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 still

about to broach the subject of the divorce, when a housekeeper appeared

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

his arm brush lightly against her as he passed. She

but didn't seem to

plate of freshly shelled lobster toward Elodie. "Eat more, dear. Make an effort this year- by the end of it, maybe you'll

unsure

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

a look, instantly seeing

younger, and you still aren't ready to be a

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

kept her head down,

was skilled at

at

Jarrod would leave soon anyway; he never

still there, unchanged. The last time she'd visited, Octavia had sent her to the guest room, but tonight, her grandmother personally escorted her to the master suite. Elodie didn't dare

took a shower. Jarrod

he was probably waiting until his grandmother went to bed so

phone alarm went off, reminding her