Who was she?
He'd never dreamed about her before. He had to question himself if she was real. How could one person go unaccounted for on the plane? Wouldn't it have been noted somewhere that she'd been on board?
So why the hell did he recall every single moment right before the crash in this dream and have some other person there that might not have been? Was he losing it that bad?
Hunter left the bathroom and swallowed the lump in his throat. If he got up and looked into this now, he'd never fall back to sleep. He had a feeling that if he ignored it, he wouldn't sleep anyway and would probably toss and turn and eventually wake Becca up.
With a quick decision made, Hunter slipped out of the bedroom and headed downstairs for a drink before closing himself up in the office, ready to find out what he could. Before, he'd never really looked into details of the crash or anything. He'd always just taken the word of others and his own bits of memories. It was time to change that.
He wanted to know everything he could about why they were on that plane, what really caused it to crash and somehow find out if that girl in his dreams was real or not.
Chapter Twenty Three
Becca set the paintbrush down and took a step back, inspecting the canvas before her. She'd been working on it on and off for days, but as she looked at it now, she considered it done. Later, she'd show it to Hunter and see what he thought. A smile spread on her lips at the thought of him seeing this one. He'd wanted her version of love, and for some reason, this was the one she came up with. The bright gold colors of the sunset in the background and the slightly shadowed bodies huddled together, kissing. She could even picture the couple as Hunter and herself.
What time was it now? She'd been up for hours and knew that Hunter had, too. He'd been in his office talking on the phone, but she had no idea to who. Not that it was her business, but he hadn't come out for air once. She'd debating on knocking and saying hello, seeing if he'd eaten and if she could get something for him. Instead, she let him continue his work and decided to paint instead. Hunter would come out and say hi eventually, so she would just wait.
It was after noon already. The time flew. She could work a little more on a painting, or find something for lunch. As her stomach growled, the decision was made.
Becca grabbed the paintbrushes to wash them. She ran her thumb over the bristles under the water so she could thoroughly get as much paint out as possible. She set them on the counter and washed her hands, then left the bathroom. She stood before Hunter's office door, poised to knock. Why did she find it so intimidating to knock and say hi? She didn't have an answer to that one. Just as she was about to walk away, the door opened.
"Hey!" Hunter shot her a tired grin before moving to pull her in for a hug. "Morning. How long have you been up?"
As she wrapped her arms around him, she let out a laugh. "Hunter, it's after noon already. Morning is long gone."
"Is it really?" At first she thought he might have been joking, but the confusion in his tone proved otherwise. "Damn. Guess I've been out of the loop. Why didn't you come get me earlier?"
"You seemed busy."
Hunter dipped his head to kiss her. "You don't ever have to worry about that. I'll always have time for you. Next time, come get me when you're awake. I don't want to miss a minute more than I have to with you. I didn't mean to spend so much of the day hidden in my office. I woke up from another dream and there was a face of a girl on the plane that I've never dreamed about before. So I went to go see if I could find anything about another passenger. Then I ended up calling Range's to see if they ever found anything out. All they had was that someone paid one of their younger workers, a seventeen year old, to put the letters under our door, but the kid is not saying much more. Oh, and the estimate came in for the boat damages. Not as bad as I thought. That's what I've been spending the morning doing."
Becca let all the information soak in. The one that stood out the most was his dream of another girl on the plane. She had such vague memories of that night. It scared her beyond belief that there might have been another person that survived. Dread squeezed her gut.
"Bec? You okay? You're so pale." Hunter caressed her cheek. She snapped back to reality and looked up in his eyes.
"I keep wondering now if someone else made it and we don't remember." If that were true, she had no words. None. They had it rough before they were found, but at least they'd been together. If there had been someone else and the person went through it alone. Ugh. She couldn't imagine.
"I know. I keep thinking the same thing. I searched all over the water near the plane that night, looking for anyone that survived. I remember that well. I checked every single-" Hunter stopped and swallowed hard. His eyes darkened.
He didn't even have to finish talking for Becca to know what he meant. He'd checked every single passenger for signs of life. While she'd known that, she never put much thought into the reality of him having to do all of it. Releasing a deep sigh, she snuggled herself even closer in Hunter's arms and rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. They stood in silence, holding each other for comfort.
"Come with me," Becca requested, finally breaking the silence. She gave a small smile. "I have something for you to see."
"Oh?" Hunter's face lit up.
"Close your eyes and let me guide you."
He shot her a quizzical look, but complied. His eyelids lowered and he held out his hands. A ghost of a smile played on his lips. She took his hands and slowly moved toward the spare room. She positioned Hunter right in front of the finished painting. "Ready?"
He let go of one of her hands to slide his up her arm. "More than ever."
Becca reached for Sienna's picture. In the midst of everything yesterday, she never got around to showing him. He should see this one first. Carefully taking his hands, she placed the paper in them. "Look at what I handed you first before looking anywhere else. Actually, turn this way," she directed, scooting him to face away from her own picture. She stood in front of him to catch his reaction of Sienna's drawing.
Hunter opened his eyes and stared down at the paper. Then he flicked his gaze to her.
"She wanted me to write our names there so you would know who everyone is," Becca said, laughing. Sienna had been insistent, as a three year old would. She'd pointed at herself, and then at the smaller stick figure scribble on the paper.
"My girl makes me more proud every day. I love it. I'm going to get a frame for this one and hang it up in the office." Hunter smiled, the gesture reaching his eyes. "I love that you did this with her."
"She drew it herself, I had no idea that she'd included me in her family picture." She'd been flabbergasted. Just in a short time, that sweet little girl had attached herself to Becca. To draw her in right next to her Daddy melted her heart.
Becca loved how genuine Hunter was. He really did appreciate the picture. Now, time to show him another one. She felt shy all of a sudden. Why? He'd seen countless paintings she'd done of course. But this one was per his request, and how she created it, she wasn't sure what his response would be. The whole newness of them as a couple - were they even classified as a couple yet? - still made things a little awkward.
"One more to show you." She gestured at hers, as the heat rushed to her cheeks.
Before he looked at it, Hunter kissed her cheek. She touched the spot as it still tingled while he studied her painting.
"Absolutely stunning. I have my own interpretations, but I want to know yours." He pulled her into his arms. "The colors are amazing!"
"You asked for my take on love. When I first started thinking about it, I had a whole different idea. As the past few days unfolded, it changed. I- I kind of see that as us, starting fresh from a storm of events that changed everything. That's why it's lightly raining and we're standing under an umbrella. That represents us breaking free of the storm. I picked the shore of the ocean because the waves always find a way back. Just like we do. We bounce back from one thin
g after another and always find each other." The stuttering started. Dang, she was so nervous!
"Angel, I-" Hunter moved his lips but hardly any words came out. "Well hell, woman, you've rendered me speechless."
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it. It's a perfect masterpiece." He kissed along her jaw. "A masterpiece of our love. We need to go buy a frame for this one, too. It'll go right up next to the first one you gave me on the island."
A masterpiece of our love. Becca played the words in her head. She'd never thought of a name, but Hunter's fit perfectly.
"Speaking of masterpieces, I have a question. I meant to ask you the other day." He was still so close that when he talked, his breaths tingled against her skin. "What would you say to donating one of your paintings to the fundraiser to auction off?"
He wanted to auction one of her paintings? Did he really think more than one person would want to bid on it?
"I know that look. My guess is you're wondering who would want to bid on it. Am I right?"
Her jaw dropped.
Hunter laughed. "Damn, I'm good."
"How do you do that?"
"I know you." He ran his fingers through her hair. "You'd be surprised. You don't have to do it, but I'm telling you, I know people who have begged me to let them buy one of your pieces. I'm not the only one interested in your talent. You'll see," he said knowingly.
She let out a laugh as butterflies swarmed in the pit of her belly. It couldn't hurt. If that was what Hunter wanted, then she'd go for it. Maybe she would be surprised. "Okay. I'll do it. But which one?"
"We'll decide that together, if you want. I love all of your work, but there are certain ones I won't part with for various reasons."
"You turned people down before, so why are you okay with this now?" Well that was not a smart thing to ask. What did it matter?
Hunter grinned. "I figure, since I have an in with the artist, maybe if I let one go she'll give me a new one to replace it. That, and I really want you to see that I'm not the only one who adores your work."
Becca quirked a brow, hiding her smile. "An in with the artist, huh? Do you seduce to get your way?"
He gasped in mock horror. "I would never do such a thing. There's only one woman I want to seduce and she's standing right here in front of me, in my arms. I don't have to even resort to seducing her to get my way."
"Oh, is that so?" She giggled, reaching behind him and grabbing his butt.
"It's very so. All I have to do is lean close, whisper in her ear and tell her how much I love her." His lips grazed her ear, hot breaths tickling. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Becca whispered back, holding him close. "So, what would getting your way entail?" She sent him a saucy grin.
Hunter waggled his eyebrows. "Oh, where to start, where to start ... Oh, I know! How about you go with me to pick up Sienna tomorrow and we have a little barbecue and swimming? Todd called earlier and asked if we'd be interested."
"I'd like that. Sounds fun."
"See? No seducing and I still got my way."
Becca socked him lightly on his upper arm. "You're crazy."
"Crazy about you," he shot back, not missing a beat.
*****
Hunter tried to put the dreams and troubles out of his mind so that he could spend a nice day with Becca. Tried being the key word. His mind wouldn't quit. They went and had a nice lunch, picked up a few frames and walked hand in hand around the mall. Simple and nice. Calm. Days like this were rare, but he enjoyed it. When was the last time he'd ever just walked around a mall? Just what he wanted. So why couldn't he get his mind to stop going other places for a while?
It was going to drive him nuts until he figured it out, and who knew if that would ever happen? Damn it!
"You're awfully quiet. Feeling okay?" Becca asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
Feeling okay? Yes and no. He felt a mix of things. But he didn't know where to start to tell her. "Just a bit tired." He finally found a simple and true answer. Tired, no doubt. The nightmares kept him from sleeping well. He had to admit, with Becca in his bed he was sleeping a little better. If the constant waking up from nightmares wasn't as frequent, he'd be fine. He wanted them to stop. For twenty years the damn crash consumed most of his life and for once, he wanted to let it all go and be normal. He wanted to live a life with the woman he loved and not have everyone look at him as if he were going crazy.
The way he felt lately, he couldn't blame anyone for looking at him that way. Still, he longed for that sense of normalcy.
"I wish I knew what to do to help you sleep more."
"It's better with you here. When I do sleep, I'm more content knowing you're next to me." He kissed her cheek. "I worry how you sleep through my yelling and moving so much."
"No need to be so worried. I sleep just fine. The only time I wake up is when I hear you yelling."
"I wish they'd go away. The dreams, I mean."
"So do I. Have you thought about talking to someone about them?"
"I talk to you."
"Not what I meant. I mean- Well, someone who might be able to help you through it."
He tensed. "You think I'm crazy, too? Is that it?" Oh hell, where did that come from? Becca wouldn't turn on him like that. They stopped by the passenger side of the car and she whirled around to face him.
"I never said that! I just- I don't know, Hunter. You're going through a lot, there's been so much happening in the past few years. I just thought-" She shook her head and sighed. "Nevermind." Her tone was quiet, filled with hurt.
Damn it, he'd snapped at her for no reason. What did he have to go and mess up a perfectly good day for by being an ass? He quickly set the bags down on the cracked pavement. "Hey. Look at me." He raised his hands to her cheeks and rubbed then gently with his thumbs. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. Just the thought of having to rehash all this with someone- I don't know. I don't like the idea, but you're probably right. For once, I want to be the man without such a past. I don't always want it to affect me like this, and yet it does. Twenty years is a long time. I won't forget my family's memory, but sometimes, I want to forget the pain. I know if I keep going down this road without facing it, somehow it'll only get worse before it gets better."
Becca looked him square in the eye. "I get that, you know I do. That's why I suggested it. I never meant for it to be anything else. I told you the first time and I'll tell you again. I don't think you're crazy, but I do think you're stressed. You came to the island to get a break, but you're still just as tense as when you first got there. You're tired, irritable and it scares me, especially because while I can understand your feelings, listen to you talk, and hold you when you need comfort, there's not much else I can do for you."
"That's a lot you're doing!" Hunter protested.
She shook her head. "From where I'm standing, it's not. Or at least, it doesn't feel like it. I want to do more. I want to take your nightmares away. I know I can't, though. I'm powerless in that regard."
Hunter leaned forward and kissed her lips. "I love you. Again, I'm sorry for snapping. I don't know if I want to go down that route by talking to someone because I don't think it'll help, but I promise to give it some thought. What I want most of all is to have all these unanswered questions solved and for you, Sienna and I to be together. A family."
Becca smiled. "One of those I can help you with. I want to be with you more than anything. We'll take it all a day at a time."
A car honked nearby. Becca and Hunter turned to see a red Chevy truck, the driver waving at them to move with a cross look on his face.
"Oops. Guess we'd better get out of his way and get out of here. You have your camera? I know a nice open area nearby. We can see about testing out your new toy with the upcoming sunset." Hunter picked up the bags, then unlocked the door for her. She climbed in and pulled the door closed. Hunter carefully placed the bags with the frames in the back behind him before he plunked himself down in the s
eat and started the engine.
"I love the idea!" Becca buckled her seatbelt, sending him another excited grin. "I've been reading through the guide that came with the camera and there's so many neat features I can't wait to mess around with."
Whew. So he'd smoothed things over this time. This could not keep happening though. Why did he have to keep snapping and getting defensive, specially with her? He took Becca's words to heart. He needed to do something about the constant nightmares, but what? Was talking to someone about them really the answer? He'd noticed he'd been much more on edge the past few weeks, and it only seemed to get worse. If he was going to make things work with Becca and have Sienna at home with him, he needed to do something.
They drove in silence to the open field.
The clouds were in perfect position on the horizon tonight for a bright and colorful sunset. Becca looked like a pro already, standing in different locations as she snapped photo after photo. As the day's last rays of colorful light faded away, she finally stopped, put the cap back over the lens and packed her camera away in it's bag. She made her way to him with a smile.
"We picked a good night for a sunset, didn't we?"
"Sure did. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this camera. I still can't believe you went and bought me one!"
He shrugged, playing coy. "As long as you're enjoying it."
"I am, very much." An airplane from the nearby small airport took off, startling Becca. She watched it go higher up in the sky. "I had no idea we were so close to an airport. Is your plane here at this one?"
"It is."
"Is your plane the one you use when you work?"
"No. Mine is real small. It carries less than ten passengers. I use one of the company's planes. Mine is more recreational."
She glanced over in the direction the plane took off from, then faced him. "Can we go see yours?"
Well, that was unexpected. "Are you sure?" he blurted. Yeah, nice answer, idiot. But she'd thrown him for a loop.
"I don't want to fly in it, not right away. You did mention you'd take me on it, let me sit and get used to even being around one. We're not far from yours, so I figure why not?" Her voice trembled slightly, but she sounded fairly certain.
A Masterpiece Of Our Love (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 1) Page 23