How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 119

She never finished her sentence.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the doorway.

A low, cool male voice cut through the room. "I'm not late, am I? Darling?"

Elodie's words were snatched from her lips.

She whipped around, stunned, half-convinced she must have misheard.

Everyone else in the room looked over, just as surprised.

Jarrod strode in, calm and assured.

Seeing him, Ivan's brows knit in surprise. He hadn't expected Jarrod to give Elodie such respect-calling her "darling" in front of everyone.

But then again, Ivan realized, today it was just the Thornes-no outsiders, no need to keep up appearances. Jarrod could afford the pretense of

acknowledgment. If even one unknowing guest were present, Elodie would never hear such a word from him.

Tall and impeccably dressed in a black suit, Jarrod crossed the room. He glanced at Elodie, then nodded politely to Rosemary. "Business kept me for a while," he said, voice even. "My apologies, Grandma."

Elodie's expression cooled.

The shock she felt at the word far outweighed her surprise at Jarrod's

game was he playing? Willing to

years of marriage, he'd never once

she'd already accepted that Jarrod was with Selma and Sylvie today. Why had

glanced at his tie. It was plain black, not the red-patterned one Sylvie had given

made sense. Her frown

gaze rested on her, his

the look she'd been giving him. With Rosemary and the others still watching, she forced herself to

"Work."

let it drop. It

further. She simply waved a hand.

the ritual

nudged Alexander, bewildered. "What's going on? Aren't they

lowered his voice. "Maybe Elodie negotiated something with him. Either way, since he's here, I take back what I said earlier—he's not a complete

really hadn't shown, Alexander would have told Elodie to get a rabies shot in memory of all the years she'd

Jarrod should have been spending today

fireworks show-the real highlight-wasn't until tonight.

would wrap up before noon; she figured Jarrod would leave as soon as the ritual was over. That way, he could maintain appearances and still have time for Sylvie.

he greeted Jarrod. "I

had really