A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2)

by Nikki Lynn Barrett

  She shrugged. "It's easier."

  No, it wasn't easier. Becca just had a hard time with her muteness. She always had. He'd seen how people acted back then, and he saw it recently. It wasn't about waiting until she could talk again. This was just how it happened.

  "No matter what problems you face, no matter the things you can or can't do, you're perfect, Rebecca Lange. Absolutely, breathtakingly perfect. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

  She shook her head. "I'm not-"

  "Shh." He pressed a finger to her lips. When he moved it, he went to kiss her. "No doubting thoughts for you, either. Since we both don't listen to ourselves very well, maybe we should be adamant about reminding each other. Deal?"

  Her lips curved upward. "Ouch. You totally caught me and you're so right. Don't you dare let that go to your head, either."

  "Too late. Oooh. I think I just felt my head expand from that compliment. Tell me again that I'm right!" He put a hand to the back of his head and feigned surprise.

  Becca rolled her eyes, but burst into giggles. "Some days I'm not sure what to do with you."

  "Keep me together when I feel like I'm falling apart," Hunter said seriously, his tone going low. "Come on." He led the way inside.

  Becca stalled before they entered the lobby. "I hope what happened that night is long forgotten."

  "Angel, not everyone saw what happened. I tried to keep it as low key as possible, and everyone knows what you went through before. No one is going to say anything. You were just startled and afraid." He touched her shoulder.

  "I practically attacked that woman," she whispered.

  He sighed. "No you didn't. You might have roughly tried to get her to turn around so you could see her face, but that's it. It's not an attack. If you're really concerned, we can come another day. I've been eager to show you around, but if you aren't ready..."

  She seemed torn, but after a few seconds, Becca shook her head. "I can do this. I have to stop letting those fears of what people think of me get in the way. I know I try to say and even act like it doesn't always get to me, but it kind of does. I don't like it."

  Inside the lobby was nice and cool. Hunter headed to the desk to see who was there. "Anyone have time for a tour?"

  "Hey! Didn't know you were stopping by!" Greta Grey, one of the older receptionists, waved. "And who's this?" Her gaze slid over to Becca.

  Hunter wrapped his arm around her. "This is my girlfriend and inspiration, Rebecca Lange."

  "The Rebecca Lange?" Greta's jaw dropped and she got ecstatic after that. "I have heard so much about you, Rebecca! You're like a legend around here!" She ran around the desk and shook Becca's hand.

  "A legend?" Becca's cheeks were rosy pink and she glanced at Hunter, seeming slightly intimidated.

  Hunter chuckled. He should have anticipated this and given a warning to Becca. Whoops. "Okay Greta, let her breathe a little."

  "I do apologize. I've been following your story from the moment Hunter told us about you. I've also seen your art and I'd love to know where I can buy a piece for my own?"

  "I-" Becca stammered. "Are you serious?"

  Hunter wanted to nudge her and say "Told you so", but Becca was so flabbergasted. "We have something in the works," he informed Greta.

  "I'm sorry. I'm totally putting you on the spot. I do get ahead of myself sometimes. It really is great to meet you. This is a beautiful place, so let me see who's around to give a tour." Greta hurried away.

  Hunter took that time to face Becca. Her cheeks were still pink with a blush. "You're a hit around here."

  Footsteps approached from behind. They both turned to see who was there.

  "Hey there, Hunter. And Becca, it's good to see you again!" Dr. Liane Velez, one of the original founders stood before them. "I hear you want to take a tour of the facility?"

  Hunter nodded. "It's the first chance we've really had for Becca to see it. If you have time, that is. I could take her through myself, but even I can't explain everything the way you can."

  "I'll always have time for the two of you. Come on." She gestured with a smile. Dr. Velez stopped in each hallway by certain rooms and explained to Becca the process of everything from how patients are selected, what the doctors do, and some of the outpatient rehabilitation services. She opened up a door and motioned at them to walk in.

  Becca stepped in the room first. Hunter stood behind her with his hand resting on her shoulder. A few teens were in the room, one of them in a wheelchair with her head still wrapped from a recent surgery. She looked to be the youngest of the bunch, not much older than he'd been when the crash happened.

  It reminded of him of Becca right after her first surgery. He'd begged to just peek at her even though she couldn't hear him anyway, but he'd been insistent. Through the help of the social worker he'd bonded with, Hunter had been allowed. He remembered how much they bent the rules for him.

  *****

  Hunter thought Becca would look better after the surgery for some reason, but he was even more afraid for her. Her head was wrapped in white bandages and he couldn't even see her long hair any more. Did they have to cut it all? The constant beep of her machines at least told him she was still there. He didn't understand all the lines and strange stuff on the screen next to her bed.

  "What happens now?" he asked Dr. Ross.

  "We wait." She stood behind him, her hand on his shoulder.

  "What do those lines mean?" He wanted to understand.

  "She doesn't have much brain activity, Hunter. They had to do some extensive surgery to fix the bleeding."

  "Is her family coming to be with her? I don't want to leave her alone like this." He leaned over and picked up Becca's limp hand, wishing for her to squeeze it as she had when he'd talked to her on the island.

  "I'm not sure when they'll be here."

  "I hope they're nice. She deserves nice." Hunter tried to be strong. Becca just had to make it! Could he have done something more for her? Was this his fault? He rested his head on the bed right beside her hand he still held. Thinking about his family and hers, Hunter wondered what was next for them both. It wasn't fair! Becca was so young and had so much ahead of her. What would happen to her if she made it past this?

  "Do you want to go back to you room? We can talk or you can get some rest. Maybe we can check the rec room for some games. I bet there might be a few other boys your age, and I think we have a TV with video games."

  Hunter sat up and shook his head. "I don't want to leave her," he whispered.

  "You can't just stay here all the time Hunter. You have to get better, too."

  "I know, but I'm not hurt like Becca is," he argued.

  Eventually, he had to let her take him back to his room. Letting Becca's hand go was hard, not because he couldn't do it, but because he didn't want to. He kept glancing back to her room.

  Hunter tried to sleep that night, but couldn't. He slid out of bed on shaky legs and peered out of his hospital room door. No one was around, so he hurried to Becca's room. He made it without anyone seeing him and slipped inside, closing the door quietly. The light in her room was dim. Becca was so still, so eerily still.

  Not really thinking, he climbed up on the bed and laid beside her, taking her hand in his again. "I'm scared, Becca."

  Beep Beep Beep was the only response.

  "Did I do enough? Should I have brought you more to eat and drink? Maybe I should have covered your wounds more? I didn't know what to do. I hope you won't be mad at me when you wake up."

  He knew she couldn't answer him, but Hunter had to ask anyway. He kept talking to her as if she'd respond. He knew he should go back to his own room before he got in trouble, but he didn't care. He didn't feel so bad any more now that he was next to Becca again. He didn't want to be alone, and he didn't want this little girl to go through this alone, either.

  "I heard you have family. I'm glad to hear it. Maybe when you're better I can visit you one day. You know, you're pretty darn brave for a girl. All the
girls I knew at school aren't half as tough as you are. I'm impressed." He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry so much about your hair. I bet it'll grow longer and prettier."

  Voices from outside startled Hunter. He sat up, but then again, if they caught him in here, who cares? All he wanted was to talk to Becca. They wouldn't understand. They didn't spend five scary days alone with her on an island. Let them find him.

  But what he heard them say scared him.

  "Her family will probably come here just in time to make a decision. I don't think this one's going to make it. Such a sad situation. So young."

  "There's another survivor too. An older boy. I think he's eleven or twelve. He's very attached to her."

  "After what they went through, I can imagine. He's very protective over her."

  Becca not make it? What decision? What were they going to do? Now he really didn't want to leave her side. He held her hand close to his heart. "I won't let them do anything to you Becca. I promise." He cried like a baby again, scared for what would happen if he wasn't near her and they tried to make a decision he wouldn't like. "Come back to me. You have so much ahead of you. Don't leave! Tell me you're still here with me!"

  He wondered if he imagined it, but he swore he felt Becca's fingers move. Just a slight movement. Maybe it was him since he shook from being so upset.

  "Do that again, Becca. Do it again so I can tell them you're still here," he pleaded, sitting up. He stared down at her with a new hope building inside.

  Nothing.

  He spent the next few minutes begging her to squeeze his hand again when her door opened. Light poured in and someone ran inside.

  "Don't take her from me!" he cried. "She's going to make it back! She moved her fingers!"

  "What are you doing in here? She can't move her fingers. She's gone. There's nothing left of her."

  "That's not true! Becca's here! She moved her fingers! Just talk to her. Hold her hand. Make her feel safe!"

  "Hunter! Hunter! Come on!"

  *****

  Becca ignored the pain shooting up from her hand as Hunter gripped it tightly. He'd broken out in a sweat and just stared forward, not hearing a thing she was saying, or the doctor for that matter. She tried to pull him out of the room as to not startle any of the patients there, but it was difficult. Finally, she was able to lead him away. Dr. Velez closed the door behind her.

  "Hunter!" Becca said a little louder, using her other hand to rub his shoulder. Another flashback maybe?

  He snapped out of it, his face gaining color again. "Bec?" He stared down at his hand over hers, gasped and quickly let go. "Not again..."

  She pulled her hand away and flexed her wrist. "Yeah sweetie. Again," she practically whispered.

  Regret flashed in his eyes. Then he spoke to Dr. Velez. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't startle anyone. I think we should probably go."

  "Are you all right, Hunter?" The doctor must not know what was going on with him. "You didn't startle anyone, other than Becca and I."

  "I'm okay."

  Becca knew he wasn't, but Hunter probably didn't want to talk about this right here and now.

  They said their goodbyes and he apologized a handful of times again before they left.

  Once outside and near the car, Hunter wrapped Becca in his arms. "Did I hurt you? I didn't mean to, Bec. I thought- I don't know. I-"

  Part of her wanted to lie, to say he didn't hurt her hand, but the truth was going to be better. "Yes, you hurt my hand. You squeezed it so much and I couldn't pull away."

  "Damn it!" he swore.

  "No more apologizing, you hear? Just don't. Let's go home, get you comfortable and then you can tell me what that was about. Want me to drive or are you okay?"

  "I'm obviously not okay," he muttered. The haunted look in his eyes brought her to tears. He handed her the keys.

  On the way home, Hunter stared out the window. Becca longed to reach out to him. She was glad the ride only lasted ten minutes.

  "What happened? What was it?" Becca asked, reaching for him. Would he talk? Would he let her in and not push away?

  "I saw the girl in the wheelchair with the head wrap and it triggered a memory. I was back twenty years ago with you. It was right after your first surgery. I couldn't stay away. I was by your bed holding your hand and then when the social worker took me back to my room, I went back to you late that night. I was upset and in tears because I begged you not to leave me, asked if there was anything I could have done. I laid next to you and held your hand, hoping you'd come out of it. Then I heard the doctors talking, saying something about how your family was going to arrive in time just to have to make a decision. They didn't think you were going to make it. Right before they opened the door and noticed me with you, I felt your fingers move, but you wouldn't do it again. They told me it was just a reflex and that it happens sometimes, but it didn't mean anything. It was so real, like I was there all over again."

  To have to live through something like that once was shattering enough. To have to relive variations of it over and over again was unimaginable and heartbreaking.

  Hunter moved his hand fast and reached for her.

  She flinched. Dang it, she flinched and he noticed!

  The hurt in his eyes was like a knife twisted in her gut.

  "Hunter, I'm sorry."

  "I'm going backwards," he muttered, pulling his hand away. "You were just starting to not be afraid of me and then this!"

  "I'm not afraid of you! I didn't mean to. I-" She couldn't get the words out.

  It seemed this situation happened a lot. One of them being upset and getting out of the car, heading to the house. Becca followed him and once they were inside she dropped her purse on the table. "Hunter, stop!" she shouted.

  He whirled around, startled.

  Becca made her move and ran to him. "Look at me. I'm not afraid of you. It was a impulsive reaction. Don't shut me out. I want to help you through this. You already lived it once. I just want to be here for you."

  He picked up her arm, studying her hand.

  "It's just red and a little sore. I'm going to be fine," she tried to assure him.

  His eyes were hollow and scared when he looked back up at her. "I wish this would stop. I don't want to live the past over and over again."

  Becca pulled Hunter close and held him. "I know, baby. Me too."

  Chapter Seventeen

  "Do you really think this is a good idea?" Hunter stood outside the building with Becca, unsure he should be going in there.

  "I think so. You'll meet people going through the very same thing as you and it might help you to know you aren't alone in this." Her touch soothed him as she brushed her hand through his hair. "I'm not going through some of the things you are, so I can listen and try to understand, but the fact is I don't know everything you're dealing with."

  "She's right, Hunter," Shara said from beside them. She'd come over to check on things earlier to find out about his episode at the facility and had stayed all day helping Becca calm him down. Well, attempting to anyway. "I went to a support group once after what I went through and while at first I had a hell of a time talking and connecting, it was nice to know there were others who felt what I did and could relate. Just go in there, listen a bit, and introduce yourself."

  He closed his eyes and blew out a breath. When he opened them, Hunter focused on Becca again. "You don't want to go with me?"

  "The first time might not be a good idea. I'm just a phone call away though. You might be surprised at how you feel once you go in there."

  "And you're going to be okay?"

  Becca stood on her tip toes to kiss him. "I promise you, I'll be fine. I'm not as paranoid as I was. I'm not going to lose it. You can't hide behind me any more." She flicked her wrists. "Doubting thoughts, be gone! See, I'm reminding you."

  He drew her close, not wanting to let her go or walk inside that building. "I've never met someone with a brave face quite as strong or as beautiful as yours."

 
"You have a lot of strength, too. You just can't feel it right now, but I know it's there."

  "No giving up?" he asked quietly.

  Becca held out her thumb. Their eyes met. Hunter couldn't help but smile. "No giving up. You and I forever. I love you. Now seal this promise and get in there, okay?"

  Their thumbs connected, then he pressed his lips to hers. "I'm going, I'm going. I hope you're right about this. I don't do the talking to people thing well. You know this."

  "Then just listen. Let the stories others tell bring you a little comfort that you aren't alone and that you aren't crazy." Becca slid her thumb across his jaw.

  He took a step back, trying to force himself to walk away from Becca and Shara. He gripped the banister and moved up the stairs backwards. A shadowed figure darted around the girls, headed up the stairs and brushed past Hunter without another word. Well, someone was in a hurry.

  Becca waved. "See you in two hours."

  Swallowing the lump in his throat, Hunter waved back and finally walked inside. He counted to ten silently, then looked for the room designated for the PTSD support group.

  "You look a little lost," a male voice said from behind him.

  Hunter whirled around, startled. "I guess you could say that." Lost in many ways.

  "Let me guess. This is your first time at the group."

  "Am I that transparent?"

  "You look as I feel, and it's my first night here, too."

  "Glad I'm not going to be the only new one." Hunter felt immediately better. "I wonder how well I'll fit in here. Every time I think of PTSD, I think of soldiers and war. That's not me."

  "You and I have a lot it common then, because it's not me either." The man held out his hand. He had dark hair, troubled eyes and he looked a little older than Hunter. "I'm Jesse."

  "Hunter." He shook the man's hand.

  "Well it's about that time. Why don't we stick together? I'm not good at talking to other people, at least, not about stuff like this."