A Snapshot of Dixie

39: Passionate Rocks

TUCKER

Hearing Dixie Mae sob, breaks my heart in a way that I had hoped I would never experience.

The heartache of losing her not once but twice was painful but it's nothing compared to this. My daisy girl is here physically but she's not. She's long gone into a dark hole of despair that I desperately wish I could rescue her from, but the more I try the angrier she gets. I'm at a loss no matter what I do.

If anything, being with her over the last week has been eye-opening for me compared to where I was a week ago. All of my problems seem to have vanished because my number one priority is making sure Dixie Mae is okay. I mean, I know she'll never be okay, but I couldn't bear to be apart from her during this. I need to know that she's doing as well as she can be.

It's crazy how being around her has changed everything I talked down on several days ago. Like ever listening to or playing music. Since she's been here with me, I find myself craving that release music gives me. She makes me feel the melodies in a way that I'm lost to hearing when she's away.

I asked my mother earlier this week to ship me my guitar, which thankfully wasn't destroyed in my fit of rage. I haven't had time to open the box yet and play anything but knowing the old girl is here soothes my heart more than I can express. Aside from Dixie, that beat up acoustic knows my inner self like no one ever could.

Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I retrieve it and answer the call, not looking to see who it is.

"Hello?"

"Tucker, so glad I finally got a hold of you! Are you near a television?"

"Emily? No, why what's going on?"

"CMT is raving about your new song Finding Home. They're calling it a spark of genius and it's already had two million downloads on iTunes!"

"What? Two million? The song was just released earlier this week!"

"I know! This is huge, Tucker! I'm even more confident in the idea I have for you seeing how loved your music is. I'm telling you, kid, you have the most incredible talent and you need to let it grow."

"What's your idea?"

"Details to follow, but just know I have big plans for you, Tucker James. I'll be in touch. And Tucker... Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Emily."

The phone hangs up as I'm left with my thoughts stirring.

Life has been at a standstill as far as my music goes and I'm not quite sure how I'm feeling but excitement is most definitely one of them.

There's something magical in hearing a song for the first time and something inside you just resonates with it so profoundly. The fact that two million people have found that magic makes the corners of my mouth upturn like my wildest dreams have just come true.

Spending the next few hours on the phone with my mom and dad, I make another quick call and head into the bedroom to find my sweet girl asleep.

After her breakdown earlier, she wandered into bed and passed out which is the best thing for her right now. She hasn't been able to sleep much, a few hours here and there but when she drifts off, I can't help but smile and feel thankful she's here.

Aside from friends and family stopping by to drop off prepared meals and fresh flowers or produce from their farms, the radio has been silent as far as Gracelyn is concerned. Although I wasn't there for all of it, I heard what went down between Dixie and her mother. Knowing that my sweet, non confrontational girl actually slapped her mother means the pain she's feeling is unbearable. All those years of built up anger for Gracelyn finally had blown its gasket. Not gonna lie, I silently cheered when I heard that news. She had it coming.