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.

how much love the old woman showed her, the Silverstein legacy

the subject of the divorce, when a housekeeper appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Silverstein is

jacket casually over his

felt his arm brush lightly against her as he passed. She subtly shifted

noticed, but didn't seem to

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

hesitated, unsure what

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

instantly seeing through his attempt to change

me! You're not getting any younger, and you still aren't

curled in a faint, noncommittal smile.

her head down,

was

glanced at Jarrod, hoping he'd offer an excuse for her. But

up, figuring that Jarrod would leave soon anyway;

sent her to the guest room, but tonight, her

took a shower. Jarrod never

he was probably waiting until his grandmother went to bed so he

phone alarm went off, reminding her to