How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"You didn't know?" The old lady immediately caught on that something was off, her tone prickling with irritation. "I booked a two-day getaway for you and Jarrod at Mount Serene just a couple of days ago. Yesterday, I asked Jarrod about it and he said he already gave you the tickets."

Elodie blinked in surprise-Jarrod hadn't mentioned any of this to her.

It couldn't be more obvious: he had no intention of going on a trip with her and had simply lied to appease his grandmother.

"Grandma, it's just that I have something urgent to take care of, so—"

"It's the weekend! What could possibly be so important?" Her grandmother wasn't having it. "Don't you cover for that rascal. Here's what's going to happen: you're going, and I'll call that boy and make sure he gets there too. I've planned everything, so just get a move on."

Elodie tried to protest. "Grandma, actually, Jarrod and I already—"

"What about you two?" The old lady's tone softened, concern replacing annoyance.

It was clear she still didn't know about the divorce. Apparently, Jarrod hadn't told the Silverstein family yet. Otherwise, why would his grandmother bother arranging something like this for the two of them?

Elodie felt a wave of frustration. With Grandma's high blood pressure and weak heart, maybe Jarrod was waiting for the right moment to break the news gently. If Elodie let the truth slip and Grandma couldn't handle it, she'd be the villain.

The papers were signed; the divorce would be official soon enough. There'd be time to let Grandma adjust.

After a moment of deliberation, she caved. "It's nothing, Grandma. I'll head over now. Jarrod told me about it."

could reassure Grandma, that was all that

Grandma was one step ahead: "I'll send a car to pick you

little adventure together. You two enjoy yourselves and try to give me a chubby great-grandchild by the end of the year!"

decline, the old lady hung up and

pressed her fingers to her

exactly what Grandma was thinking. Everyone could see that after three years of marriage, she and Jarrod's relationship was lukewarm at best- especially with no baby, which was a hard pill for traditional elders to swallow. That was why, for three years, she dutifully tried to "grow the Silverstein

rest of the time, he had zero interest in

every night, three times a night, sometimes until dawn. She

Still, nothing happened.

that made it hard for her to conceive. She figured

uterine cancer, even that faint hope had

fact that she and Jarrod no longer lived

the

he clearly didn't want her there. No way he'd actually show up to spend the weekend with her. She might as well go by herself, put in an appearance for Grandma, and maybe even enjoy a little peace

was a ski resort nearby and, if you woke up early,

her suitcase to her room, and was startled to run into two people returning

Sylvie walked side by side, deep in conversation.

skipped; the scene hit her

he spotted her, his handsome