"What's wrong?" She sat at the edge of the bed, taking his sweaty hands in hers.
"Another nightmare. I don't know if I'm remembering stuff, or if these aren't real. Tonight's ... it was bad." He swallowed hard. "This one was right after the plane hit the water. I found my dad, and he told me to find you and keep you safe." Hunter closed his eyes, the events of the nightmare playing fresh in his mind. "Then he died. I lost him." He blinked back a tear. His heart raced still.
With eyes full of fresh tears, Becca flew into his arms, holding him tight. She ran her fingers through his hair. This was the closest he'd felt to her in a while. This was the first nightmare in weeks that she'd been awake to witness.
"It can't be real," Hunter whispered against Becca's hair. "Why would my dad tell me to keep you safe?"
She pulled back, searching his face. The shock and fear he felt reflected in her eyes. She shook her head. "I don't know."
"It doesn't make sense." Hunter sucked in another deep, ragged breath. His emotions were toying with him. The nightmare seemed so damn real, but what he saw in it didn't add up. "It's like he knew something."
"You're reliving it in the worst way. You have to talk to someone. It's not getting better on it's own."
"What if they give us answers?" he blurted before thinking. He'd had that thought in his mind for a few days, but didn't want to say it to anyone. Too late for that. Hunter waited for the look, the one that told him he was crazy.
Becca shook her head sadly before signing. "You can't rely on dreams to help us find answers."
It did sound crazy when she put it that way, didn't it?
"Where were you?" he said, changing the subject quickly.
"Working on the mural. I couldn't sleep." Something flashed in her eyes, a look Hunter didn't understand. What was she holding back? After the night they both had, he decided against asking. He was probably overthinking anyway.
What if his father knew anything about what Carrie said about knowing the real Becca? Did his parents have a connection to the Langes? It could explain why they were on the same plane, but it didn't help with Dad being so insistent that he protect Becca.
Oh my God, I'm analyzing a nightmare as if it were real.
With inconsistent memories of the crash, there was no way of telling.
"Will you go with me? If I go talk about these nightmares and everything else, will you come with for support?" Hunter asked, cupping Becca's face. "I need someone on my side." It was long past time to get this taken care of.
She nodded before wrapping her arms around him. They clung to each other as if it was their last time together. Sometimes, with the way their minds were so conflicted, he wondered if that would be the case.
Chapter Four
The drive to Vermont turned out awkward. When you sit only a foot or so apart from the love of your life and feel a gap as wide as an ocean, it hurts. Becca knew she had to do something to bridge it before their newfound love was lost completely. For the last leg of the trip, Hunter drove. He'd turned up the radio and rolled down the window. He sang along to the music, often glancing over at her. When she wasn't the one driving, she did the fist clench again. Every time they made a stop for bathroom breaks or something to eat, Becca knew Hunter noticed her hesitance when she stepped out of the car.
She tried hard, with many fails, to keep it together and make it look like she wasn't paranoid.
Yeah, it's wasn't working any more. She couldn't keep hiding like this.
At least they were finally here in Vermont now. They could sleep a night and then take care of things in the morning. Even waking up at four, they didn't arrive at Becca's apartment complex until seven in the evening. By that time, she and Hunter both were tired of the car. They were tired in general as well. They'd gone to bed together last night after he told her about the nightmare, but neither slept well at all.
Rissi stood outside her front patio waiting. When she saw them pull in the parking spot, she waved and ran toward them. Becca climbed out of the car and let her friend envelope her in a huge hug. "I'm so glad to see you! You know I have to be honest. You don't look good, girl," Rissi whispered.
Becca let her go. "I know." Her best friend's honesty reminded her that the people closest to her knew she struggled to hold on.
Rissi flicked her gaze. Hunter stood beside Becca now, reaching for her hand. "Neither do you," she said to him. "Come on inside my place for a bit. I've got dinner almost done and there's plenty extra. Jade can't wait to see you, Becca." Without waiting for a response, Rissi turned around and led the way to her apartment. Becca glanced over at her own apartment door, searching for signs of anything out of the ordinary. Nothing so far. She was both anxious and nervous to get inside and check everything out. Rissi never mentioned anything odd inside, but only Becca would know for sure.
Tomorrow, she'd deal with her grandparents and Vince. She wasn't looking forward to it.
"Auntie Becca!" Rissi's seven year old daughter Jade shouted excitedly, running out of the apartment before she and Hunter could go in. The chubby pig-tailed girl threw her arms around her. "I missed you!"
Rissi laughed. "Let them come in, Jade!"
"Sorry. Come in! I have something cool to show you!" Jade's wide eyed gaze landed on Hunter. "Who are you?"
"I'm your aunt Becca's boyfriend," Hunter said hesitantly. "My name is Hunter."
Jade's eyes rounded as she looked at Becca for affirmation. She nodded.
"That's cool." Jade shrugged, moving away so the two could go inside. "Mama says your voice hurts and you have to talk with your hands."
Again, Becca nodded. This had never come up before. The last time she couldn't talk for more than a day, Jade had been much younger. At that time, Jade never knew anything had been wrong.
"I don't know how to do that so someone understands." She trailed close behind them.
"I'll teach you some if you want to know," Hunter offered.
Jade's eyes lit up. "Really? That way I can talk with my hands, too! Then I can have a secret language with Auntie Becca!"
"Yeah, except I know that secret language, so you can't keep anything from me!" Rissi ran behind her daughter and tickled her sides. "How about you get ready for dinner? Daddy's on his way home soon."
"Okay!" Jade bounded off.
"So, I had Chad bring a bunch of boxes. I stored them in your apartment. If you want to store some of your biggest stuff in our storage unit, there's plenty of room," Rissi said quietly. "I'm going to miss you like crazy, but I'm really glad you and Hunter get this chance. You both just need to get better. You look so darn tired! I know I keep repeating myself, but I'm concerned for you both."
Hunter slid his arm around Becca. "We're trying."
"Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. Don't hesitate to ask for anything. Becca knows the drill. You're welcome to whatever. I'm going to check on dinner. I hate eating this late, but it's been a crazy day." Rissi disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Becca and Hunter alone in the living room.
It was strange to be back again. Becca dreaded the next few days. Saying good-bye to friends she'd made, facing her grandparents and Vince, and packing up the home she'd made for herself in the past eleven years. A home she'd fought hard for. As much as she looked forward to living with Hunter, the idea of moving away from a place she'd found solace in for years scared her.
"Will you teach me now?" Jade hurdled back to the living room, bubbling with excitement as she jumped on the couch next to Hunter. "Auntie Becca, I like your boyfriend. I hope you keep him and make that old guy go away."
Becca laughed softly, the sound coming out weak. At the same time, Hunter chuckled.
"Jade!" Rissi scolded. She met Becca's gaze, a twinkle in her eyes. Her friend couldn't scold her daughter with real feeling when they all knew it to be true. No one liked Vince, and no one wanted him together with Becca.
"Sorry! I like Hunter! He's so much nicer!"
"I know he is, but we still have to
be respectable." Since Jade still stared at Becca and Hunter, Rissi rolled her eyes. Becca laughed again.
"Auntie Becca, you're laughing. How come you can't talk then?" Jade's eyes grew wide, full of curiosity.
Becca's smile faded, wondering how she could explain anything to her, especially since she didn't understand it herself.
"How about I show you a little bit of sign language, that way you can understand what Becca says to you?" Hunter stepped in, sliding a glance at Becca. Was he looking for her approval?
"Okay!"
"Becca, why not join me in the kitchen?" Rissi gestured.
Hunter squeezed her shoulder affectionately before leaning over to give her a peck on the cheek. "I love you," he said softly, signing the words at the same time.
"I love you too," she signed back, her heart warming at the gesture and how he was teaching Jade at the same time.
"That's cool!" Jade squealed, tugging on Becca's shirt as she climbed to her feet. She signed an I love you before she hugged her. "I'm going to be good at this," she promised, then ran off to sit next to Hunter for more lessons. Becca followed Rissi to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry about your job. I know you aren't looking for pity, but I still hate all of this." Rissi's tone was full of compassion as she turned away, stirring something in the pot on the stove. She closed the lid and faced Becca again. "I've heard the saying when one door closes, another opens so hopefully besides being with Hunter, it leads you to bigger and better."
"I hope so, too." The chance for them to discover their lives together as a couple felt a little ominous at the moment, with both of them dealing with things the wrong way, but she still had enough hope to get by with. Something had to change quick though. They needed to move forward together somehow.
"What happened to your hand?" Rissi pointed at the bandage.
"I cut it picking up glass. I pushed my chair away from the desk so fast after reading the email I dropped a glass and tried to pick it up, not really thinking."
"Oh girl." Rissi wrapped her in a hug.
When her friend let her go, Becca had to ask. "The person asking about me, what did they say?"
Rissi narrowed her eyes. "It was a man, maybe ten years older than you or so. Couldn't be older than forty. He asked if you were the Rebecca Lange who survived a plane crash twenty years ago. When Chad asked who he was and why he wanted to know, the guy didn't stick around long enough to answer. According to a few neighbors, he asked them, too. I don't think anything has been taken from your apartment that I can tell, but Chad saw shadows lurking on the nights he comes home from his late shift. He only told me about it after we were approached by the stranger."
Becca gripped the table, trying to think. If Carrie already knew where she lived, then why would she send someone to ask about her? "I'm going to get some air," she informed Rissi, gesturing at the back door that led to Rissi's patio.
"Okay. Take all the time you need." Rissi focused on dinner again.
Becca slid the patio door open, sneaking a peek at Hunter. He was busy laughing with Jade. Good. Right now she just needed a little quiet time to gather her thoughts. She closed the door and stepped out on the open patio. Warm summer air engulfed her. There were so many nights they spent on this patio, or even her own. Late night laughs and long talks. When Rissi moved in here a few years after she did, they had an instant connection. She became the type of best friend Becca had wished for in her teen years when others had been enjoying sleepovers and crazy fun things teenage girls did. Hunter liked to joke about her being so innocent, but Rissi really did know the truth. They'd had a few fun, wild years before Rissi settled down and got married. Nothing outrageously crazy, but they had a few stories to tell.
The sky darkened, and the lights scattered across the apartment complex lit up all at once. Becca wandered away from the porch, taking one last walk around what would become her old stomping grounds.
Good memories surrounded her. Late night swimming in the pool, when the world was quieter. She'd helped Rissi teach Jade to swim in that pool.
A nostalgic tear slid down her face. She was more than ready to start her new life, but it wasn't until coming back that she realized she'd miss so much here. This was the place that helped her gain independence from the people who were supposed to help her grow, not hold her back.
Voices from nearby startled Becca. She whipped around to find out where they came from.
Sheesh, she needed to relax. It was just a couple laughing. When did that become such a big deal? She and Hunter had many of those moments. Laughter. Fun. She missed it all!
She still had the jitters. May as well head back to Rissi's. A shadow in the distance caught her attention.
"We should totally do it! It would scare the crap out of her!" The voices loomed closer.
Even though she was pretty sure they weren't talking about her, or at least, Becca hoped they weren't, she sped up.
The male voice laughed. "You're so bad. I'm in."
Becca turned the corner and was only a few yards away from the apartment. She turned around to see if she could find that couple and bumped into someone. A large hand landed on her arm, holding tight and keeping her from falling.
Panic seized her. Becca shoved at the person, trying to get away.
"Hey!" The voice was gruff. A male. "Stop struggling, will ya?"
Right, like she'd give in. Her body tensing up in a panic, she twisted away from the person. Was this the person trying to look for her? What did he want?
Reaching out, her hand connected with the man's face. If that didn't get him to let her go, she didn't know what would.
"Ow! Crazy woman! I was trying to keep you steady since you crashed into me. That's all! Geez!" The man let her go and she stumbled, hitting the ground.
"Becca? What's going on out here?" Hunter ran down the sidewalk toward them.
"This woman nearly knocked me over and when I try to help, she goes psycho on me as if I'm trying to hurt her. I didn't do anything to her, man." The guy took a few steps back.
Hunter knelt beside Becca, checking her over. "Did he try to hurt you?"
"I didn't-" the guy started.
Fresh tears in her eyes, Becca shook her head. "I don't know. I did bump into him, and when he grabbed me I got scared."
"Come on angel, let's get inside then." Hunter held out his hand and helped get her on her feet.
"Crazies always come out at night. If your girl can't handle the dark don't let her out of your sight," the guy snarled, taking off.
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."
A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) Page 4