Then

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."

It was the moment she dreaded and hoped for for the last two years. He was real and in front of her. Her wish had come true; he had come home. She had been expecting it, but she was also surprised that he was there.

He was the love of her life. She'd never told him what he meant to her. She'd showed him, but she'd never said it. She'd wondered briefly if she messed everything up two years ago.

Why hadn't she reached out to him, returned his calls before he gave up? Had he officially given up? Or was the fact that he was standing before her proof that he hadn't? What was he doing back in town?

He was all she ever wanted, and she was ready to just give in to the spell. She didn't care that what he felt was the result of magic. She didn't care that it had been two years.

The look of awe in his eyes made her believe that he didn't care either. They both stood and watched one another, both in disbelief over the feelings that were still very present between the two of them. If that wasn't evidence enough, a bushel of roses grew on the patch of grass beside them - the same types of roses that had grown in the meadow near his home the day they first made love.

His gaze left hers for a moment as it settled on the flowers. She was unsure if he remembered the roses and their significance. Based on the small, hopeful smile that spread across his face, she knew he did. The idea made her abdomen flutter and her heart race.

"What brings you here?" Bella said breathlessly. It was a relatively warm day even as the sun was beginning to set. She didn't know if she was feeling flushed because of his presence or because of the weather.

"My feet led me here."

They both laughed, and Bella stepped toward him. The moment she moved, the door to the shop next to hers flung open. The sound startled her, but she hadn't planned on letting it deter her. She was ready to try again, when a movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. It was the person who had left the shop - a woman who looked to be around her age. Bella didn't recognize her. The stranger had red hair and bronzed skin, dressed in a button up shirt and dark jeans - an outfit that was too warm for the weather.

As though it was in slow motion, Bella watched as the woman strolled up to the man who had stolen her heart and slipped her arm around his waist. He hesitantly placed his arm around her but his eyes didn't leave Bella's.

"That shop has the cutest antique dolls in it. I almost bought one for Shelly." Her tone was warm and the way she hugged Edward was too familiar. It wasn't registering in Bella's mind what was happening. Bella controlled her expression as the woman's eyes settled on her, as though she had just noticed her. "Oh...hi, I'm Victoria. Who are you?"

Who am I? Bella wanted to say. Who the fuck are you?

Instead, she responded coldly, "Just an old acquaintance."

She glared at Edward. She was angry with him even though she knew she had no right to be. But for him to come to her town with this woman?

"Lovely to meet you…" Victoria waited for Bella to give her name, but the witch was much too angry to respond. When she didn't respond, Edward chimed in.

"This is Isabella Swan."

When Victoria's eyes darkened and glanced up quickly at Edward's face - the face that was still watching Bella intently, and guiltily - Bella knew she recognized the name. She didn't care to stick around for questions.

"And I'm leaving. Have a good night."

Bella stormed past them, feeling humiliated. The love spell clearly hadn't affected him in the way she'd believed it would. He'd moved on from her. She knew she had nobody to blame but herself. She was the one who ignored his outreach. She couldn't expect him to pine for her forever.

It didn't change the fact that she was devastated that he had moved on from her. Tears streamed down her face as she passed the townsfolk. Only one person, an elderly woman who sometimes met up with her grandmother, said anything.

"Bella, dear, are you okay?" The older woman stopped her on the sidewalk. "Do you need me to walk with you?"

"No," she blanked on the woman's name. "No, thank you. I'll be okay."

She rushed past the woman and ran the rest of the way home. She slammed the front gate open, startling her grandmother who was drinking tea sitting in a chair on the front porch. When Helen saw how distraught Bella was, she stood on wobbly legs.

"Bella, what's wrong, honey?"

"He's back," she sobbed, as she flung herself into Helen's arms. "He's back."

Helen understood why Bella was upset. She had seen this coming. She tenderly rubbed Bella's back. Bella would be alright in a day or so. Helen was sure of it.

"Let's go inside and get you some iced tea." She brought her hands to Bella's face. "My beautiful girl, all will be okay."

"I don't know, grandma," Bella shook her head. "He has a girlfriend. She's really pretty."

They headed into the house and Helen listened intently as Bella relayed the story to her. It had only been a short encounter, but Bella left out no detail.

"It's my fault. I never told him how I feel about him." She rested her head on her arms, and felt Helen's hands rubbing her back again.

"He knows."

Neither of them said a word as Bella continued to cry softly. After a while, Helen stood and went to the pantry. She pulled out her candles.

"I don't want you up all night crying," she said as she placed two of them in front of Bella. "You need your sleep. You've been running yourself ragged."

Bella knew what Helen was doing for her. It was a sleep spell. She was right. Bella had been exhausted.

"Now, you go upstairs and lay down. You'll be asleep in no time and we will deal with all of this tomorrow, okay?"

Bella nodded and headed to her room while Helen performed a spell that would put her granddaughter into a dreamless slumber. When she finished, she headed to her living room and grabbed the book that she had been reading earlier in the day. Right as she took a seat on the couch, she heard a knock at her door.

She knew who it was. She stood back up and walked over to the door, unlocking it. When she opened it, she was unsurprised to see Edward standing there. His hair was in disarray and he looked like someone had kicked his puppy. Helen laughed at the state of him.

"Well, well, well."

"Hello, Mrs. Swan. How are you?" Despite the crazed look in his eye, the boy still managed to have manners.

"I'm well. How are you?"

He bowed his head. "Is she here?"

"She's sleeping," Helen responded. "You shouldn't be here."

"I...I need to talk to her."

Helen shook her head. "No, you don't. Not tonight. And like I said, young man, she is sleeping."

Edward shifted his weight. He knew now to push Helen.

"Can I come back tomorrow?"

"You can, but I don't know that she will speak to you."

"I don't get it." His jaw clicked. "She stopped talking to me."

"I know." She didn't move.

"I'll come back in the morning. Have a lovely evening, Mrs. Swan."

Helen smirked and wished him well before shutting the door.

He'd be back.

Another Then Chapter

I was hoping to post earlier this week but work had to take precedence, unfortunately. Enough excuses though.

Thank you for reading and sticking around. I'm so glad this story is helping some of you feel better during a really hard time. I sometimes forget what we've been through this last year because it's been going on for so long.

Until next time :)

-Bravery