How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 168

Elodie figured Jarrod was probably with Sylvie again.

Most days, it never bothered her-whatever he did with Sylvie, she felt nothing, completely indifferent.

But tonight...

She couldn't help herself. Jealousy, or maybe just a restless curiosity, crept in.

When Elodie walked through the front door, her grandmother's face broke into a wide, relieved smile. She hurried over, fussing over Elodie―asking about her day, her appetite, the cold weather outside-before inevitably steering the conversation to Jarrod. "Why didn't he come home with you? What's that boy up to now?"

Elodie lowered her eyes. "I don't know."

Her grandmother looked displeased. Without another word, she grabbed her phone and dialed Jarrod's number.

This time, he picked up.

So—he'd been deliberately ignoring her calls before.

Her grandmother's tone turned stern. "It's after eight. You should be home for dinner."

God knows what he replied, but her grandmother's expression softened a little.

After she hung up, she squeezed Elodie's hand. "We won't wait for him. Let him figure it out himself."

Even if he couldn't make it back right away, Elodie knew Jarrod would eventually come home tonight.

sliced fruit, but Elodie had

off all day-just barely hanging on through the dinner party, and now her head

couldn't take

she trudged

haunted and shallow. She dreamed again of that night her mother, Winifred, died

awake, forehead damp

the room felt cavernous and silent. The loneliness felt like a physical ache-one she'd grown familiar with these

checked her phone. Four in

Jarrod never come

the weight of the comforter pressed

"You're awake?"

low, steady voice sounded behind her,

turned. Jarrod, already changed into pajamas, was propped against the headboard, laptop open on

Work? At this hour?

heavy, her throat raw and sore. She must have come down with something in her

he'd come home, but before she could speak, a string of notification chimes came from her own

to check hers. As his hand brushed the device, Elodie's face tightened.

up on her guarded

wary of

narrowed, voice cool. "Hiding

said it

Elodie didn't answer.