Then

The entire next day after Bella made her wish, she felt on edge. It was the same way she'd felt after she performed the love spell for the first time. She couldn't believe how long it had been since that moment - the moment that changed everything for her and Edward.

She chewed her nail and then groaned at the decision. If her grandmother had seen her, she'd pull her hand away from her mouth. It was a habit she'd been certain she'd rid herself of.

Almost.

"Is everything okay, Bella?"

Bella jumped. She hadn't heard her grandmother come into the kitchen. She looked into Helen's eyes and shrugged, nonchalantly.

"I'm fine."

Helen frowned. She had hoped that Bella would have been more open to connecting with her after spending time with her aunt the previous night. She'd heard the two talking late into the evening. Now, it seemed as though Bella had reverted back to her reclusive self.

"You can talk to me." Bella turned away from her then. She didn't want her grandmother to know. She didn't want her worrying.

"I know. I don't have anything to say."

They were quiet for another moment before Helen spoke again.

"You know, I was young once, too."

Bella's lips curled when she turned back around.. She knew her grandmother was young. She'd seen the pictures. She'd had dark wavy hair and a lovely smile, truly stunning. She thought her grandmother was still stunning, with more experience.

"You are still young, grandma."

They both knew it wasn't true.

"I fell in love three times in my life. Once was with a young, hot shot who was no good for me. That didn't last long, and neither did those feelings."

Bella watched as her grandmother's face broke into a radiant smile.

"Before I met your grandfather…" Helen paused. Bella waited. "Before I met your grandfather, I had an affair with a woman."

Bella's eyes widened in surprise. This was something she had never known about.

"She was kind, loving. She thought my gift was wonderful. I was able to be myself with her in a way that I hadn't thought I could." Helen's face fell. "And she had to move away, too. It broke my heart."

"Is she still alive?" Bella blurted. Then, her face turned red. "I'm so sorry. That was rude."

Helen pursed her lips. "I don't know. If she is, I haven't heard from her, but that's okay. I've moved past that. I'm bringing this up to let you know that I understand."

They were both silent again. Bella's lip quivered.

"I made a mistake." Her voice cracked. "I made a mistake, grandma."

"You can always call him. I'm sure he would understand. After all, he did recently send-"

"That's not what I meant," she interrupted. "I made a wish. It probably was nothing, but I did it."

"Oh Bella," Helen sighed, feeling tired suddenly. "It's never nothing. You have a responsibility. What did you wish?"

"I wished...he would come back." Her head fell into her hands at her confession.

"Did you say when?"

Bella lifted her head slightly, her cheeks already tear stained. "What?"

"Did you include when you wanted him to come back in your wish?"

"No."

"Okay."

"So it's not a problem? He won't return?" Bella looked hopeful.

Helen smirked. "Oh, he'll be returning. Between the love spell and your wish...unless he has been protected, it's likely he'll return sooner rather than later."

Bella glanced toward the door half expecting him to knock at that moment.

There was no knock.

"What will I do?" She purposefully phrased it. She hoped her grandmother would use her gift of foresight.

"I can't tell you that." Helen replied.

At that moment, Tanya came into the kitchen. Feeling the tense energy, Tanya was inclined to comment.

"Oh dear," she said, noticing the distraught look on Bella's face and the stoic expression on her mother's. "What has happened?"

Bella and Helen looked at one another.

"Nothing yet," Helen replied.

Bella and Helen continued their lives as normal - well, as normal as can be for two witches. They continued to run the shop together. Town's folk would show up in the evenings for some concoction - whether it was for love or career or family. Bella learned all of the necessary spells and would watch in awe as Helen would reveal her true capabilities in the form of new spells.

Bella finished up her senior year of high school, deciding to forego attending a university and instead, staying home to help support her grandmother. Helen and Alice, who had flown in, clapped loudly when she walked across the stage at graduation.

They were the only ones. Her classmates were still afraid of her and without Edward Cullen at her side, her approachability dwindled more. That didn't bother her.

After graduation, she fell into a steady routine. During the day time, she worked at the shop, now assisting those who had ostracized her. In the evenings, she took online courses at the local college to earn a business degree.

The flowers had begun to grow back, not as colorful as they once had been. Still, they grew. Bella was becoming more skilled at growing the flowers she needed for the shop. Grandma Helen had officially retired, only helping out as needed. Life was wonderfully predictable for the two.

However, neither of them had forgotten about the wish. It was clear that it was causing anxiety for Bella. She was constantly telling her mind to calm down, which resulted in a row of lavender around her grandmother's home.

The wish, the spell, Edward...they were always in the back of Bella's mind.

And one day, almost two years after she broke her own heart, she was closing up her shop for the evening. She'd just shut the door and was already locking the deadbolt when she heard him.

"Hello, Bella."

She exhaled, turning around. When she saw him, only one thought went through her mind.

Finally.

"Hello, Edward."

I'm sorry - I missed my own deadline by a day. I'll have my next chapter ready by Sunday or Monday.

Thank you for reading!

Until then!

-Bravery