A few days had passed since Deacon and Rayna's Bluebird date night. Rayna was looking forward to a couple days at the cabin with the whole family together for the 4th of July. Maddie and Colt would be home from their honeymoon soon to join everyone at the cabin.
Deacon had been doing his best to stay positive for Rayna. He was still feeling tired, but the light headed episodes had subsided. He had been missing Maddie, but dreading telling her about his cancer.
Mason was spending more and more time with Sage Wheeler, but following the rules. Deacon and Rayna had continued to be lenient with him about his time with Sage as long as he followed the rules and came home by 9pm.
"Why can't I spend the 4th of July with Sage? Luke invited me to their party." Mason whined as Rayna made dinner
"…because we're all spending the holiday at the cabin as a family. Dad needs your help with some things there. Remember, it was part of your punishment for all the trouble you got into." Rayna reminded Mason
"OK, fine…I'll go up with you and dad on the 3rd to help him with chores, and Sage can come get me for their party on the 4th."
"No, Mason…you're going with us, and you're staying the whole time. You've been with Sage almost every night for the past week. I think you can spend a few days with your family"
"What the hell was that about?" Deacon sleepily asked as he wrapped his arms around Rayna at the stove. His nap on the couch in front of the Cardinal's game had been interrupted by Mason stomping up the steps and slamming his bedroom door.
"I think maybe we've been a little too lenient with Mason and Sage spending so much time together. He pretty much expects it now. He's all bent outta shape cause I want him to spend the 4th of July with us at the cabin. Apparently Luke invited him to the annual Wheeler 4th of July party."
"I'll give him a little bit to cool off and talk to him." Deacon gently brushed her cheek
"Thanks, babe. I hope we're not spiraling back into more problems with this girlfriend. He's still on probation for a year, and another couple months of 9pm curfews."
"Hey…dinner's about ready. C'mon…" Deacon said peering into Mason's bedroom. Mason was sprawled on the bed with his headphones on and texting on his phone. He hadn't even noticed Deacon at the door.
"HEY…MACE…DINNER!" Deacon announced a little louder entering the room
"I'm not hungry, Dad!" Mason scowled as Deacon sat next to him on the bed.
"Mace…Look…I know you like Sage a lot. Believe me, I know what it's like to be crazy about someone. I wasn't too much older than you when I met mom. If it's meant to be, a little time apart won't change anything. It'll make you care that much more."
"It's a party Dad. Her parents asked me to come. Why can't I go up to the cabin on the 3rd with you and mom, and have Sage pick me up in the afternoon on the 4th for their party."
"It's an hour and a half between the Wheeler Ranch and the cabin, Mace. You're on probation. 9pm curfew per the judge, remember? How's that gonna work?"
"I dunno. I'll be at the Wheelers. The judge just said I can't be out. That's not out as long as I stay there. Please?" Mason begged
"…and how would you get back to the cabin late that night? I'm sorry, Mace. No, not this time."
"FINE! I'll go to the cabin. Sage will probably dump me just like Kiera. Just leave me alone, alright, Dad?" Mason rolled over to face the wall
"Mason, Sage is not like Kiera. I'm sure she'll understand. You'll have the rest of the summer to see her. This 4th of July at the cabin means a lot to your mother. We've been very lenient with you and Sage spendin so much time together. I don't think askin you to spend a few days with your family, especially under the circumstances, is too much to ask."
"I'm always with you on holidays. There will be more holidays." Mason sulked still not facing Deacon
"Maybe not for me, Mace." Deacon's voice cracked. He quickly left the room not wanting to break down in front of Mason.
"Dad, I didn't mean…." Mason suddenly felt horrible as Deacon descended the stairs not looking back
"Dad, please…I didn't mean it like that…" Mason followed Deacon through the kitchen to the garage. Deacon climbed in his truck, slammed the door, and drove away before Mason could stop him.
"Mason, what….what did you say to him?" Rayna demanded as Mason came back into the kitchen
"Nothing! I didn't mean it the way he took it. I just said there would be other holidays. I guess I didn't think before I said it. He's gonna die, isn't he, mom?" Mason's eyes filled with tears as he said it
"Not if I can help it! We just need to stay positive and try to make the best of the time we have with him for now, OK?" She pulled Mason into a tight hug as they cried together in the kitchen
"I didn't mean to make him mad, mom." Mason sobbed in Rayna's arms
"I don't think he's mad. He's havin a really hard time. He's such a proud man, Mason. He hates feeling weak and powerless. He's always taken care of us, and now he's the one that needs to be taken care of. It's really hard for him to accept that."
"Why don't you go get washed up for dinner. I'll call Dad and make sure he's OK." Rayna slowly let go of Masson and kissed his cheek
"Hey…Mason feels horrible for whatever happened upstairs. Please come back and have dinner with us, babe?" Rayna sadly left a voicemail
She sighed as she hung up. A couple hours passed. Rayna was getting worried. She and Mason had dinner without Deacon.
She was relieved when she heard his truck pull into the garage.
"Sorry I left like that." Deacon wrapped his arms around Rayna at the kitchen counter as she cleaned up the dinner mess.
"I missed you, babe. Are you OK?" she asked running her fingers through his dark hair
"Yeah, I guess. I just …didn't wanna break down in front of Mason, ya know?"
"I know. He feels horrible. Maybe you should try to talk to him again. He's upstairs."
"I guess so. Nothin worse than feelin so weak and vulnerable in front of your kids, ya know. I'm supposed to be his dad, and always take care of him, and I can't."
"Deacon, it's OK. It's hard on him too. Maybe being vulnerable with him is what he needs. He loves you, and he's scared of losing you."
"Hey…wanna try this again? I got your favorite, Ben and Jerry's Half Baked." Deacon smiled as he handed Mason a tub of ice cream and a spoon
"I gotta go, Sage. My dad's back." Mason closed his facetime with Sage and put the I pad down
"Well, I guess your face can at least be at the Wheeler party with that thing." Deacon joked
"Dad! I talked to Sage. I told her what's goin on. Hope it's OK? I know you don't want it public yet. I just needed to talk to someone." Mason tried to swallow a lump and not cry
"C'mere…it's OK. I know this sucks. Do me a favor though? Tell Sage not to say anything to Colt or Maddie yet. We're gonna tell Maddie at the cabin." Deacon pulled Mason into a tight hug
"I'm sorry I left like that. I'm not mad. It's not you. It's just me and … I dunno, Mace. The thought of not bein here for the people I love kills me. I hate like hell that I'm putting everyone through this."
"It's OK, Dad. It's not your fault. I know you're always here for me and I know you wanna be, but I can handle it. I'll take care of mom and the girls if…" Mason fell into Deacon's arms sobbing
"I love you, Dad. I don't want you to die ever."
"Well, EVER is a pretty tall order, but I'm hopin for a little longer anyway." Deacon pulled back and wiped Mason's tears away
"I told Sage I can't come to her party. You were right. She understands, and she said to tell you she's sorry to hear about the cancer. She's praying for you, and all of us."
"Tell her thanks. Sweet girl. I think you got a good one this time. Tell you what. Why don't you invite her to the cabin for the 4th?"
"Really? It's OK with you and mom?" Mason's face lit up
"Let me handle mom. I still need your help on the 3rd with some mowing and chores, but yeah…Have her come up on the 4th if she can. We'd love to have her. We good now?"
"Yeah, thanks Dad. Can we maybe fit some fishing in on the 3rd between chores?" Mason asked
"Sure, I'd like that." Deacon agreed as he got up to leave the room
Rayna was preoccupied with her phone and email in the passenger seat. Mason was vegged out in the backseat behind Deacon with his headphones on as they drove to the cabin on the morning of July 3rd.
"uuhhh, Dad? You just missed the turn to the cabin." Mason quipped from the backseat
"Dammit, just preoccupied I guess." Deacon cursed as he made a u turn
"Babe, are you OK? 22 years of drives up here, you've never done that." Rayna asked
"I'm fine, Ray. Just preoccupied, alright. Don't make more out of this than it is?" he sadly asked
He'd had his weekly appointment with Dr. Rand the day before. This one hadn't gone as well. The tumor was growing. Deacon's MELD scores were worse, but still not bad enough to make him a priority on the transplant list. It meant he was getting sicker.
Rayna had noticed subtle changes. His skin seemed paler, almost grayish at times. He wasn't interested in playing guitar as much and when he did his memory seemed to fail him with older less played songs. She'd noticed his usual quit wit just didn't seem to be there.
He was irritated when she pointed all of it out to Dr. Rand, but the doctor had simply said they were all symptoms of chronic liver disease and would likely get worse with time. The liver wasn't filtering toxins as efficiently and a build up in the body would likely cause many symptoms, and Deacon would feel worse as time went on.
Deacon wasn't sleeping well at night and often slept a lot during the day, but he was doing his best to stay positive and try to keep life normal for Rayna and Mason. Telling Maddie about his cancer was weighing heavily on his mind as he drove the last mile to the cabin.
"I'm really kinda beat. Why don't you get the mowin done, Mace. I need to lie down for a bit. Wake me up later and we'll try to get some fishin in before dinner, OK?" Deacon asked after the car was unloaded
"Do you want anything, babe?" Rayna asked as she sat next to Deacon on the bed
"Wish I could say …YOU, baby, but I'm so tired. I'm sorry sweetheart. I just need a little nap, and maybe some of your sweet tea when I wake up?" he tried to smile, but he knew Rayna was worried about him
"OK, get some rest. I love you." Rayna gently brushed his lips with a sweet kiss as she got up to leave the room. He was sound asleep before she got to the bedroom door to leave.
She tried not to cry as she unpacked groceries and put things away, tidying up the neglected kitchen. It had been a few weeks since she, Deacon and Mason had been to the cabin. Dust had settled on everything again.
The cabin held bittersweet memories. It was their first home as a married couple. Maddie's first year of life had been spent at the cabin. Her first words spoken here in the kitchen. Daddy, of course had been her first word. She'd walked across the porch to Deacon taking her first steps after he'd come home from a short tour when she was a little over a year old.
Rayna had no idea how to tell Maddie about Deacon's cancer. They had been close since before Maddie was even born. Deacon always had his hands on Rayna's baby bump. He was enamored with every movement. He'd held Maddie for what seemed like months after she was born. She never cried or wanted for anything if Deacon was around. He'd spoiled her absolutely rotten.
Deacon had become an amazing father and husband over the years. If someone had told Rayna how great he'd be as a parent early on in their relationship she never would have believed them. The husband part had taken a few extra years, and neither of them could deny they were rough years that almost tore them apart more than once.
The father part seemed to come naturally for Deacon. He'd lose his temper, but he always seemed to smooth things over with the girls and more recently Mason too. Rayna and Mason shared a closer bond. Deacon's career had taken off when Mason was only 6 months old. Deacon had raised Maddie in the early years while Rayna got to do it with Mason.
Scarlett had come into their lives as a daughter when she was almost 6 years old. Deacon's mom passed away and his sister Beverly wasn't capable of raising her alone. They'd eventually adopted her and raised her as their own after learning of abuse at the hands of Beverly. They 'd had no contact with Beverly since taking Scarlett away from her over 15 years ago.
Rayna thought of Beverly now as she cried alone in the cabin kitchen. She might be the one person that could save Deacon's life. The queen of country didn't often swallow her pride and beg for anything, but she'd give anything, do anything, say anything, pay any amount right now to have more time with Deacon. If that meant begging his sister to get tested she'd do it, and pray that Beverly was a match.
She'd been thinking about it a lot lately as she watched the love of her life deteriorate in health. She knew Deacon was completely against contacting Beverly, but she was determined to save him, even if it meant going against his wishes.
"Mom, I can't get the riding mower started. Is dad asleep already?" Mason shook Rayna from her Beverly thoughts as he entered the kitchen
"uuummm…yeah, Mace. He's so tired. Actually he forgot to start the generator before he fell asleep. He showed you how to do that a few weeks ago. Can you do that for me, sweetie? I have groceries in the fridge that need to be kept cold." Rayna said handing the shed and generator keys to Mason
"Yeah, mom. What should I do about the mower?" he asked
"Just get the generator going like Dad showed you, and then do the weed eating and push mower stuff first. That should take you a little while. Maybe he'll be awake or Gunnar and Scarlett might be here by then. Maybe Gunnar can help you with it." Rayna suggested
Mason remembered everything Deacon had taught him about the old generator and easily got it running for Rayna. Rayna was pleasantly surprised he didn't argue about weed eating or using the push mower. She knew losing Deacon was weighing heavily on Mason's mind. He'd been quiet since the night before when Deacon left upset.
Gunnar and Scarlett arrived with baby Clay a few hours later. Gunnar helped Mason get the mower running and also helped split wood for the fire and weenie roast Rayna wanted to have later. By the time Deacon woke several hours later everything was done. All he had to do was relax and enjoy his time at the cabin. Rayna could tell he felt a little unneeded as he slumped in a chair on the porch.
"Brought you some sweet tea." She smiled as she handed him a glass
"Thanks." He replied softly as he watched Gunnar and Mason across the river fishing
"I didn't mean to sleep so long. I was gonna take Mace fishing." He finally said after several minutes of silence
"He didn't wanna wake you, babe. You seemed so tired after unloading the car. He's been really good today. He started the generator for me."
"Oh shit.. I'm sorry, Ray. I completely forgot about it." He looked away sadly
"It's OK, Deacon. You taught him everything a few weeks ago. He did have some trouble with the riding mower, but Gunnar helped him."
"They split wood for the fire tonight, and got the boat in the water and ready for fishing. All you need to do is relax and enjoy a couple days. Let the boys help you. You don't have to do it all, Deacon. We're all here for you."
He simply nodded and continued watching Mason and Gunnar fishing.
"Why don't you call Mason. I'm sure they'll come get you if you wanna go fishing?"
"That's OK. I'll just watch. I'm still kinda tired. You need help with anything else, baby?" he asked
"Ya know, yes, you could build the fire up for later and get the sticks out for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows." She answered sensing his need to do something for her
"OK, I'll take care of it. When are Maddie and Colt comin?" he asked
"Either later tonight or early tormorrow. Maddie has an ultrasound today. They weren't sure of they were gonna drive up after or wait till morning."
"I've missed her since they left for Paris, but I'm not ready to tell her, ya know?" he looked sad again watching the water
"We've gotta tell her now, Deacon. It's getting around, and Belcort has started officially cancelling your shows. She's gonna hear it somewhere else if we don't."
The fire was down to embers as Deacon watched from the sliding glass door. He'd been walking around with a fussy Clay trying to get the baby to sleep. Mason had gone to bed, tired after all the work he'd done around the cabin. Rayna and Scarlett we cleaning up the kitchen and putting things away after their weenie roast.
"Eeewww…you smell fishy!" Scarlett complained as Gunnar came in from cleaning the fish he and Mason had caught earlier
"On my way to the shower!" he laughed and kissed her as he walked by
"You want me to take him, Dad?" Scarlett asked as Deacon sat down with Clay
"No, I got him. He's just a little fussy. I think he's getting his first tooth."
"OK, if you're tired I'll take him."
"I got him, OK. I'm still capable of babysittin." Deacon snapped a little more harshly than intended
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap." Deacon quickly apologized
"It's OK. Mom said you're havin a rough time and feelin worse. I know you don't mean it."
"Hey, you made it!" Rayna excitedly said as Maddie and Colt walked in
"Yeah, we decided to go ahead and come tonight. What have we missed?" Maddie asked stealing Clay from Deacon
"I've missed you baby girl. How was the honeymoon?" Deacon asked pulling Maddie and Clay into a hug
"Great! We have tons of pictures to show you, and we've got wedding pictures back too!" Maddie excitedly told everyone as she handed Clay back to Deacon and sat down to get the pictures out
"Here are the wedding pictures." She passed a sample book to Rayna
"We need to pick which ones we want to order and the sizes. Let me know what you want and I'll place the whole order at once." She excitedly exclaimed as everyone looked through the sample book
"I definitely want a 16x20 of the whole family. That's the first picture we've all been in since you guys were little." Rayna announced
"I want the one of me, Gunnar and Clay in an 8x10." Scarlett requested
"Here are the honeymoon pictures from Paris. We had an amazing trip. We saw all the sites, ate the best food and spent a lot of time "alone" Maddie smiled and kissed Colt
"I don't need to to know." Deacon sarcastically sniped
"Oh…and we have some other news to share!" Maddie excitedly exclaimed as she pulled her I pad from her overnight bag and launched a video
"We have a video of my ultrasound from today. We decided to get one of those 3D images. It's amazing how much you can see." She excitedly held Colts hand as the I pad was passed around showing the first images of her baby
"Wow, that's amazing. With you guys all we had was the black and white images where you really couldn't see much without the doctor pointing it out." Deacon said as he watched the pink image on the I pad screen
"Is that what I think it is?" Rayna asked peering closer over Deacon's shoulder as another little pink image appeared from behind the other
Maddie and Colt smiled and both said "yes, it's twins!"
"We were a little shocked today when the doctor told us." Colt said
"It's still a little early, but from what they can see it looks like one of each, a boy and a girl." Maddie excitedly said as she pointed it out to Deacon
"That's great sweetie. Congratulations! I…uuhhh…gonna do a little night fishin." Deacon quickly handed Clay to Rayna and walked out the door
The room went silent for several seconds. Rayna, Scarlett, and Gunnar weren't really sure what to say. Deacon was noticeably upset as he walked out the door.
"OK, what's going on with Dad?" Maddie demanded
"We'll talk about it tomorrow sweetie. It's getting late. I think everyone could use a decent nights sleep. You and Colt are in the last room on the left. I put fresh sheets and towels in there for you." Rayna said
"NO, Mom! Something is seriously wrong, isn't it? I wanna know now!" Maddie demanded again
"Maddie…it's….I think your dad would like to be here for this."
"Just tell me, alright? We know something is wrong. We heard Belcort is cancelling the rest of Dad's tour. That's not at all like him! TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?"
"Maddie, he's sick. We found out about a month ago he has liver cancer." Rayna admitted with tears in her eyes
"A month? You've all known for a month?" Maddie was getting really upset
"It was his choice to keep it quiet. At first he didn't want anyone to know, but it was too hard to keep quiet with Scarlett and Mason under the same roof. We never wanted to keep it from you, but he didn't want to ruin your wedding or honeymoon. He loves you so much. He wanted your special day to be perfect and he knew you'd be really upset. Please don't be angry with him." Rayna begged as Maddie descended into tears
"…but there's chemo and radiation, right? They can save him?" Maddie asked through tears as Colt held her
"Neither are an option for him. The tumor on his liver is very large, and the doctor thinks his best chance is a liver transplant. If they try chemo and radiation it would only weaken his immune system and they'd have to wait to do a transplant. He doesn't have that kind of time." Rayna sobbed as she repeated the doctors words
"So he's on a list, right? When one becomes available, he'll get it and be OK?"
"It's not that simple. They have to be a 100% match, and right now he's not sick enough to be priority on the list."
"So how long do they wait before he gets a liver?" Maddie asked
"Well, sweetie he has to be pretty sick and …I don't know how far they'll let it go before he moves to the top of the list, and then of course there has to be a donor that matches. It's not that simple."
"What are his chances? There has to be more they can do. They can't just let him die. Please tell me they can save him!" Maddie began sobbing on Colt's shoulder
"I wish I could, Maddie, but…" Rayna swallowed a large lump almost choking off her air supply
"What about live donors? Isn't the liver one of the organs that live donors can give part of theirs to a recipient?" Colt asked as he rubbed Maddie's back trying to comfort her
"It is, but again you have to be an exact match. I'm not even a blood type match which left me out. Scarlett was a blood type match, but she wasn't a match as they looked closer. Deacon is O positive. His donor has to be an O type."
"I'm an O negative. I'll get tested." Colt offered
"I'm O positive just like Dad, but I'm pregnant." Maddie cried harder
"According to the doctor the best donors are usually siblings. Deacon does have a sister, but we haven't talked to her in years, and it didn't end on a good note. He's already forbid me from calling her, but he's getting sicker and I'm seriously thinking about finding her. I'll pay her if that's what it takes to get her tested."
"My mamma?" Scarlett asked
"Yes your mom, Beverly." Rayna admitted
"There's somthin I should tell you. I didn't say anything cause you and dad have done so much for me over the years. I know you only did what you thought was best to keep me safe, but when I was pregnant with Clay I started really wondering about Beverly. We've been talkin for about 6 months now." Scarlett admitted
"You have?" Rayna asked
"Yeah, I'm sorry I never told you. I wasn't sure how you'd feel and…I didn't wanna hurt you or dad."
"Do you think she'd be willing to get tested?" Rayna asked hopeful
"I dunno. She's awfully bitter about everything even now, 15 years later. Says you stole me from her."
"Have you seen her?"
"No, just online and phone calls. She's been wantin to see Clay, but I'm not sure so we haven't gone there yet. She's talked about maybe comin to Nashville to see us, but I'm not sure how she'd feel about seein you or dad."
"Do you think she'd come here tomorrow and spend the 4th with us? I hate to put you in that position, Scarlett, but she may be his only hope. Would you ask her to come to Nashville? Don't say anything about Deacon yet, just see if she's open to talking and spending some time with us." Rayna pleaded
"OK, yeah, I guess. Can't hurt to ask her. All she can say is no, right?" Scarlett agreed
"She's actually workin the late shift tonight at the diner. I'll call her in a little bit when she gets off and see if she'll come tomorrow."
"Thanks, sweetie. I'm sorry to put you on the spot. Are you sure you're OK with asking her?" Rayna felt bad about putting Scarlett in the middle of this
"Yeah, I'd do anything to save him too!"
"Remember everyone…Not a word about Beverly to Deacon! He'll never agree to this." Rayna asked and everyone agreed
"I need to talk to him. Not about Beverly. I just want my daddy to hold me." Maddie stood up and tried to stop crying as she headed towards the door
Deacon was sitting in the boat alone in the dark as Maddie approached. He turned and looked up when he heard footsteps on the pier. She still had tears on her cheeks.
"It's kinda hard to fish without a pole." She sniped as she climbed into the boat and sat next to him curling up into his side like she did when she was little and upset
"Smartass" he sniped back as he put an arm around her and pulled her close
"Mom told ya, huh?" he asked sadly
"Yeah" was all she could say before the tears started falling. She let Deacon hold her tight as she sobbed uncontrollably against his chest. She always felt the safest in her daddy's arms, like nothing could ever hurt her. Deacon could always make it better.