A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) Read Free Page A

hadn't in many years, Hunter still seemed to have a love for the game. He played on opposing sides of his childhood friend Alan so that it would be fair. One adult paired with one of the kids.
    Joe leaned over to talk to her. "The boy's still got moves." He sounded so proud.
    She'd seen home videos of Hunter as a child, a few of them when he played on the court with his dad. No doubt, Hunter played now with the same intensity that he did in those videos. It took coming back to his hometown to bring that side out of him, the one he'd kept back over guilt.
    A stray tear slid down her cheek. The feelings stirred up inside hurt. Hunter could have had all this back then if that one summer hadn't changed things.
    He'd probably call her silly and get upset if he knew the guilt she felt right now. What did she have to feel guilty about? It wasn't her fault the Beckmans put their lives on the line to save her not only once, but twice. With deadly consequences.
    It only took twenty years for Hunter to get a part of his childhood back, the one he'd lost because of-.
    Stop it! You always tell Hunter not to carry guilt, so why are you doing it now? It's not your fault!
    "He's amazing. He really lights up." Becca's voice choked up with emotion. Her vision blurred, and the world around her turned into a spinning kaleidescope. She reached into her purse and pulled out her sunglasses. Becca slipped them on to hide the tears.
    Too bad Joe already noticed. He put a hand on her shoulder. "I wish I could give you the same closure he's getting. I know you long for answers, and we're no closer."
    "It's something I have to live with." Becca shook it off. Or rather, she pretended to. "He had so much promise, and everything was ruined." She left off the unspoken words. Why did this get to her all of a sudden?
    "Becca." The remorse in his tone signified he agonized over this whole thing as well.
    She tried to put her feelings in check. Despite Hunter's initial hesitation, he seemed to be having a blast on the court. At that very moment, he took a big leap, his feet coming off the ground at least a foot as he made a shot. Becca jumped up and clapped. She cupped her hands over her mouth and cheered. Hunter turned around to wave at her with a big grin on his face. Then, before going after the ball, he blew her a kiss.
    "I hope you aren't blaming yourself for what he missed." Joe pulled her out of her self-destructive thoughts.
    Yeah, she was actually. But why? She'd been a child. Why did she have to go there? Becca bent to sit again.
    "If anything, I should have done more. I should have- Hell, I don't know what I should or could have done, but please don't think you're to blame."
    "I know I shouldn't. I tell Hunter these same things when he feels guilty over things he can't control. Yet here I am doing it," Becca whispered. "I just- he's happy right now. Look at him. He has part of his life back."
    "You're part of his life, and I've only been around for three months, but that boy loves you with all he's got."
    She knew it to be true. "I'm just being silly, I guess."
    Joe put a hand on her shoulder again. "I think you're missing your link to the past, and because Hunter found his and can have some closure, it's affecting you. Doesn't make it silly at all. We won't stop looking for your family as long as you want us to keep doing it."
    "What if it's hopeless? Hunter's spending so much money on this, and he won't let me cover any of it. We keep hitting dead ends. Vince and my- the Langes won't tell me anything. Sylvia's a dead-end, because she's nowhere to be found. We're sitting in the town this happened in. Any single person around here could be my family, and I'd never know it!"
    Her words were much louder and harsher than she'd intended. She covered her mouth with her hand. Becca couldn't believe she'd said all this to Joe. Even though he was Hunter's family friend, she still sat on the fence with how she felt about Joe. He'd been the one to orchestrate