How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 136

When Elodie returned to the house, she found her grandmother chatting with Cara, who was simmering broth in the kitchen.

The gentle bubbling of the pot filled the air with a savory aroma.

Her grandmother spotted Elodie at the door and greeted her warmly. "You're here by yourself? Where's Jarrod? Parking the car?"

Elodie kept her composure. "He had something to take care of. I came ahead."

Her grandmother's face fell instantly. "What could possibly be so important? Work's over-what's keeping him now?"

Elodie just smiled, offering no explanation.

"Has work been that busy lately?" Her grandmother motioned for Cara to pour a glass of peach juice. "Cara was just saying you and Jarrod barely come around anymore. What's going on?"

Elodie hesitated, at a loss for words.

still didn't know the truth; she assumed they were simply busy, and her concern was tinged with

sting of helplessness and frustration. She had no idea how Jarrod planned

of the year. There's a big project at work—I can't get away," she

her knee gently. "You need to take care of yourself. Everything else can wait. I've already decided I'll have Cara make you some nourishing soups and tonic. You always say you're fine, but you look tired to me. A woman's health is everything. Drink a little of the herbal tonic

concern was genuine, and she couldn't bring herself to refuse

"Jarrod, too-what is he doing, not even home by dinner? Elodie, call him and tell

Gran. Let's just eat. If he's driving, it's not safe for him to

found a gentle excuse-better that than risk Sylvie picking up

let it

certain Jarrod wouldn't show up tonight, but

up at him, then quickly looked away, already thinking about when her grandmother might leave so

arrive just in time for dinner, Gran's

an idea. "This year, why don't we take a family portrait for the holidays? What do you