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

her lips together, about to broach the subject of the divorce, when a

jacket casually over his arm, and after spotting her, walked straight to

her as he passed. She subtly shifted away, putting

but didn't seem to

the old woman pushed a plate of freshly shelled lobster toward Elodie. "Eat more, dear. Make an effort this year- by the end of it, maybe

unsure what

placed it on his grandmother's plate. "You should try this,

seeing through his attempt to change

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

lips curled in a faint,

her head down, focusing

had to admit, Jarrod was

on staying over, and glanced at Jarrod, hoping he'd offer an excuse for her. But

up, figuring that Jarrod would leave soon anyway;

old bedroom was still there, unchanged. The last time she'd visited, Octavia had sent her to the guest room,

took a shower. Jarrod never

waiting until his grandmother went to bed so he could spend time with

went off, reminding