A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) (12 page)

An hour later, Becca bought two bags of chips and two cans of soda from the hospital vending machines. She turned back to the seats to hand one of each to Henry. The doctors had checked him over to make sure his injuries weren't severe, and had let him sit with her. For some reason, the boy attached himself to Becca. Maybe because she'd been the one by their side while help arrived. He kept asking about his dad, but no one had come by to update him on either parent. He slumped in his seat, sullen and scared, and barely said a word to Becca. He seemed to at least take silent comfort with her being there.

Someone approached them as Becca got comfortable again. "Are you a relative?"

Becca studied the woman. She wasn't wearing scrubs or a white coat, so she wasn't a nurse or doctor unless off duty or just getting in. Then it dawned on her. A social worker maybe? Oh no, that didn't sound good! Her heart broke a thousand times over for the pain this family endured. "No, but I witnessed the accident. Henry and his mother asked me to come because I was at their side while we waited for help."

"So you don't know anything about their family?" Becca had trouble reading the woman's expression. Bad news on Henry's mother? The baby? She desperately wanted to know!

"Sadly, no." Becca's pulse quickened.

The woman crouched in front of Henry. "Can we talk for a little bit? My name is Celia," she said in a calm, soothing tone.

Becca excused herself for a moment to call Hunter and let Celia talk to Henry. When she stood, Henry panicked.

"Don't leave, Becca!" he shouted, scrambling to go after her.

"I promise, I'm not. I just need to call my fiancé before he worries. I'll be right over there. You can still see me." She pointed to a corner of the waiting room. The woman exchanged a worried look with her, then worked to calm Henry down.

With a heavy heart, Becca moved away to call Hunter, still looking back to check on Henry. She had a feeling this woman was going to tell him his father didn't make it. Tears brimmed in her eyes and she pulled out her phone. On cue, Hunter's name registered on the caller ID, and her missed phone icon at the top of the screen lit up as well. She answered immediately.

"Becca! I've been so worried about you. Where are you? I'm at the restaurant with Brock, who hasn't heard from you either!"

"There was an a-accident," Becca stammered. Henry broke out in hysterics and she knew. "I'm at th-the hospital with-"

"
What?
Bec, I'm coming right now. How bad are you hurt?" Hunter's voice raised several octaves.

"No, it's not me. I'm fine. I witnessed an accident, a huge pileup, and I went to help. A woman went into labor early. They have a little boy, and the mom and son begged me to come with. I think- I think their father is dead." She choked back a cry. "Right across the room a woman is talking to the little boy, and he's hysterical."

"That's terrible," Hunter whispered. "I'm coming right up there, okay? I'll come be with you. I'm so glad you're safe."

"I'm sorry I didn't call you."

"I know, Bec. I would have forgotten, too."

"It reminds me-"

"Of what we went through. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I'm on my way, angel."

"Hunter, be safe. It's terrible out there, and we don't need you in a wreck."

"I promise, I'll be safe."

Becca wished he was here already. Hunter always had a way with words. He knew how to be comforting. She always stumbled over her thoughts, especially in dire situations, and she had no idea what to say or do right now. Tears streamed down Henry's face. He looked up at Becca. The fear and terror in such young, innocent eyes tugged on her already aching heart. "My dad's gone. He's gone!" Henry cried, running to her. He plowed right into her arms. Becca held him close and stroked his hair. She didn't know this boy, and the boy didn't know her, but they had a rooted connection because she'd been in his shoes twenty years ago. She understood loss. "Mom's in surgery, and I don't know about my baby sister, either! I'm scared!"

Chapter Nine

Becca was safe, but Hunter wanted to get to her as soon as possible. She sounded so terrified over the phone, and understandably so. Not only did she witness an accident, but from what he picked up, the situation sounded similar to their own story.

Hunter ran through the snow, sliding in spots, but he kept up his pace until he reached the hospital doors. They slid open, and immediately warm air engulfed him. He darted toward the waiting room in emergency and spotted Becca sitting in a chair, comforting a young boy who clung to her.

"Bec," he said softly, sprinting toward them. She raised her head. The tears in her eyes tore him up inside. The boy at her side looked a little younger than Hunter had been when the plane crash happened. He also stared at Hunter with curiosity.

"Who are you?" he asked, wiping his face.

"My name is Hunter. Becca's my fiancé." He moved to the seat beside them. The boy's gaze followed him.

"Are they going to take me away from my mom? They said she's in surgery. I don't know what's going on. My dad- he died!" He broke down again and buried his face in Becca's shirt. Becca silently pleaded with Hunter for help while she hugged Henry.

Hunter patted his shoulder, and as he did so, the boy whipped his head up to glare at him. "I've been where you are right now," he said softly, feeling the years and years of heartache bubbling up once again. If he could help this boy even a little, then Hunter would do it. Henry had already attached himself to Becca. "I lost my dad when I was young too, in an accident."

"Was your dad mad at you when he died?" Henry asked.

Hunter blanched. "No. Was yours?" He couldn't even imagine. Sure he'd been a little upset and disappointed over missing summer camp, but as far as he could recall, he hadn't been mad at Dad and vice versa. If this young boy's last memory of his father was of them being upset ... How heartbreaking.

The boy nodded, tears filling his eyes again. "We had to go out of the way because of me. Maybe if we didn't go that way, he'd still be here. Mom wasn't supposed to have my sister yet."

"Do you have any other family to call?" Becca broke her silence.

"No, I don't think so. If I have grandparents, I don't know them."

So damn similar. Hunter sucked in a ragged breath. This hurt, bringing back memories.

A woman approached with hesitance. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked Becca.

Henry jumped up, alarmed. "Is it my mom? Is she okay?" Becca stood as well. Henry stuck close by her side.

"The doctors are taking good care of her, Henry," the woman, Hunter guessed her to be a social worker, said soothingly. Becca followed her, and they rounded the corner. She must have been around earlier.

"I'm scared, Hunter," Henry cried.

"I bet you are, buddy." He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them to focus his attention on helping this child. He had a long, hard road ahead, and there was no telling on the condition of his mother.

Hours later, Hunter took a walk after calming Henry down from another fearful crying spell. He wanted to see his father, even though he was gone. He wanted to know how his mother was. He wanted to go home and get something to make his mom feel better. At 2 am, they hadn't had any recent updates on Henry's mom, and with how much he relied on Becca, there was no way Hunter was leaving this hospital- with or without her. They'd spend the night tonight to ensure Henry had someone to comfort him. Celia, the woman who'd been coming around, seemed nice enough, but Henry wasn't comfortable around her at all, not the way he was with Becca and Hunter now.

When he returned from his walk, Hunter stopped and stared across the room. Someone brought a blanket out and had given it to Henry. He was now wrapped up in the beige material, curled up at Becca's side. Becca's eyes were closed as she rested her head on the back of the seat, her arm around Henry's shoulders. The sight, while painful, Hunter also found beautiful. Becca just became someone's hero by what most would think was a simple gesture, but to a young boy with a future uncertain, it meant everything.

What would happen if this boy's mother didn't make it? If he had no other family? Or what if there was, and they weren't equipped to take care of a child, especially a premature baby? Hunter continued to watch Becca while a million thoughts swarmed around in his mind. He gripped a pole and knew he should move, but couldn't seem to do so. He remembered when he had to say goodbye to her the day the elder Langes came to fly her to Vermont to live.

"I'm not ready to say goodbye!"

Hunter stalled Dr. Ross when she brought him to the hospital that day. Becca was finally doing well enough to be released. A good thing, and Hunter couldn't be happier that she'd recovered as well as she had, but he didn't know how to say goodbye to the little girl he cared about. He was afraid to be alone without her, and wondered how she'd do. Everyone saw by now how Becca responded to him. Hunter didn't understand it himself. Becca had become a very important part of his life. She'd shown how much she needed Hunter, but he needed her just as much.

"I know you aren't, Hunter, but Becca is better now. Don't you want to see her before she goes home?"

"Of course I do!" he declared. "I might not ever see her again. She's all I have." The past few days, he debated asking her grandparents if they'd adopt him so he could stay with Becca. They seemed like nice enough people, but Hunter wasn't too sure about them. They didn't seem like lovey kind of grandparents. When he pictured grandparents, he thought of the ones who gave their grandkids kisses, hugs, and spoiled them. He never knew the feeling, since his grandparents on Dad's side died young and Mom never talked about hers. Becca's ... they were kinda scary. If he went with, at least she'd have someone to protect her from scary. Then they wouldn't have to do so much. He'd take care of her in every way he could.

He spotted Becca, surrounded by her grandparents and aunt. Now
she
seemed genuine. She picked up on Hunter's closeness to Becca and gave him her phone number and address, promising that if he wrote or called, she'd keep him in contact with Becca.

Hunter planned on taking her up on that.

Becca looked about ready to cry until she spotted Hunter, then she broke out in a little smile. Her grandparents stood like guards on each side of her, both glaring at him with scowls stretched across their slightly wrinkled faces. Were they tired or something? Why did they look like prison wardens? They didn't talk to Becca like he did. They hardly said a word to her. Sure, Becca didn't talk right now, but she liked when people talked to her, especially Hunter. He'd sit with her for a while every day and tell her stories about him, funny jokes, and whatever else he could. He read her stories. She'd hold his hand, and even if she didn't always look at him, her response had been to squeeze his hand. That's how he knew Becca wanted him there with her. Sometimes he still crawled up on the bed to lay down with her if she was scared, and they fell asleep that way.

Ignoring them, Hunter bent to give Becca a hug. She wrapped her arms around him. "I'm going to miss you, but I'm really glad you get to go home with family." Hunter had to be strong, even though he had a weird feeling about them. Becca had family to go home to, and that's what mattered. She wouldn't have to stay alone in a hospital room any more when he couldn't stay with her, and someone would be there to care.

They'd care, right?

His stomach hurt. Why did he keep wondering so much if they'd care about her? They had to if they came to take her home, didn't they?

Becca didn't want to let go when Hunter pulled back. He didn't either, but her grandparents said they had to go. "You be good, and get better. You're stronger every day. I'm so proud of you, Becca," Hunter said with a grown up voice, even though inside he wanted to scream, cry, and fight. She'd be okay. He had to keep telling himself that. Her grandparents didn't know her, and once they did, they'd love her just like he did.

She reached out for his hand again. Hers was so fragile, cold, and shaken. Hunter gave her one last hug before her grandparents jerked the wheelchair away and took the one person Hunter didn't want to be without. He'd lost everyone else.

Her aunt lingered and sent him a sympathetic look. "You call me any time. I promise I'll make sure Becca knows you're thinking about her. Thank you for being so brave and taking care of her."

"Thank you. I really want to be able to see her again. She's my best friend," Hunter whispered, surprised when she hugged him. Then she followed behind her parents and Becca. With a sinking, empty heart, he knew he had to survive on his own now. Becca wasn't there to keep him calm and secure any more. He faced Dr. Ross. "I don't trust them," he admitted. "They're scary."

Her facial features softened. "They're probably scared too, Hunter. Becca's not what they're used to. She'll be okay. She's a brave little girl, and she's had your support for the past few months."

Becca turned back one more time to look at him. Hunter's heart broke when tears formed in her eyes and she kept reaching out for him.

No matter what, he had to find a way to let her know he'd always be there. They needed each other. Hunter twitched. Part of him wanted to run after them and beg them to take him with. He'd take care of Becca. He'd do everything they wanted, just as long as they didn't separate the two.

But somehow, he had to learn to go on his own without her.

Becca woke up from her short nap with a stiff, sore neck and found Hunter standing a few feet away. His hands were wrapped around a pole. He stared off, and his eyes were hollow. Oh no. Was he having some sort of flashback or something? They happened occasionally, as he was still working through his PTSD. With Henry fast asleep next to her, she carefully wrangled herself from his hold to go check on Hunter. Henry sighed and turned the other way, still sleeping. Good.