"All right, take care on your way."

Elodie didn't bother to explain why she wasn't leaving with Jarrod.

She knew exactly where he was headed-straight to Sylvie.

There was no way he'd waste his precious time with Sylvie just to give her a ride home.

The next two days passed in silence.

Nothing from Sylvie, and Jarrod didn't reach out to Elodie, either.

She wasn't sure if this meant things were over, but with everything else demanding her attention, she found it impossible to feel at ease.

On Friday morning, Jarrod finally called. His tone was neutral, almost cold. "Octavia's had an allergic reaction again. She refuses to let the staff help and insists you were the only one who didn't make it hurt last time. Could you come take a look at her?"

Elodie pressed her lips together. "...Sure."

Octavia wasn't her responsibility. She could have said no.

But since Jarrod was asking, and this could be seen as a favor, she figured he'd have no reason to hold the gallery situation over her head anymore.

"That painting-"

"Jarrod, what do you think of this dress?" Sylvie's gentle voice floated through from his end of the line.

It was barely past nine in the morning the busiest time of day—and he was out shopping with Sylvie?

The call disconnected abruptly.

used

off and headed out to

prone to allergic flare-ups at the slightest provocation. Her skin would break out

tried to treat her-doctor or staff

the past three years, she'd tended to Octavia more

Octavia had come to expect

emotion. She'd sworn to Jarrod she would never set foot here again, and

think she

the door, offering her a pair of

hands. "She's upstairs, making a fuss. Only you seem to know how to

just smiled and kept quiet, heading straight upstairs

"Were you crawling here on all fours? What

walked over. "Lift

"Do you have to be so

took. Two dime-sized rashes

both Jarrod and Octavia seemed to think Elodie should be available on demand, as

eat

quickly Elodie had figured it

or reliable. For three years, Elodie had looked after her with unwavering care, always mindful of her

what? Octavia still didn't think

her brother's wife, and she wasn't

the attention. If only Elodie would stop competing for the title

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