A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) (6 page)

She'd done it again. Panicked when nothing was going on. Practically attacked a guy most likely just trying to help, especially when she was the one who ran into him.

Hunter slid an arm around her shoulders. She limped away, her knee throbbing from hitting the ground. Before they went back inside, he stopped her on the patio by touching her shoulders, keeping her in place. "This isn't good, Bec. You can't-"

She stepped away from him.
"I know. I can't keep doing that. You think I don't know this! I don't want to be jumping all over everyone when they're innocent bystanders! I hate losing my mind! I'm afraid I'm going to hurt somebody because I can't stop thinking someone's going to come after me again! I heard voices, talking about scaring someone. Part of me thought they were talking about me. Is that what you want to know? I'm paranoid. There, I said it."
Becca left Hunter standing there in shock as she bolted back indoors.

*****

"I almost don't want to move her. It's been a long time since Becca's been in a decent sleep." Hunter stared down at her curled up on Rissi's couch hours later. She was finally calm after the incident earlier. He didn't know what really happened, but he'd bet Becca had panicked.

"You two can always crash here for the night. There's no sense in moving her if she's content," Rissi said from beside him.

He hesitated. "Yeah, that's true."

"But?" Rissi's eyes were questioning as she glanced his way.

"If one of us has a nightmare..."

"Hunter, you both have to find a way to fight through this. When Becca first brought you here, you two couldn't keep your hands off each other. Looking at you two now, I see a different couple. You both have to work through your pain and your anger. I'd hate to see you fall apart before you have a chance."

"I know. I don't like it either." On his list when they went back home was to make a new appointment. No more stalling. If he stopped hiding behind Becca's fears, maybe she'd consider talking to someone other than him as well. It wasn't very fair to suggest it to her if he couldn't even make good on his promise.

"I have a question. Is Becca still painting? Does she get in this weird..." Rissi gestured with her hands as if she couldn't get the right words out. "Kinda anxious state? Like she goes off in her own world and gets really fidgety and sweats a lot?"

Caught off guard, Hunter stood at full attention.

"A panic attack. She can't seem to finish anything she's started. She did recently have one. Last night, we were eating out and the waitress was flustered, assuming Becca was deaf. Then after she walked away, it hit. It was the first time in a while that Becca left the house. I didn't realize until then how bad off she is."

"I was afraid of that."

"How did you know?"

"She looks the same as she did when she came back from the island the first year you didn't show," Rissi said.

"What are you talking about? What happened?" Hunter's heart slammed against his chest. He was afraid to hear the answer, but had to know.

"She didn't tell you? No of course not. Stubborn girl." Rissi sighed. "Becca came home devastated. She tried to act as if you not showing didn't bother her, but she ended up becoming reclusive for about a week. It's like something inside her died. The first day or so, she didn't talk. I don't know if she just couldn't or didn't want to. I walked in to her apartment one day after not seeing her and noticed her shaking badly as she stared at the pictures on her nightstand. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one. Her grandparents came over at the same time. What they did afterwards, I'm still angry about."

Becca stirred, alarming both of them. Hunter was afraid if Becca woke up right now, Rissi wouldn't tell him the rest of this story, and obviously Becca didn't want him to know. But she just turned the other way, still sleeping. He sighed with relief. "What happened?" he asked softly, fearing the worst.

"They threatened her. Said if she didn't snap out of it, they'd have her admitted to a mental hospital."

Anger surged through his veins. How much more could he dislike these people?

"That's when Vince was brought into the picture. They wanted someone to take care of her because they felt she couldn't handle anything on her own. All three of them warned her she'd better get over her fixation with you and the idea that you would ever come back to her life." Rissi covered her face with her hands. "It was horrible. Becca was just coming out of her shell, but that whole thing pushed her right back. At least she got better by the time the school year started. I think their threats really shook her up, and she never fully processed your disappearance from her life."

This made him sick with regret and pain. "I didn't know." His voice was hoarse. Why didn't Becca tell him any of this? So they'd brought Vince into her life because he hadn't shown up to the island?

"I never liked Vince. I always had good feelings about you. I wasn't happy that you vanished the way you did, but I'm hoping the best for you and Becca."

"Trust me, Rissi. I regret those four years apart more than I could ever express. I hate how I abandoned her like that. She said she understood, but I can't imagine how I'd feel if I were in her shoes. And now I don't know how to help her. She's reserved, she's scared to death and she's always looking for Carrie. Tonight's incident was the second major one in a few weeks. I'm scared for her!" This would probably be a good time to ask. "Hey, I know this is last minute, but do you think you can come down and stay for a few days? Maybe you can reach her. Being here with you tonight, she looked better." Well, before going outside, that is.

"Well..." Rissi stared back at the hallway. "My mom is coming for Jade tomorrow for their annual summer visit. Yeah. I'd love to."

Hunter nodded. Good. Maybe Becca would feel calmer having a friend there. "Great. I think it'll be good for her."

"I'll talk to Chad in the morning and let him know then."

"Her grandparents couldn't really do anything like that, could they?" And he had to face these people in the next few days? Hunter didn't know how he'd control himself from saying what he wanted to say.

"At the time, yeah. Becca never changed her medical power of attorney. It wasn't something she thought about. After she got over the initial shock of their threats, she made the right changes, but the emotional damage to her had already been done. She added her aunt instead. I'm not sure who it is now that her aunt died."

"I don't understand them," he muttered. "You'd think since Becca's on her own now and if they didn't want her around in the first place they'd leave her alone."

"Neither do I. They're decent to each other and to most other people but when it comes to Becca and her friends, they're cold as ice. I don't get it. I wish they would leave her alone. She's better off without them."

So he wasn't the only one who noticed. "It's always been that way. I wonder if there was bad blood between the family. Something must have happened since they knew nothing about Becca and she was eight when they took her in."

"I don't know, but something has always been off with that family. The only one I ever trusted was her aunt Debbie." Rissi held back a yawn. "I should probably get some rest." She gathered a pillow and sheet and handed them to Hunter before she bowed out for the evening.

He let his mind wander, even more curious about Becca and what she'd gone through during the four years he'd been so stupid.

*****

Becca was eager to get in her apartment and make sure for herself that everything was okay. Hunter and Rissi followed behind her. Rissi's husband Chad went off to work and Jade ran off to play with some of the neighbors. How strange to be in here after a few weeks. Looking around at all her surroundings, she knew this wasn't home anymore. The time had come to move forward. A pile of folded boxes rested against the wall in the tiny hallway. She'd have to sort through what she wanted to take right away and what could wait. They'd already been to the office and dealt with the remaining months of the lease and she'd paid the rent for the two and a half months left. Hunter interpreted for her. The looks she got once again annoyed her, but she brushed it off. She'd never had to deal with the office staff when mute. Struggling daily with no voice sucked. It had only been a few weeks, but to Becca it felt felt like an eternity. Then she had to face her grandparents and Vince. She wasn't looking forward to that. Not in her condition.

She couldn't stop thinking about what happened last night. Hunter hadn't mentioned it. Maybe he was waiting for her to bring it up, considering the way she'd walked away from him last night. In hindsight, she shouldn't have snapped at him.

"Does anything look out of place to you, angel?" Hunter gently touched her shoulder, standing behind her.

Without turning to face him, Becca shook her head.

"Good. I'm glad I was right, but I couldn't be too sure," Rissi said. "Hey, I'm going to grab some tape. I forgot it." She darted out the door.

"Where do you want to start?" Hunter moved so he could face her. If he had any nightmares last night, she never heard them. For once, sleep had found her. He looked like he had better rest too.

"I think my room. That's where the most personal things are that I'd love to get packed. We're not going to have room to fit much in the car."

Hunter shrugged. "We'll rent a small trailer and take it back with us. We'll get as much of your stuff home as we can fit."

Home.

She loved the word and what it represented. Home was now in Virginia with Hunter. Now if they could just get past the way stress put a strain on their relationship, things would be good.

A beeping sound killed the silence. Hunter pulled his phone from his pocket. "Damn. I forgot to charge it last night. I'm going to go to the car and grab the charger. By the time I get back, Rissi should have the tape and we can start filling those boxes." He planted a quick kiss on her forehead before leaving her alone in the apartment.

Becca was just about to head to the room when she heard footsteps. She figured it was Rissi and turned to greet her. Instead, she stood face to face with a man she didn't recognize. Her pulse quickened, and she reached for her phone instinctively. The man's deep gray eyes were curious as he studied her. Something about the intensity of his gaze gave Becca goosebumps. What did he want?

"I'm sorry. I think I have the wrong apartment. I'm looking for Everett. Does he live here?" His voice was warm and kind, but she noticed a hesitation when he said the name. He was muscular, well built with tan skin and short, dark hair. Seemed harmless enough, but she never knew any more.

Becca shook her head no, hoping he wouldn't ask any more questions she wouldn't be able to answer. Why did he continue to stare at her like that?

Hurry back, Hunter or Rissi.

"Okay, thanks. You have a good day." The man spun around, then disappeared.

Odd. Way too odd. Becca slammed the door, then leaned against it, trying to stay calm. With Rissi's words about someone lurking around, that just seemed way too coincidental. And the way he stared at her! He never even asked if she knew where the person's- Everett?- apartment was.

She wanted to get out of here as quick as possible.

Someone tried to open the door and Becca froze as her body tensed before she realized this time it had to be Hunter or Rissi.

"Bec? Let me in."

Hunter.

She relaxed, then opened the door. The look on his face was a mix of worry confusion. He dropped his charger on the nearby table and took her in his arms.

"What's going on? Are you having another panic attack?"

She leaned against him until she was calm enough to explain. Finally stepping back, she forced her slightly shaky hands to work with her.
"Someone was at the door asking for an Everett, but he kept watching me. I was nervous when I shook my head about the wrong apartment and then he was gone. I might be paranoid, but it really scared me."

"Someone was just here? What did he say?" Hunter raised his voice.

"That was pretty much it. I heard footsteps and thought it was Rissi, so I turned around."

"And he said he had the wrong apartment, then took off?"

Becca nodded.

"What did he look like? I want to go find him." Hunter's eyes darkened, his expression grim.

"Find who?" Rissi rushed inside, stopping in her tracks.

Hunter kept Becca close to him as he explained. "Someone was just here looking for a guy named Everett, but he made Becca nervous. She said he kept staring at her."

Having Hunter and Rissi back made Becca feel a little safer. The tension in her shoulders dissipated some.

"Angel, I'm going to look around," Hunter insisted. "I don't like this."

She wished he wouldn't but Becca knew he needed answers for himself too.

Chapter Five

That evening, Hunter helped Becca face the inevitable. A visit with her grandparents. He hadn't seen them in years, not since before Becca was emancipated. Was Vince going to be there as well? He dreaded the whole thing and wished it was done and over with already.

Today turned out to be a mix of feelings. Helping Becca pack, seeing the things he'd missed and some that he hadn't took a toll on them both, not to mention the curiosity about the visitor that he never found. Talk about timing. Both he and Rissi leave the apartment and all of a sudden this guy shows up? Becca had a right to be paranoid. That didn't add up to Hunter, either.

Possible coincidence? Maybe. Somehow, he doubted it. But if the man was there to hurt her, he never acted on it. Sounds like someone wanted information and the man was the messenger. Who was he working for?

They stood hand in hand in front of the door at her grandparents, waiting for someone to answer. Becca's fingers gripped his tight. This wasn't easy for her. It never was, but right now had to be the worst because of the way they'd always reacted to her when she couldn't verbally talk. If he could whisk her away from all of this right now and make her feel safe again, he would. But that was nearly impossible with everything going on.