How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie helped the old woman settle into her chair. "I'll take good care of myself, you don't have to worry."

The old woman's hand moved gently over Elodie's slender wrist, her eyes full of concern. "You call this taking care of yourself? Look how much weight you've lost lately!"

She sighed, thinking ahead as always. "And childbirth takes a toll on a woman's health. If your body's weak and you get pregnant, it'll be even harder on you. Better to start building your strength up now, before it becomes an issue."

Elodie didn't know how to respond.

Her grandmother's heart was still set on her giving the Silverstein family an heir, but that was impossible now...

They were getting divorced.

Even if they weren't, her health wouldn't allow it anymore.

Seeing Elodie's silence, the old woman hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Sweetheart, you and Jarrod have been married three years now and still no baby. Why don't you two go get checked out together one of these days?"

Worried Elodie might take it the wrong way, she quickly added, "Both of you should get checked. If there's a problem, it's better to find out early and get it treated. Isn't that right?"

Her grandmother's traditional values were clear in her expression—a quiet suspicion lingering beneath her gentle concern.

Elodie paused, suddenly understanding her grandmother's worries.

woman showed her, the Silverstein legacy

her lips together, about to broach the subject of the divorce, when a housekeeper appeared in the doorway.

his eyes lingering on Elodie for a moment. He slung his suit jacket casually over his

lightly against her as he passed. She

didn't seem

toward Elodie. "Eat more, dear. Make an effort this year- by the

unsure what

piece of lobster and placed it on his grandmother's plate. "You should try

shot him a look, instantly seeing through his attempt

try to distract me! You're not getting any younger, and you still

curled in a faint, noncommittal smile. "We'll

head down, focusing

to admit, Jarrod was skilled at

at

would leave soon anyway; he never

she'd visited, Octavia had sent her to the guest room, but tonight, her grandmother personally escorted

took a shower. Jarrod

waiting until his grandmother went to bed so

phone alarm went off, reminding