How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 108

As for Mrs. Silverstein's status-

Jarrod had never acknowledged anything, so Elodie certainly wasn't.

Esmeralda felt the day had been a total bust. She suggested they go out for drinks and karaoke-something Elodie used to do all the time as part of her old PR gig. But now, with her health issues, Elodie did her best to avoid alcohol.

Besides, whatever was going on with Jarrod didn't really affect her as much anymore. Things hadn't reached the point where she needed to drown her sorrows in whiskey.

So Esmeralda made plans with other friends, and Elodie drove herself home.

On the way, Alexander called. He asked, in his usual no-nonsense way, how things were going at the gallery. Elodie answered with a vague, noncommittal reply.

"Come over for dinner tomorrow," Alexander said. "Dad's got the day off, and you know how he is-strike while the iron's hot and keep the old man in good spirits."

Elodie considered it. There were still a few challenges with her new project, and she could use Professor Charlie's advice. She agreed.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow," Alexander said.

Elodie replied, "Alright. See you then."

Elodie made a special trip across town to queue up at an old,

opened the passenger door for her. He handed her

lit

"No need to thank me. Just

of laugh that lingered even after the

window rolled down. Joseph watched them drive off, his expression caught somewhere between surprise and

pick up some cakes for Freya, but hadn't expected to catch a glimpse of Elodie

for years, but he'd never seen her smile at anyone like that. It was gentle, soft, and warm, almost affectionate-nothing like the polite

Elodie really letting go

she'd been to Jarrod over the years-how she'd bent over backwards for

Joseph pulled out his phone, hesitated, then finally sent Jarrod a message:

couldn't imagine why Elodie

have been busy, because he replied quickly: [What do you

realized what he'd done. Why was

rubbed his brow, then typed: [Never mind. Just ran into her by

He didn't elaborate.

seem interested. He didn't ask for details. He didn't reply at all. Joseph

civil-Jarrod had only grown colder and more distant toward Elodie. That was why, eventually, both Maurice and Joseph

Elodie. How had things gotten to this point? Was it some innate