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Becca smiled faintly at his insight. “She was always thinking that. Anyway, fast-forward to today. I can’t explain what they’re about, but I had my first one recently before I’d heard about the body being found at the maze.”
“And that was of Jessie.”
“Yes.”
“And you haven’t had any other visions between high school and now.”
“None. Not one the whole time I was married.” Becca sounded sort of surprised. “I’ve always associated the visions with stress, but I had some really stressful times when I was married and I never had one.”
“So maybe they’re not stress induced.”
“Maybe.
Although tonight and the fire…” Her hands were trembling slightly and she flexed her fingers.
“Let’s go into the living room.”
He stayed close behind her but she was stronger than she appeared, he decided, as she made it to the couch with no problem, her dog jumping up beside her and curling into a tight ball, his eyes intense as they glued on Hudson, who took a chair opposite them.
“These visions,” she said softly. “They’re kind of a curse.”
“Maybe it’s your subconscious trying to warn you of something. The way you work out problems.” Hudson shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal,” Becca repeated through a hot throat. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’ve spent so much time making myself crazy over them. So afraid to make a fool of myself. Be the object of ridicule.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said quietly.
“Easier said than done.”
“What about the vision at the fire? It was about Jessie, too?”
“Not exactly.”
Becca wondered how much to tell him. Sure, Hudson was being nothing but supportive, but she couldn’t trust that he would remain that way if she revealed the extent of her idiosyncracy.
But still, her vision was strange.
“I saw the nursery rhyme,” she admitted slowly. “In a note. Jessie’s nursery rhyme. The one she used to taunt the boys with? I think…I think she may have sent it to Glenn. His name was on it.”
Hudson went completely still. She watched his expression turn inward and felt her heart stop. Maybe he was reviewing his own feelings, deciding whether to keep championing her or dismiss her as a total nutcase. For a moment she’d felt un-burdened, but now she braced herself, certain that was what was coming. Despite what he’d said, she knew his support might be weaker than he believed.
“What nursery rhyme?” he asked.
She rubbed her arms briskly. “Jessie’s taunt. You remember it: ‘What are little boys made of? Frogs and snails and puppy dogs’ tails. That’s what little boys are made of.’”
Hudson closed his eyes a moment, touched his hand to his forehead as if making a monumental decision.
Becca’s heart jolted. “Hudson?” She wanted to take back the words. She’d gone too far. She wanted him to think she was normal, but if he got up and walked out she wouldn’t blame him.
“I’m the one who got the note,” he said slowly, his gaze holding hers.
“No…it said Glenn. I’m…I’m sure…”
For a response he reached into an inner pocket of his coat and pulled out a white card identical to the one in her vision.
He turned it over so she could read the front.
HUDSON was scrawled across the paper in an uneven hand.
