hall for Sat, Sun, and Mon 4pm each day. You and Deacon need to be there."
"OK." She simply said a million things running through her mind.
"How do I get away from Daddy for 3 rehearsals, and what the hell am I gonna tell him on Tue night? It's a 4 hour drive. My sets 8 to 930. It'll be at least 2am before I get home." She sat in despair wondering, as Watty left her to cancel her in the round appearance for the night
"Hey, Deacon! Can you change the board? Rayan's not gonna perform tonight. Can we just erase her name from the marquee for the night?" Watty asked at the bar
"uuhhh…yeah, sure. No problem, Wat." Deacon said as he grabbed the hand held keyboard to change the scrolling marquee
"Thanks, Deke. While I'm here I'll take a bud light, sprite and can you put in an order for some of those sweet potato fries. Keep the change." Watty said leaving a $10 bill on the bar.
"She alright?" Deacon asked as he handed Watty the drinks. He knew Sprite and sweet potato fries were Rayna's usual order
"She's pretty upset, but she'll be OK. She's young, and this is all new to her. It's a lot. Music career, new love, rough home life since her mama passed." Watty really didn't want to get between them
"Yeah, I guess." Deacon felt bad for making her cry, but he was still pissed and confused about why she'd blown him off for a week. More than anything, he was hurt. He loved her, and felt like she was messing with his mind. Sharing his feelings wasn't something he was used to, and then to have her act that way didn't sit well with him.
He relaxed more as the night went on. As far as he knew Rayna had left. He hadn't seen her since she bolted from the bar crying. Being extremely busy helped keep his mind off of her. He thought maybe he'd eventually feel like talking to her, but he was still too angry and hurt. He was actually happy she'd left. He just didn't feel ready to deal with Rayna Jaymes tonight.