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Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Fireplace and Barbecue

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Fox Town had changed drastically from its lush, green past. Now, everything was blanketed in pristine white. Snow coated the rooftops, the trees, the streets—blending sky and earth into a single frozen landscape. Even the evergreens, once bursting with color, were now muted, showing only hints of green beneath layers of frost.

Thick snowflakes, as large as feathers, floated from the sky in swirling dances, covering everything in their path. The once familiar town had become a winter wonderland as Christmas approached.

Though the roads had been cleared by snow plows, driving through the area was still a challenge. The cold was relentless, sharp enough to cut through layers of clothing and bite the skin. Angie grumbled loudly about it more than once.

She was bundled tightly in a down jacket that puffed her up like a dumpling, complete with a plush, round hat that doubled as earmuffs. Despite all this, she still felt frozen to the core as she drove her old, beat-up pickup truck to pick up Bella.

The truck's heater had long since broken down, and no one had bothered to fix it—especially after Angie left town. Now, the interior of the truck was like a moving freezer, and the cold wind that seeped through every crack almost made Angie feel like she'd be carried off by the chill before reaching her destination.

Thankfully, Bella was sensitive to her discomfort and discreetly released a bit of her magic to warm the truck. The temperature shifted subtly, enough for Angie to breathe without shivering. She didn't think much of it, casually commenting that Bella must be naturally warm and snuggling up to her as they drove.

Bella just rolled her eyes and let her best friend sleep against her shoulder.

The pickup eventually came to a halt in front of Bella's childhood home in Fox Town. Bella stepped out, boots crunching on the icy ground with a satisfying creak. After two years away, she was hit by a wave of nostalgia as she took in the snow-draped houses and the familiar quiet of the neighborhood.

Angie followed, immediately bracing herself as a gust of icy wind hit her. She shivered violently and instinctively stepped closer to Bella for warmth.

Bella glanced at the front of the house and noticed the snow had already been cleared from the walkway. She smiled.

"Angie, you're such a good sister," she said warmly.

Angie looked confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Bella gestured toward the path. "You cleared the snow for me, didn't you?"

Angie blinked. "Me? I didn't touch it."

Bella frowned slightly, puzzled. But then, something caught her eye. Her gaze snapped toward the left side of the house—toward the road, the trees, and the empty snow-covered lawn.

"What's wrong?" Angie asked nervously, following Bella's line of sight.

Bella remained quiet for a moment, then shook her head. "Nothing. Let's get inside. We've got some cleaning to do."

Her lips curled into a small smile as she gently pulled Angie along with her.

"Honestly, you could've just stayed at my place," Angie said, pouting. "Less work. Comfy bed. Warm fire. Why are we freezing our butts off here?"

"I'll cook something special for you tonight," Bella teased.

"Hee hee, now that's more like it."

"Oh, by the way—where's Nina?"

"She's at home. That lazy cat is hibernating this winter, I swear."

Bang! The door slammed shut behind them, sealing off the wind and their laughter.

Not far from the house, hidden behind a wide pine tree, a tall man with pale skin leaned against the trunk. His head was bowed, snowflakes collecting in his bronze-colored hair. He didn't seem to notice or care. His golden-brown eyes stared at the ground, lost in thought.

"Since you're watching her so intently, why don't you just go talk to her?"

The voice came from a nearby woman. She had short, stylish hair and wore a simple down jacket. Her features were delicate, her eyes sharp but kind. Alice.

"You know I can't," Edward murmured. "I shouldn't disrupt her life."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Edward, you've wanted to go see her in New York a hundred times over the past two years. Now she's back, and you're still hiding behind trees like some lovesick teenager?"

Edward didn't respond.

"She's not the only one who still remembers," Alice continued. "I heard that werewolf still thinks about her too."

"I
 I just don't know," Edward admitted, his voice quiet. "We're from two different worlds, and lately
 I've felt something dark in the town again."

Alice tilted her head. "Well, love's never been logical. But for what it's worth, I like her too. And Carlisle told me to tell you—he supports you. So do I."

She gave him a faint smile before turning to leave, snow crunching beneath her boots.

Edward remained where he was. Minutes passed, maybe hours, as snow began to accumulate on his shoulders. Still, he didn't move. His eyes flickered toward the softly lit window of Bella's home. Inside, her silhouette appeared against the light, holding a mug and staring out into the falling snow.

Longing. Regret. Devotion. All these emotions swirled behind Edward's gaze—but in the end, he turned away.

As he walked into the night, the snow gently erased the footprints he left behind.

Inside, Bella stood by the window, wrapped in a soft white sweater and thick slippers. Steam rose from the coffee cup in her hands. She stared quietly at the tree Edward had just been behind. A flicker of something passed through her eyes. She sipped her coffee and turned away.

A fire crackled in the nearby fireplace, warming the living room. Charcoal glowed red, and the flames licked the wood, sending out the occasional pop of sparks. The heat drove away the winter chill.

Angie, now finished helping Bella clean, sat curled up on the couch with her own mug of coffee, sighing in contentment.

"Bella," she called, "what are you looking at over there? Did you see someone?"

Bella shook her head, her voice distant. "No. Just
 soaking it all in. It's been so long since I was last home."

"I get it," Angie said, stretching. "When I first came back, I couldn't stop staring at everything either. Oh, and don't forget—we need to wash those dust covers when we get the chance."

"I know, I know."

"What's for dinner?"

"We need to check what's left in the pantry, but we might have to run out for groceries."

Angie groaned dramatically. "I don't wanna go back out there. It's so nice and warm by the fire
"

Bella smirked.

That night, dinner was a feast.

Pork chops, roast beef, fried chicken, shrimp, ham, steamed vegetables, toasted bread, and a colorful fruit salad filled the table. It was a sharp contrast to Angie's usual bland meals during her recovery back in Fox Town. With the added exercise from cleaning the house, she attacked the meat with almost comical excitement.

Bella had wanted to make stir-fried dishes too, but she'd forgotten to buy spices in advance. Still, the food was delicious and hearty.

The two of them laughed and chatted as they ate, like they had done so many times in the past. After dinner, they showered and changed into pajamas. Angie nestled into the couch to watch TV, but within minutes, she was snoring softly.

Bella glanced at her friend, amused. She nudged her, but Angie only groaned and clung tighter to the blanket. Giving in, Bella helped her into the bed.

Of course, the half-asleep Angie refused to sleep alone, whining about nightmares and cold feet. She insisted on cuddling Bella like a human-sized stuffed animal.

Bella sighed, but couldn't help smiling. She climbed into bed and let Angie snuggle close.

The room dimmed into peaceful silence.

Snow continued to fall gently outside. Bella gazed out the window one last time, her thoughts drifting toward Edward.

She had noticed them immediately—Edward and Alice. She always did. Even after all this time, Edward hadn't moved on. He hadn't forgotten her.

If anything, his feelings had only deepened.

He was devoted—perhaps too devoted. In another life, another world, maybe they could have been together.

But that girl, that version of Bella—the one he fell in love with—no longer existed.

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