Chapter 7

They Are Back ...

I sat down at the table with Rose, Alice and Esmé; Esmé made me some tea. All the others said they were not thirsty.

After about ten minutes, during which we exchanged a little, Edward reappeared. He beamed at me again.

"Mom, I was looking for our last photo album. Where did you put it? I thought Bella would find it interesting to see our family pictures. Then she won't have to write so much, and she can listen to us!"

He gave me a questioning look and I quickly nodded and beamed at him. I was so grateful to him.

Edward gave me another crooked smile that took my breath away.

Rose and Alice chuckled.

"I'll get it. In the meantime, why don't you make yourself comfortable on the couch with Bella?"

Esmé stood up and walked out of the room.

Edward grabbed my hand as usual and pulled me into the living room onto the huge sofa. I was about to sit down next to him when he grabbed me by the hips and put me on his lap.

I looked at him, startled, but he just smiled and put his arms around my waist.

"We're supposed to be comfortable, Bella. So relax."

He was right. In his arms I could relax well.

I leaned against him and sighed comfortably.

"That's better!"

That's all he said, just held me tightly.

After a few minutes Esmé entered the room.

"Sorry, you two. I have another cake to bake! I hope you don't mind looking at the pictures with just Edward."

She looked pleased to find us here like this.

I shook my head.

I did not mind.

"I thought so!" she said, and Edward gave a short laugh.

I think that I blushed again. Crap!

Edward showed me a great many family pictures and explained something about each one. I meanwhile sat sideways on his lap so we could both see the pictures.

It was exclusively pictures from the last few years, no children's pictures, or anything like that.

When Edward turned another page and my eyes fell on the pictures, I stiffened.

"What's wrong, Bella?"

But I could not say anything back. I had seen the red eyes. I just sat on his lap - unable to move.

I experienced everything again in my mind.

The little dark alley Angela and I always walked through when we came out of the club and were on our way home. But this time a woman came towards us, the woman with the red eyes and the fiery red hair. Angela, who was approached by her, who in the next moment was bitten by her in the neck and looked at me with eyes widened in shock. I saw the woman's blood-red eyes glaring at me. I could not move. It wasn't until Angela slumped to the ground and stopped moving that my legs moved as if automatically - they ran. I ran out of the alley and home ...

"Oh no!", Edward interrupted my thoughts - and I was glad he did.

I never wanted to think about it again!

Edward looked at me in shock and I saw out of the corner of my eye again the image with the red eyes ...

I didn't even think about it, quickly leaned over to Edward, who was still looking at me in shock, and pressed my lips to his.

At first he was probably too shocked, but then he returned the kiss, wrapped his arms around my waist again and pulled me tightly to him.

My body felt as if it was electrified. Everything in me tingled and I was afraid to open my mouth. I was firmly convinced that then a few butterflies flew out of my mouth, because they no longer had room in my stomach.

I lifted my arms at some point and put them around his neck. Edward sighed comfortably into the kiss.

I don't know how long we kissed. I didn't want it to ever stop, but I was running out of breath.

"Wow ... Bella! That was ...", Edward stammered to himself.

I nodded knowingly.

Yes, it was indescribable.

Edward closed the photo album and put it on the table. Afterwards we sat on the sofa for a very long time, very close together.

It was just beautiful.

I pushed away the images and those eyes.

I would bring it up to Edward tomorrow when I had collected myself.

"I'm sorry if the pictures scared you, Bella. That was our last Halloween celebration! I'm sorry."

Edward seemed somehow glumly.

What on earth was wrong with him?

"Come on, I'll take you home slowly. It will be dark soon."

I just nodded, saying goodbye to the others who had gathered in the kitchen.

As we left the kitchen, I heard Alice whisper, "She already knows it as good as!"

I looked questioningly at Edward, but he didn't let on.

Edward took me home and I fell wearily into bed after cooking for Charlie and me.

I was still thinking a lot about Edward.

He hadn't kissed me goodbye, I think I had really taken him by surprise today. Whether he wanted that at all?

I still thought about it a lot while I snuggled deeper into the blanket and slowly fell asleep.

That night I did not dream well. My nightmares were back again.

But they were different. I saw the whole Cullen family. They all had those blood-red eyes and in Edward's arms was the woman with the flaming red hair ...