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."

was all

Grandma was one step ahead: "I'll send a car to pick you up. The driver knows the

try to give me a chubby great-grandchild by the end of

lady hung

fingers to her forehead, feeling a headache coming

no baby, which was a hard pill for traditional elders

he

he'd come to her every night, three times a night, sometimes until dawn. She could

Still, nothing happened.

thought it was because of an old injury that made it hard for her to conceive. She

a diagnosis of uterine cancer, even that faint

Elodie simply gave the address of a nearby supermarket, concealing the fact that she and Jarrod no longer lived together. She didn't know

got into the

her, 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

with cozy lodges. There was a ski resort nearby and, if

checked in, wheeled her suitcase to her room, and was

by side, deep in conversation. Sylvie's eyes

heart skipped; the scene hit her like

darkened when he spotted her, his handsome