A Masterpiece Of Our Love (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 1) (2 page)

"Please let me know when you've made it safely to your room. I hope this is your last visit, Becca. There are no good things to remember there."

Easy for him to say. Vince would never understand. She knew he cared, but he really needed to loosen up a bit. Okay, maybe a whole lot, but she'd take anything over no budging at all.

"I'll be sure to leave you a message," she promised. Anything to get him off the line. She would definitely let him know later. Otherwise, she'd have a hundred texts and phone calls throughout the night until she finally answered.

"Kiss kiss, my dear."

Becca made a half hearted kiss sound and disconnected. She tossed her phone in the large handbag and gave her undivided attention to the swing.

"It's a beautiful end to the day, isn't it?" A man, looking to be in his mid-thirties, smiled as he perched on the bench beside her.

Becca grinned. "It sure is. It doesn't get better than a sunset overlooking the ocean."

"Do you vacation here often, or are you a resident?" His warm eyes searched her face.

"Vacationing. It's a yearly tradition with a good friend." She flicked her gaze back to the swing for a moment. The kids were still there, the girl giggling as she moved back and forth.

"It's my first time out here. Truth be told, I'm a bit nervous. I'm actually going to propose to my girlfriend this weekend." The man stared in the same direction. "See the kids over there? The little girl is my girlfriend's daughter. The boy is her neighbor."

Becca smiled. "That's wonderful! Good luck, congratulations and many well wishes."

"Thank you. It's been a rough few years. It'll be nice to have some good changes coming. Are you waiting for your friend here? How did you come across this place for vacationing? You seem a little nervous, as well." He was full of questions, but Becca didn't mind. The conversation and the distraction of the kids on the swing helped keep her mind from wandering off so much. But now that the subject had changed to her, it brought it all back.

"I'm waiting for a friend of mine. This is our usual meeting spot. I'm a little restless because I've been driving all day, but I have bad knees. As much as I want to move around, I'm trying to take it easy." No need to get into how she wondered if he'd show. She still held that flicker of hope and held onto it tight. "We both have longlasting memories here. We come to reflect." Sadness crept into her voice.

"Oh. That sounds a little haunting. I bet there are tons of haunting stories to be told. One of the things that draws me to the coast of Maine is the thousands upon thousands of islands to be discovered. Each one probably has untold secrets. Wouldn't it be amazing to uncover them? I guess my mind likes to wander. I love learning stories. And this place ... well, I'm already finding many. Oh! I see my girlfriend now. Time to get some late dinner. Thanks for the conversation. Have an enjoyable vacation." The man stood, brushed off his pants and lifted his hand in a wave before jogging over to the shadowed silhouette. The girl bolted from the swing. Her friend followed.

Becca watched them disappear, the two younger ones joining their hands and swinging them gleefully. She thought back to what the man had said about untold stories. She bet he'd be fascinated with hers, but it was a story she hated to tell. Still, she came back year after year to keep the memory of her family alive.

The last of the sunlight created a world of shadows. Twilight blanketed the sky. She'd have to leave soon. Safety first. She knew this island, but the night held a different promise. She should have hit the road a lot earlier.

Just one little push on the swing. Would it even hold her weight? Why it called to her so deeply tonight, she couldn't say. It's not like Hunter didn't know where to find her if he made his way to the island, after all.

Becca fingered the wooden swing, careful not to press too hard. Without another hesitation, she perched on it and wiggled. So far, so good. It held her just fine. She kicked her good leg to give herself a push. Becca tilted her head back, loving the way the breeze blew through her hair. She lost herself in the moment. If only she was as young and carefree as the little girl who'd been on the swing prior. Becca envied those kids. They still had so much of their youth to look forward to.

"You and that swing. It never fails. You always have this sense of peace. Why can't I be an artist like you so I could capture the sights I see?"

She recognized that deep baritone voice. Becca whipped her head up and almost lost her grip on the side of the swing. Of all the living, breathing, beautiful faces, the last one she expected to see was Hunter Beckman's. Not after all the years he'd missed their meetings. She'd hoped, but this year she had just about given up. Was it really him, or did her imagination create an image of the man she'd longed to see so badly? There he stood, right in front of the tree. He slid her one of those beautiful grins that lit up his entire face. Becca stopped the swing and shot to her feet. He made it! Hunter was here!

"Ow!" she cried as her knee gave out beneath her. She'd pushed just a little too much. Hunter caught her and helped her back to her feet.

"I'm glad you're that happy to see me, but don't go hurting yourself on my account," he drawled, wrapping her in a bear hug. "I can't even begin to tell you how much I've missed you! I'm so sorry I haven't showed the last few years or that I haven't called," he whispered while he combed his fingers through her hair in a gentle gesture.

"You're here now." Becca threaded her fingers together around his neck. "This was going to be my last time. I needed to give it one last shot before attempting to let go." All of the fear, anger, hurt and frustration she'd carried for the past few years faded. All she wanted was to hold on to Hunter and keep him there. He was really here! The rest, she'd figure out later. Right now, she couldn't be happier to be hugging him.

"I'm so glad I caught you then. I see that others have discovered the tranquility of our meeting spot." Hunter pulled back and studied her. "You look so good! How have you been, Becca?"

He looked great for sure. Maybe a little worn out, but Hunter's appearance hadn't changed much. He'd let his dark brown hair grow a little and he had a hint of a five o'clock shadow. Otherwise, he was the same old sweet, good looking man she'd always known.

"I- I'm good." Standing so close, being held in Hunter's arms as he continued to hug her, she couldn't breathe. He overwhelmed her with his presence. He hadn't changed. He still found a way to make her heart beat faster. Something about him always gave her a sense of being safe.

He had been the one to pull her from the wreckage. Before the crash, they hadn't spoken to each other the entire ride. He'd been too busy playing a video game. She had been coloring. Funny, the bits and pieces she remembered about that night. Most of it had vanished. Only fragments of that life remained in her mind. She wished she could remember a whole lot more than she'd been given.

Leaves rustled as a breeze dragged in the salty scent of the ocean and the moss from the trees. The air grew chilly. Crickets began their nighttime harmonizing.

"What do you say we grab a late dinner and catch up? Did you check in at Range's already?"

"Yes to dinner and to catching up and yes, I've already been in my room." She tore her eyes away from Hunter's face to gather herself. He let go of her and took her hand. They walked away from the swing as fog rolled in. The blanket of clouds coming up against the shore reminded Becca of that night. Then again, almost everything on the island reminded her of that night.

Why did she do this to herself? Was it really just to find a way to meet Hunter again? Should she have let him go, along with the memories that made up of this quaint little place? Nothing would ever bring her family back. Maybe her grandparents had a point, as much as she hated to admit that they might just be right after all.

"How long are you staying?" Becca inquired. Another gust of wind ruffled the hem of her skirt. She should have worn jeans and brought a jacket. Goosebumps broke out on her arms. She'd been so set on getting over here to see if he'd actually show that she hadn't put much thought on the night's sudden weather change. She should have.

"A week," Hunter replied. He stopped and faced her. "You're cold? Here, take my flannel." Before she could protest, he shrugged out of the shirt and draped it over her shoulders.

She smiled at his thoughtfulness. With Hunter, it never felt like hovering. It always felt like he truly cared. That's the kind of thing she longed for. Not like with Vince. He was fifteen years her senior and it showed. She cared for Vince, but not in the way he or her grandparents hoped. Every way she looked at it, Vince didn't make marriage material for her. Sure, he came from money and had a solid career, but Becca knew that he could never be the man for her. Not when she longed for true love. As an avid artist, she had very vivid images in her mind of real love. She tried to tell Vince about them once and show him on canvas. He'd barely even acknowledged it. She wanted someone that showed interest in her hobbies and dreams, not someone who called her art trivial and then blew it off.

"Thank you, Hunter."

He slid an arm around her shoulders. "I've missed you so much. I don't even know where to begin. I'm just glad something told me to come back. You came back every year, didn't you?" Sadness resonated in his voice. Would he tell her the reason for his absence the past few years? Did their almost-kiss four years ago scare him off? Not that she dared to ask. No way did she want to sound childish or needy. It definitely crossed her mind a thousand times. He'd called to let her know he made it home as he always did after they parted, but after that, she never seemed to be able to get a hold of him.

"I have. My grandparents fight it stronger every time, but I've come back."

"Are they still strict and stuffy?"

Becca burst into laughter at Hunter's boldness. He never did care to hold back. He told it like he felt it. "Yes. They haven't changed much. They're trying to marry me off to a well-to-do man."

He rested his hands on her shoulders, freezing her right where she stood. He inched his face closer. "Do you love him?" Why did his voice sound so edgy?

"I care about him, but love? No. I don't feel that kind of love for Vince."

"Tell me about him." He released his hold on her and grasped for her hand, beginning their trek back to Range's.

"He's nice. Older than me," Becca said, then paused.

Hunter laughed. "You're finding it difficult to have great things to say about him. Is he that bad?"

Becca hadn't meant to sound so crass when it came to discussing Vince. Despite her feelings, or rather, lack thereof, he'd been fairly good to her. "No, he's not bad. He's just not the man for me. He acts just like my grandparents do, very protective and overly cautious. He disagrees about my coming here, too."

"Is that why you planned this to be your last year?" They rounded the corner. The sign to Range's Inn and Diner lit up the night. The D was only half lit as it buzzed, the threat of the letter going completely dark evident.

"Partly," Becca admitted. Her stomach growled. When had she eaten last? Something on the road on her drive here. Not enough to fill her.

Hunter pulled the door open to the diner and held it for her to enter. As he followed, he put a hand on her shoulder. "Is the other part because I haven't shown up the past few years?"

The sign up front read 'Seat yourself'. Becca found a booth near the window that faced the ocean and scooted in. What an eerie, beautiful image outside. She kept her gaze on the scene, memorizing every detail in order to paint the landscape later.

"Becca?"

Oh, that's right. Hunter had asked her a question. Heat flared in her cheeks as she met his inquisitive stare.

"It's a mix of things, to be honest. Yes, you're part of it, but not the only factor. It's been twenty years. How can I keep holding on to the past? It doesn't do me any good, and maybe I should get on with it." The words came out so harsh that she flinched. Goodness, when she was tired, words had a way of not coming out right.

Hunter's face fell and his hands shot across the table to cover hers. "Do you really feel that way?" he asked softly, his eyes never leaving her face.

"I don't know what I feel anymore. I'm stuck in the midst of people that tell me what I should think and feel, and quite frankly, it's tiresome on my mind. I need to get away from that chaos for a while, which makes this trip even more needed. Everyone looks at me and I know even when they don't say it, they're thinking, 'Why can't this woman get over her past?' It makes me wonder if coming here is useful or not."

"Here's the thing. Only you can decide that, Becca. If this is what you need then you should do it for you, not for anyone else. Don't let other people's thoughts and words sway you from doing what's best for you." Hunter squeezed her hand before letting go, busying himself with searching the menu.

His words hit her right in the heart. He had a point. Why did she continue to allow her grandparents, Vince, and all those people rule her mind? They had no idea what she went through. Still, twenty years after the crash, she should learn to stop reliving the events in her mind and stop being so fearful. Right?

"I'm just so sorry I fell out of touch. I regret that more than you know. I promised to always be there to talk to you, and I haven't kept up very well." A deep, sad emotion fell into Hunter's dark green eyes. He hid a pain there. What happened to him? He looked the same and in some ways acted the same, but the more he opened his mouth, the more Becca realized that he had changed. People do that, especially after so many years, but it made her curious. After all the years they'd written letters and made their annual trips to the island, he'd been so much more open. Now, he acted like a shadow. His eyes held an untold story that she couldn't decipher.

"I just assumed that you'd finally moved on. Maybe I was a part of your past you felt like you had to let go." Their last meeting, something had changed with them. Maybe he hadn't liked where things were going. Hunter had tried to take her mind off the breakup with Justin, which had devastated her! After almost three years together, she thought he was the one. How wrong she'd been. Justin only wanted things for himself. According to him, Becca didn't fit the bill anymore. She'd come to the island feeling a little lost and was trying to keep it together.