A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) (25 page)

Why did Becca feel like she had to keep this all in? She was allowed to be angry, grieve, fear, and yet she wiped it away like a dirty spot on a surface.

Well, everyone had their own way of dealing. Hunter just hoped this wouldn't set her back when she was just starting to come around to her old self again. He watched her walk away and wondered if this changed things between them. The truth was an ugly son of a bitch, and it wasn't even over yet.

*****

Call it silly, but Becca avoided looking in the mirror. Every time she did she wondered about her past. A mystery stared back at her, and she cursed herself for thinking about it constantly.

She kept her eyes away from the mirror as she left the bathroom with Sienna, who'd just washed her hands after having a snack.

"All right Sienna, time for another dose of medicine." Hunter held the bottle in his hand. "Let's get your ears better."

"It's yucky," Sienna pouted.

Poor kiddo. Ear infections, especially constant ones, sucked.

"I know it is. But we have to do what we can to make your owie go away. Come on, let's get it over with and then we'll go for a plane trip around the house before your nap."

"Okay." She trudged over to Hunter and cooperated with him as he gave her another dose.

"You'll be better soon. Then we shouldn't have to give you yucky tasting medicine anymore." Hunter sounded hopeful. "All done. Let me wash the cap out and then plane ride time!"

"Yay!" Sienna found excitement again as she jumped up and down.

Becca watched the love between father and daughter as Hunter lifted her in the air and ran around the hallway making airplane sounds. Sienna's giggles were constant and melted Becca like butter on bread. Her gut was hit with a pang of sadness thinking back to the few memories she had of Rusty Lange. He was loving, fun, and full of life. The little things she recalled about him, he'd always been amazing.

Hunter had said something before when this first came up. No matter the truth, Rusty Lange had loved her. He'd been devoted to her and Ellie and that had never been questioned. She could always carry those memories in her heart. She hated the idea that her parents could possibly have done something so unthinkable, but they were the only parents she'd known.

Even though she fought them, tears pooled in the corner of her eyes. She sniffled and swiped at them, but not before Hunter and Sienna both noticed.

"No cry." Sienna ran to her when she was set back on the floor again. "Not broke. No cry." She wrapped her arms around Becca's legs.

Becca picked her up. "No, not broke. I'm okay. Just watching you with your Daddy." Hunter watched her with a curious gaze. Sienna laid her head on Becca's shoulder, something the sweet girl was content with every time. Becca thought back to Eva's hurt expression a few weeks ago. Everyone could see how quick Sienna took to Becca and it couldn't be easy on her mother, even though Eva had her issues. It was no secret Eva felt like she was trying to take her place.

Her mind was a mess. An image of a woman in a rocking chair crying for her child filled her head and a strong, overwhelming sense of sadness tensed up her muscles. She closed her eyes, trying to erase the image and think of something scenic to paint instead.

This time it didn't do the trick.

"Bec?" Hunter's voice was low.

She opened her eyes again. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for?" He moved closer. "Here, let me take her and see if she'll lay down, then we'll talk. You look so upset, and I think I have an idea why."

She blinked as he gently took Sienna from her. Becca scooted past them and headed for the window seat in the art room, trying to gather her thoughts. Outside the sun was bright. Such a nice day and the weather was so opposite of her mood.

No matter how she tried, she couldn't quit thinking about all the unanswered questions in her mind. She stared out the window, watching the tree branches sway in the wind and attempted to keep her racing mind under control.

The sound of footsteps loomed closer. She turned away from the window. Hunter stood in the doorway without Sienna.

"She go to sleep without a problem?"

Hunter nodded. "I think the ear infections and medicine are knocking her on her butt. Poor kid. I'll be glad when this is all over with. Do you want company or should I leave you be?"

Becca patted the spot beside her.

"What happened out there earlier?" he asked as he sat beside her.

With a sigh, Becca told him. "I can't stop thinking about Rus- my dad. Geez, I don't even know what to call him any more and it's killing me. Watching you and Sienna filled my head with the little memories I have of my dad. Then when I was holding Sienna I thought back to Eva's hurt look every time your daughter shows me affection, and an image of a devastated woman sitting in a rocker without her baby popped into my head. I know you said not to run scenarios in my head, but they won't stop!"

"Your mind is becoming just as scary and tortured as mine." Hunter smacked his hand against his forehead. "Damn it. Wrong thing to say, I know. I just- I don't have the words to make this any better for you. I'm feeling a little helpless here."

She clutched his hand. "Part of me wants to call my grandparents and relentlessly bug them for answers, but they haven't given me anything in twenty years. I can't see why they'd give me anything now. The fact that they know something bugs me to no end! I never felt wanted by them and I guess now I know why. I feel ... displaced. It's hard to explain."

"I think I get it. It's like you knew where you came from, but now you aren't certain. It doesn't help that the answers aren't in reach and there aren't many people you can trust, plus all the other added crazy from the past few months."

He'd pegged it right on the target. "I've always lived with doubts and fears. It was hard to feel like I belonged going through school because I had so much stacked on me, but to lose the security of knowing my background, that's a whole new level. I'm trying to be okay about it, but that's not working out so well. I've already been lost enough lately and was just getting back on track. Now this..."

"Hey, there's no time frame for when you have to be 'on track'." Hunter made air quotes. "You've been pushed for so long to keep it in. I think you naturally do it even when you don't have to. Any time you feel the need to be angry, do it. Don't hold back, angel. I'm with you every step of the way. You don't have to keep it together all the time. Eventually it's going to wear you down. I've seen it happen this summer already. I hereby declare this house a feel free zone. No holding back, no worries about what someone will think of you if you break down." He waved his hand in the air.

Good old Hunter. He had a way to be sweet and funny, but serious at the same time. "I never realized how bad I was about holding it in until recently. I thought I was one who dealt with things as they came. No, I build it up and it's not good for me."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Hunter jabbed himself in the chest. "Except I didn't have jerky family members push me to be that way. I guess it's naturally the way I am. You're free and clear of your grandparents, Bec. You don't have to be who they want you to be any more."

*****

"Eva says she's not home yet, but she'd come pick up Sienna on her way," Hunter informed Becca hours later. "She didn't realize how long she'd be. I guess it turned out to be a working interview and she stayed to help." He shot her an apologetic look.

Becca waved it off. "It's fine. You just go to your meeting and I'll see you in a few hours." He worried for nothing again. As much as she loved him, he didn't need to.

"I know. I was just thinking about what you said earlier. I know you and Eva aren't comfortable with each other yet, not that I can blame you. She sounded a little off about me not being here, but she'll get over it."

Becca couldn't believe she was going to say this, but... "Her mother instincts are kicking in. I'm the new woman in your life and she's probably struggling with it all. How would you feel if she had a new man in her life and around Sienna?"

That got him. Hunter had been all ready to stay something but her question threw him off as his lips moved wordlessly. "I'd be wary too, now that you put in in perspective. But I've known you for so long!" he protested.

"You have, but Eva hasn't. She knows me through your eyes, but that's not enough. I could try to get to know her, but I see the unwelcome in her eyes."

"You want me to stay?"

Becca wagged a finger at him. "I want you to go to your meeting and not worry so much. I can handle Eva." She would just pick up her daughter, probably send Becca a few scathing looks and move on. Simple as that. Not a big deal. Becca had dealt with much worse before.

Hunter chuckled. "It really wasn't an attempt to get out of going, I swear."

"Not sure I believe you," Becca teased. At that moment, Sienna ran in the room with a piece of construction paper. She waved it around with excitement.

"For you, Daddy!" She handed it to him.

"I think it's another one for the fridge hall of fame." Hunter bent to give her a hug. "You're becoming quite the artist. I think someone's rubbing off on you." He sent a suggestive smile at Becca. "Daddy has to go to a meeting for a while, but you'll be here with Becca until Mommy picks you up. Okay?"

"Okay Daddy." She hugged him.

"How about you give Becca the picture so she can put it on the fridge for me? I'll see you later. I love you, Princess." He tickled her. Sienna giggled.

"Love you!" Sienna even signed it again.

"I adore when you do that." Hunter stood again, reaching for Becca. "I love you. See you in a few hours."

"Love you too." Becca tilted her head for a kiss. "Have a good meeting."

Sienna stood beside her, waving at Hunter as he headed out to the car. When he was out of the driveway, Becca shut the door and focused her attention on Sienna.

"Let's go put your latest masterpiece on the fridge. Then we can figure out what we want to do while we wait for your mommy to get here. Show me the perfect spot to display your new picture."

Sienna skipped ahead of Becca and waited for her by the fridge. "Right here!" She pointed to a spot already covered. Becca put the picture there, an idea forming in her mind about a great way to display her artwork.

"I have an idea. How about you and I work on something for your daddy?"

"A present?" Sienna's curious, wide eyed gaze fixed on her.

"Yes, exactly! Your daddy has been doing so much for everyone. Let's make something special for him. Want to?"

"Yes!" she squealed.

Becca laughed, loving the excitement. "Okay. Let's find a few things and see what we can do."

A few minutes later, they sat around the dining room table with paint and a large frame. She handed Sienna a small paintbrush. "Paint the frame like this," she instructed, moving the brush against the wood in gentle strokes. "How about dark blue, since your daddy loves that color? Just be careful not to drip too much paint." She wanted Sienna to be as much of a part of this as possible. Hunter wouldn't mind if the paint wasn't perfect. He'd love that his daughter helped create something for him. He'd be so surprised. Maybe if they finished it fast enough without his knowing, Becca could hang it up in his office when he wasn't home. She wasn't sure how much time they'd have tonight with Eva on her way, but it would be the perfect start.

Twenty minutes and a bit of a mess later, the doorbell rang. "I bet that's your mom. Let's go greet her and then clean up real quick. Just don't tell Daddy we're working on a present. We'll have to finish later." Becca hid her disappointment. She loved this time with Sienna and working on something special for Hunter.

"Don't wanna go," Sienna pouted.

Becca hugged her. "I know, but you'll be back." Guilt crept into her gut about the closeness Sienna felt with her and how she didn't want to go home. Being a child with divorced parents couldn't be easy, especially when Sienna was closer to her dad than her mom.

The doorbell rang again. Becca ignored the way Sienna's lip curled out and forced herself to get up and answer it. "Hey Eva. Come on in. Sienna's a little messy right now because we were painting, but we were about to clean up." She stepped back to let her in.

"I'll clean her up." Eva brushed past her, making a beeline for her daughter. "Hey baby doll. Did you have fun with Daddy earlier? Let's get you clean so we can go home."

So Eva was upset. Okay, fine. Becca could deal with it. Still, the brush off stung.

"Becca!" Sienna yelled, trying to run from Eva's reach.

"Go with your mom, Sienna," Becca managed to say, knowing this could get ugly at any minute. Eva's look was something deadly, the way her eyes narrowed as she glared at Becca.

As difficult as it was, Becca left the room. She took the paintbrushes and plate to wash. If she busied herself, maybe being away would help Sienna calm down and go with Eva to be cleaned up. Dread wrapped a hand around her heart and squeezed.

She heard Sienna and Eva upstairs and the water running. Sienna didn't sound too happy, which in turn frustrated Eva. Moments later they trudged downstairs. Becca greeted them at the landing of the steps, holding out Sienna's bag. Sienna pulled from her mom's grasp and ran straight into Becca's arms. Talk about a catch twenty-two. Becca didn't want to hurt Sienna's feelings but the way Eva's anger practically radiated from her body scared her.

"You be good and feel better soon." Becca hugged her. Sienna clung to her not wanting to let go.

"Come on, baby doll. Mama's ready to go home. It's been a long day. You'll come back again with Daddy."

Okay, did she have to be so rude? Eva acted as if Becca wasn't even there, other than to shoot her with evil looks.

Shake it off.

"I'm sorry about the mess. I should've had her ready to go, but we were working on something for Hunter." Becca tried to stand up and coax Sienna to let go.

"You have to always be so perfect, huh? The perfect girlfriend, the perfect fill in mom." Eva rolled her eyes.