"That's great, baby. I told you he'd be fine. We'll probably be over to see him soon. Mom just got home. I have some special plans for tonight so I'm gonna let you go. Happy Valentine's Day, sweetie! We'll see ya soon. I love you. Bye." Deacon pressed the end button on his cell as Rayna came into the kitchen
"Who was that?" she asked as he wrapped his arms around her
"Maddie. They just released little Deacon. He gets to go home today."
"Oh, that's the best news I've heard all day! How are you, babe? Happy Valentine's Day." She smiled and let him pull her in for a deep kiss
"I'm great. Better now that you're home. How was work?"
"Ugh! Don't ask! That group I've been wooing for weeks signed with Big Machine today. I really thought we had them." She sighed
"You'll get the next one. Why don't you let me salvage the rest of your day?"
"mmmm…that sounds nice, babe. What was it about special plans I overheard you tell Maddie?" she asked between kisses
"Leave that to me. Why don't you go get ready for a night out." He smirked knowing surprises irked Rayna, but she had one of her own for him later too
"I thought you were gonna salvage my day?" she playfully pulled him back to her by the shirt collar
"Now and later?" he smiled glancing at his watch
"Alright…it's still early. We got time." He quickly swept her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom
"Deacon…it's only been a couple months since your surgery. Put me down before you hurt yourself!"
"I'm fine, Ray. You can quit fussin over every little detail. I'm good as new." He gently placed her on their king sized bed and wrapped himself around her.
"Happy Valentine's Day, baby. I can't believe I'm still here to celebrate another one with you, but I'm damn happy about it. All the little things and stupid hallmark holidays seem to mean so much more now."
"You've always liked Valentine's Day!"
"No…I've always liked spoilin you. Today just gives me an excuse to be all whimsical and romantic." He whispered dotting kisses down her neck line, unbuttoning her blouse, and driving her crazy as he moved lower with continued soft kisses
"Wanna move this to the shower?" he breathlessly asked after about 30 minutes of intense love making
"Yeah…you can do whatever you want with me, babe." She smirked as he carried her to the shower, never stopping the neck kisses
"Twice in a row? Are you sure you're up for this, babe?" she asked as he pinned her against the shower wall for round 2 continuing with gentle thrusts as they talked
"Baby…I'm up for anything tonight. I feel great. Stop worrying. We've been through hell, but it's over now. The best is yet to come. Just have a little faith, OK?"
"You're right. I'm sorry. I just feel like I got you back from the brink of death and I don't wanna risk ever going there again."
"I know, but I'm fine. Trust me? Why don't you finish gettin ready. I'll leave you alone." He slowly pulled away leaving her breathless and wanting more after a few sweet kisses
"mmm…leaving me?" she whined as he stepped out of the shower
"There's more comin later." His smile still melted her, maybe more so now with their new chance at life together.
He'd been writing again. Rayna listened as he hummed a new tune while dressing. She was happy he'd made a complete recovery it seemed. He seemed stronger than ever. He was happy and healthy. She had the old Deacon back. They'd had a few little spats shortly after he came home from the hospital, but things had been better than ever the past few weeks. The fights seemingly forgotten as they enjoyed a new love and appreciation for each other and the smaller things in daily life.
The doorbell ringing pulled her from her thoughts.
"You expectin someone, baby?" Deacon asked as he slipped on his navy blue dress jacket over a crisp white shirt and headed towards the front door
"What?" she asked turning off the hair dryer
"I got it. Finish gettin ready." He yelled from the hallway
"Deacon Claybourne?" a courier asked handing Deacon a clipboard
"uuhhh…yeah…what is this?" he asked confused as he signed his name
"Enjoy sir. She's a beauty. My best delivery today!" the courier smiled as he handed Deacon a set of keys
"What do you think?" Rayna asked wrapping her arms around him from behind as he stared at the classic Chevy truck in the driveway
"Just like my old 79. I love it, Ray."
"It is your old truck. I was looking at some old pictures while you were sick and I know how much you loved this truck. We still had a copy of the title. I had Bucky track it down. Turned out a collector had completely restored it. He kept it as original as he could. I had it all checked out. It's in perfect condition."
"I don't know what to say. It's beautiful, Ray. Never looked this good when I had it." He smiled and pulled her in for a kiss against the front fender
"How about a ride?"
"Are you all ready to go out?" he asked
"Yeah, just need my purse. Where are we going, anyway?"
"You'll see." He smirked knowing the suspense was killing her
"Alright…I'll be right back." She frowned and turned toward the house to get her purse as Deacon climbed into the driver's seat of his new toy
"Can you grab my Martin, Ray? It's right by the front door." Deacon yelled as Rayna stepped back onto the porch, purse in hand
"Thanks, baby." He said as he moved the seat forward to place his prized guitar behind it in the cab
"Well…will ya look at that? I scratched that into the paint behind the seat in 1990 after our first date." He smiled as he brushed his hand over the heart etched into the paint
"Really? You knew then, huh? Took me a couple months to get you to say those 3 little words." she smiled looking at the heart with "Deacon loves Rayna" scratched in the hidden space behind the seat
"I knew the second I saw you at the Bluebird that first time, Ray. I just didn't think you'd ever choose a guy like me. Took me a while to believe I really had you. I still wonder why you took a chance on me sometimes."
"Deacon! I've loved you since that day too. The first time I heard you laugh, sing, play a note on a guitar. Weeks before we actually went on that first date. You drove me home from that disastrous night at the Bluebird, when I screwed up everything I touched. I'll never forget seeing you still waiting in the parking lot, sitting on the tailgate of this old truck."
"I was so nervous when you walked out. I didn't want you to think I was stalkin you, but I knew Sarah was mad and I thought she might fire you. I wanted to be there for you."
"I know. My knight in denim, on an old chevy tailgate, playing a beat up 38 Martin." She smiled at the memory
"25 years later…Am I still your knight in denim?" he asked with a smirk
"Always, babe…but I kinda like the navy blue suit too." She returned the smirk an pulled him to her by the lapels of his suit jacket
"We need to go. We're late!" he pulled away from a kiss and led Rayna to the passenger door, opening it for her
"Like new, but so many memories. I love it, Ray. Thank you." He leaned over for one last kiss, as he climbed into the driver's seat, before starting the truck
"That was nice, babe. Beautiful views of Nashville. Why haven't we ever been here before?" Rayna said as they left the top floor restaurant a couple hours later
"I'm not much into that sushi crap, Ray. It was OK. I know you like it, and I had heard the views were great up here. Thought we'd try it tonight."
"How about you take me home and finish "salvaging my day" like you promised earlier?" she playfully asked once they were back in the truck
"I thought I already did that…twice?" he playfully slid her closer on the heavily armor all shined vinyl bench seat into his grasp
"Now I remember why you loved this truck."
"They don't make seats like this anymore. All you can get are buckets with a console and shifter in the way. This is so much better for makin out…and other things…" he slowly unzipped the back of her dress
"Deacon…in a parking deck? Really?" she playfully swatted him away as he kissed her neck
"Really, but I have one more surprise. We gotta go. I'll pick up here…and here…here…later." He breathlessly dotted kisses up her back as he re-zipped her dress, sending shivers down her spine
They quietly slipped in the back door of the Bluebird Café as Vince Gill and Amy Grant finished "House of Love." Vince smiled noticing them in the corner. Deacon had called Vince earlier and asked if he could steal some time during Vince's set.
"We have quite a Valentine's Day treat for ya'll tonight. A great friend and hell of a musician buddy of mine recently beat liver cancer. He's here tonight for his first public appearance and performance since last summer…Mr. Deacon Claybourne!" Vince announced to wildly clapping crowd as Deacon joined him in the round
"Thank you! You have no idea how much that means to me. I never thought I'd be sittin here ever again. Your letters and messages of hope and love gave me the strength to fight my cancer and be here with you tonight. There's one person in this room I owe everything to. My wife Rayna…she took care of me when I was at my worst. Believed I'd pull through, even when I didn't. She's the love of my life, my best friend and I couldn't imagine a life without her. I love you, Ray. I'll never know why, but I'm damn happy you picked me all those years ago right here in this bar." Deacon smiled as he began a song he recently wrote for Rayna
I'LL NEVER KNOW WHY
by Marty Dodson, Charles Esten, and Kyle Jacobs
She tells me that she don't deserve me.
And I say, " Baby that's the truth."
She laughs because she thinks I'm joking.
But I know how much better she could do.
And I know that's what everybody's thinking.
Me, I think it all the time.
But somehow, she don't seem to see it.
She's still got her hand in mine.
And I will never know why
I'm the lucky guy who gets to taste her kisses
And take her home.
God knows this is heaven,
'Cause this angel says she's mine.
And I'll never know why.
I remember when I met her.
Man, I was blown away.
All this time we been together.
She's more amazing every day.
And I will never know why
I'm the lucky guy who gets to taste her kisses
And take her home.
God knows this is heaven,
'Cause this angel says she's mine.
And I'll never know why.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Ray. Thank you for lovin me more than I deserve. …and Thanks Vince for letting me invade your set tonight. I'll get outta your way now. Have a great Valentine's Day everyone. Goodnight!" Deacon smiled and shook a few hands of fans as he left the circle to join Rayna in the back room
"That was nice, Deacon. I'm glad you're feeling like performing again. I've missed that. Maybe you're right about going back on tour. You seem so much happier when you're out there in front of people doing what you love."
"I dunno. It's been kinda nice bein home with you the past couple months since surgery. I think we could use a little more "alone" time before I need to do any tourin." He gently kissed her cheek as they watched Vince in the writer's round
"I thought you wanted me to go on tour with you?" she asked
"You still want to?" he asked surprised. She'd been busy with Highway 65 since his recovery.
"Well…we talked about it before you got sick."
"I know. I just …you missed so much with your label takin care of me. You've been workin so hard since I got better. I wasn't sure you'd want to be gone for months at a time. I do have one more surprise for later that might occupy you for a week or two, but months? You sure, baby?"
"Deacon. I want to be wherever you are. If anything this liver cancer has made me not want to miss a second with you. If you want to tour again, I'm going. I can run Highway 65 from a laptop and phone. Bucky can take care of the in person details, and we'd be back often to see the kids and grandkids."
"I don't know what to say. You just keep surprisin me even after 25 years together. I love you, Ray." He pulled her in for a deep kiss just as Sarah walked into the back room
"Gald to see you two are still love birds after all this time. Sorry to interrupt, but….uuuhhh….remember the guy, John I told you about last year? He'd been here asking about Deacon?"
"Oh, yeah you gave me his number months ago. With Deacon sick, it completely slipped my mind. I never even called him." Rayna admitted
"Well…he's here. He hasn't asked about Deacon tonight. Actually, he just got here. I don't think he even knows you're here. Your name wasn't on the line up. I just wanted to kinda warn you. I know you seemed a little creeped out when I mentioned him last fall."
"Well, yeah…he showed up at the guard gate in our neighborhood too last fall. I'm not sure what to think."
"Where is he? Can you point him out? Maybe we can slip out the back. He'll never know we were here." Deacon said sensing Rayna's apprehension
"The dark haired guy, near the end of the bar." Sarah said pointing John's direction
"He said he knew me from Natchez?" Deacon asked
"Yeah, last year when he first started asking about you that's the story he gave everyone."
"I don't know him. Doesn't look familiar, and we haven't been to Natchez since my mama died 18 years ago." Deacon said looking towards the stranger. "Any idea, Ray? Does he look familiar to you?" Deacon asked.
"Ray…Rayna…I asked you a question…." Deacon said as Rayna stared towards the man
"I…uuuhhh….he's the donor. That's the man I saw near the hospital entrance that day. He had my letter in his bag." Rayna stammered
"What? The guy that's been askin about me around town and the donor is the same man?" Deacon asked confused
"Yeah, I guess so. How can you say he doesn't look familiar, Deacon? He's a dead ringer for you when you were younger
"You know now that you mention it…there is a striking resemblance. I never thought about it, but now with both of them here, she's right. He does look a lot like you, Deacon." Sarah looked from one to the other
"What the hell are you both implyin here? I don't know him. I've never seen him before now." Deacon was getting upset
"Do you know how old he is?" Rayna asked Sarah
"No idea. He's never said, and he just ordered diet pepsi tonight so I can't really card him. I'd say between 20 and 30."
"Yeah, well he just gave me 2/3 of his liver. I'm guessin he's not drinkin." Deacon snapped
"You know what. This is crazy. I'm just gonna go talk to him." Deacon started towards the man
"Deacon, wait…he didn't want to talk about being the donor that day at the hospital, and we have no idea who this guy is. I'm not sure this…."
"He saved my life, Rayna! I seriously doubt he means me any harm." He cut her off and pulled his hand away from her. He was walking towards the man before she could stop him.
Getting through the crowd inconspicuously proved impossible, as fans and well wishers greeted Deacon. By the time he reached John, the man had seen him coming.
"Guess it's not easy to blend in when you're Deacon Claybourne!" the man said as Deacon sat on a bar stool next to him
"You know who I am, but I honestly don't have a clue who you are. You wanna talk about why you been askin around town about me for almost a year? …or why you chose to save my life? Thank you, by the way. I owe you everything. I thought I was a gonner a few months ago, but I'm a little confused about all of this soooo…"
"I wasn't sure you'd wanna see me. You had to have known about me. You were at least 16 or 17 when I was born. How could you not have known I existed?" John asked looking Deacon in the eye for the first time