A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) (8 page)

He took her hands in his. "I didn't mean to. I went to close the patio door when it fell from behind the curtain. Odd place to leave it." His gaze was accusatory.

"It's just a painting. Something different, that's all. I moved it there because I wasn't ready to show anyone, but I needed a clean break from it." She folded her arms, knowing all three of them didn't believe her. Frankly, she wasn't convincing herself, either. "Just drop it, please."

They did, but there was a tense silence for the next half hour as Becca changed and prepared to go shop for a dress. As Rissi and Shara headed toward the car, Becca stopped to say goodbye to Hunter. After they kissed, he held her hand in his. "Bec, I can't let this go. What I saw on that canvas tells me you still have a lot of unresolved feelings about what happened," he said softly.

"Why not? Why don't you believe I'm fine? It's a painting, Hunter. It's a little different, but so what? I'm branching out a little," she said defensively. A hurt frown flashed across his face. "I know you have a right to worry, but I promise you, I won't fall back to how I was a few months ago. Once was enough."

He wanted to argue. Becca knew it by the way his lips moved with little sound coming out. "Okay. I can't really say anything else otherwise right now. You do know you can talk to me, no matter what it's about. You keep trying to convince us, but I think you're trying to convince yourself, hence the repeating about how it's just a painting."

"I've known it for twenty years. Let's move forward. Forget about the past. Forget all the pain and hurt. Let's go into our marriage bringing good memories of our love with us." She kissed him again. So much for him not arguing. He had to slip it in there about how much she said the same thing over and over. If they'd leave it alone, she wouldn't have to!

A car horn honked.

"That's my cue." Becca gently removed her hand from Hunter's.

"Go get the perfect dress. I can't wait to see it on you." Hunter's smile lightened her mood.

"You'll have to learn patience. No persuading." Becca laughed. "I know how you are."

"It just means you can't resist me. I'm okay with that." He flicked his hands in the direction of the car. "Have a great day. Whatever you want, don't hesitate to get it."

When she climbed in the passenger seat, Shara and Rissi clammed up. Becca glanced between the two. They'd been talking about her. She could tell by the way they averted their gaze and made small talk. Stifling a groan, she put on a smile. "So where are we going shopping?"

"Beverly knows of a few places. We'll go get her first and let her lead." Shara backed out of the driveway.

When they walked into Bride's Boutique an hour later, Becca had the jitters. What a store! Racks and racks of neverending white, peach, beige, and light blues greeted her. Wedding dresses of all styles, sizes, and more awaited her attention. She stood in the middle of the room, gaping. In the back were rows of white chairs. Becca thought of them as queen thrones, the way the backs of the chairs were so high. Were they leather? Rows of three way mirrors lined up the entire back wall of the store. She closed her mouth, aware that she must look silly.

"Hi there. How may I help you?" A young woman most likely in her mid twenties approached, carrying a notepad and a genuine smile. She glanced between the four of them.

"We're here to find a dress for this beautiful bride-to-be here." Beverly stepped in when Becca couldn't make her words come. She placed a hand on her shoulder.

The woman's smile widened. "Oh, wonderful! Do you know what you're looking for? When's the big day?"

"M-March," Becca stammered, hating her brain right now. She was so nervous, and it showed. "I don't know what I'm looking for yet."

"Well, let's start off over here." The woman ushered them to a rack. She smiled again at Beverly, showing off a row of perfect white teeth. Okay, she was a little overly cheery. Probably eager to make a sale. "Mother of the bride, what do you think?" she asked Beverly. "Your daughter is going to make a beautiful bride."

"Oh, s-she's not-" Becca tried to cut in, but the woman never gave her a chance to speak. She spoke to Beverly, continuing to assume. The saleswoman probably thought Beverly had plans to pay for the dress, so she was going to play her cards right. It didn't help that Becca couldn't hide her nervousness. This only fueled the feeling, and every time she opened her mouth, she stuttered.

"If you come over here, we have plenty of options." Beverly couldn't even get a word in edgewise, because the saleslady continued to be pushy.

"Hold up!" Shara put a hand out, stepping in between the women. "I get you're supposed to help, but Becca is the bride here, not Beverly. For the record, Beverly isn't her mother. I know what you're trying to do, and I'm not going to keep quiet about it. Either genuinely help because you want to, or let us figure it out on our own."

The woman reeled back, her cheeks turning red. Her smile faded, and a shocked jaw drop took its place. Then she shook it off and stepped back. "I do apologize. There's nothing more I love than a mother and daughter's wedding dress shopping time. I got ahead of myself. Excuse me for a moment." Then she darted off.

Yeah right. Becca bet she wouldn't be back and had no idea if anyone else would approach them or not.

"Thank you, Shara. If you didn't say anything, I would have," Rissi said, moving to stand in front of Becca. "You okay?"

"I'm not sure what to make of it yet. She caught me off guard with her pushy attitude," Becca admitted, casting a look at Beverly. Her heart ached. These were the things she would be doing with her mother if Anne Lange hadn't lost her life twenty years ago. Becca pictured what Mom, Dad, and Ellie would have looked like now. Would Ellie have been her maid of honor? Maybe if she'd have lived, Ellie would be a mom today, and her daughter could have been Becca's flower girl. If she'd had a son, he'd make a a cute ring bearer.

A whirlwind of emotions hit her with the thoughts. Becca held back a sob as hot tears pricked her eyes. She didn't have time to wipe them away before everyone surrounded her again, including Beverly.

"What's wrong?"

"Why the tears?"

Beverly hugged Becca. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," she said soothingly. "You're missing your family, aren't you?"

"I may not know who my real parents are, but the Langes were all I had," she cried, clinging to Beverly. "I didn't think all this would hit me so bad. I don't have a father to walk me down the aisle and give me away. I don't have my mother to pass on family traditions and tell me stories about her own wedding day. I don't have my sister to be my maid of honor and be here to plan things a sister would help plan. All I know is this emptiness inside that can't be filled because I don't know anything about who I am. I'm trying to let it go because I may never learn anything, but it hurts s-so much!"

By now, there were a handful of people in the store. Before Becca fell apart, she sensed them all watching her. Ugh! Why did this all have to hit her right now. She'd been doing so well.

Beverly continued to comfort her. She was someone who was a mother figure, but not her own. She was Eva's mother, not Becca's. "I understand. My mom wasn't alive when I married Todd. It was an emotional time. I had so much excitement to marry the man I'm still head over heels for to this day, but I didn't have my mom to share the special occasion with me. I had so many friends and family to help, but nothing can fill the void. I get it, Becca. I know you feel out of place lately, but know you're not. You're where you belong, here with Hunter and all of us."

"I-I'm sorry for m-making such a spectacle." She pulled away and dried her eyes.

"Oh honey. Everyone has days like this. Don't worry. I know we can't replace your parents, but all of us," she pointed to Shara and Rissi, "love you."

"Thank you." Becca pulled a tissue from her travel box in her purse and dabbed her eyes. "I hope you don't think I don't appreciate all of you."

Rissi surrounded her in a hug. "Becca, I've known you for ten years. You're my sister at heart. We've learned family isn't always blood. We've got your back, sister! I plan on making your wedding day the best ever. Of course you're going to be emotional, and it's okay. Now come on, let's all go find the dress of your dreams."

Later, Becca stood in the center of the three way mirror in a dress she loved. Rissi and Shara sat in the throne chairs, reminding her of a princess world. For a little while, she'd be the princess. Becca ran her hand down the side of the pearl white silk fabric and imagined herself walking down the aisle to Hunter wearing this. When Rissi handed it to her and Becca realized the dress was sleeveless, she'd hesitated. But wearing it, the ruched bodice actually looked good on her. It came down lower in the back, but it didn't matter. Becca fell in love with this dress. Below the bust, there was a bit of beading detail design in the same white color as the rest of the dress. It didn't have a long train, which she appreciated, and the dress barely touched the floor. Shoes with a small heel would keep her from tripping on the dress itself. Perfect. Totally perfect. The image staring back at her took her breath away.

"Becca, it's beautiful. Simply stunning!" Rissi squealed.

"Yes, I think this is the dress." Beverly circled her, studying the dress from all angles. "Do you like it?"

"Hunter is going to lose it seeing you float down the aisle in this," Shara said.

Becca turned again. It was a long dress, but something about it called to her. "I love it. I want this dress." When she reached for the price tag, Rissi jumped up and swatted her hand.

"No looking!" Rissi scolded. "You don't need to see the price. Hunter said whatever you want."

"But I don't want him to be surprised when he sees the bill," Becca protested.

"He insisted whatever you wanted, and we're sticking with it," Rissi said firmly. "Come on. If this is it, don't let anything hold you back."

"I feel like a fairy tale princess, minus the crown." Becca turned the other way, still amazed that the reflection in the mirror was only her.

"I can fix that." Beverly promptly darted off, returning moments later with an elegant headpiece that resembled a small tiara. She gently set it perfectly in Becca's hair. "There. A beautiful princess."

"Hunter is going to flip!" Shara squealed. "I can keep the dress at my place when you get it so he doesn't see."

Thinking of how he found her painting this morning, Becca agreed. She should have moved it. It had been a quick thought the other day when she'd been working and heard footsteps. The painting had been forgotten about, which was what she'd wanted in the first place. Becca found it hard to part with her art, even with things she wasn't sure of, so hiding it seemed appropriate until she could decide if she ever wanted to show the piece.

"This is the dress." Becca smoothed a ripple in it once more, loving the way the soft material felt on her skin. She'd tried on ten different dresses before this, and she knew in her heart this was what she'd wear to marry Hunter.

"That's the one you're getting?" The saleswoman approached again. She'd been cautiously walking around them after Shara told her off earlier.

Becca nodded. "It is." Now all she had to do was change back from her fairy tale image to her normal self. Rissi and Beverly helped her with the dress in the changing room while Shara took care of payment. As Hunter's assistant, she had permission to run Hunter's card. They'd all insisted, so that Becca wouldn't balk at the price. She would never get used to being pampered so much by Hunter. No matter what, she always had him. Brought together by heartache, they'd come out ahead in the long run.

Chapter Six

"Have you considered resuming your role as a pilot?" Dr. Ryan asked Hunter at his next appointment. He'd planned on talking about Becca, but apparently the doctor had other ideas.

Hunter snapped to full attention. "I haven't thought of it. That's kind of the last thing on my mind right now," he admitted.

Dark eyes bore into his. "You've come a long way. Don't you want to get all aspects of your life back?"

"Of course I do. I don't know if I'm ready to get behind the pilot's seat on a plane, though." Hunter's pulse quickened at the thought. No, he needed more time! "Besides, can I even fly any more? Doesn't my PTSD disqualify me?"

"Not necessarily. Ask Todd, but I think as long as you have your symptoms under control and are taking your prescriptions, you can still fly." He flipped through a book. "So, go ahead and tell me about your trip to Maryland. Did you get what you needed from revisiting your childhood home?"

Hunter sighed. Here went nothing. "Well, yes and no. I was amazed by the memories I unlocked in my mind just by walking around the house. I felt like I was there again without so much time passing. I even connected with my childhood best friend. How do I forget so much of my past like that?"

"In extreme cases like yours, especially with all the trauma you went through, it's easy. I'm glad you found some memories." Dr. Ryan folded his hands together and leaned close. "I sense something is off, though. What happened?"

"Becca." Hunter lowered his voice to just above a whisper. "It was hard on her. Being there in the town and she's no closer to knowing her past. The last night we were supposed to be there, someone attacked Joe and Becca. She-" He stopped, drawing in a ragged breath.

"She what?" Dr. Ryan coaxed.

"He brought out a gun, and she kicked it out of his hand. The gun went off." He couldn't say any more. Hunter squeezed his eyes shut. He hadn't been there but the scene played in his mind. "Self defense."

"She killed him." The words weren't accusatory, they were just a statement.

"She didn't. No. The gun went off. Becca-" Hunter stumbled over the words. Why was Becca handling this a hell of a lot better than he could? Or maybe she wasn't. Becca refused to talk about it ever since they arrived home. She became defensive when someone brought it up.

"Hunter, it's okay. Tell me everything that happened. This is big, and we want to make sure you don't have any setbacks."