How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 169

Elodie's reaction was stronger than she let on. Even with her composed expression, her instinctive recoil and the way she brushed Jarrod's hand aside betrayed her discomfort.

It was pure reflex.

Jarrod stopped in his tracks.

Bathed in the soft glow of the bedside lamp, his deep-set eyes seemed colder, more inscrutable.

He hadn't missed the subtle shifts in Elodie's mood.

He drew his hand back, his tone cool and even. "Fine. Suit yourself."

Turning away, Jarrod sank onto the leather sofa nearby. He reached for a cigarette, fingers searching for his lighter. But then he paused, frowning, and instead slid the cigarette back into its case.

Elodie didn't protest about taking her medicine. She threw back the covers, grabbed the pills Jarrod had brought, and swallowed them all in one go with a gulp of water.

As for the box of dried cranberries he'd left on the nightstand she didn't touch it.

Jarrod noticed that, too.

After all, they'd been married for three years. Elodie's health had never been robust; she was no stranger to migraines and fevers. Usually, she'd fuss forever before taking her medicine-afraid of the bitterness, reluctant to swallow anything dry. She'd eat handfuls of dried fruit or candy just to get a single pill down.

hadn't even

bitter pills

had she stopped minding the

but Elodie couldn't let go of the ring. She looked at Jarrod, coming straight to the point. "I came back today to ask if you'd consider

Jarrod glance at her, his manner

what he meant by that. Her hands clenched tight as she blurted, "I'll pay

dark as ink. "Do you really think I

but before she could

she

The door opened.

grandmother entered quietly, voice

finally relaxed. "Sweetheart, do you still feel unwell? Jarrod told me last night you had a fever-he couldn't even

all night, barely sleeping, afraid Elodie might take a turn for the worse.

making the old woman worry.

age, she shouldn't

days. It's good for me to get up and

Elodie hesitated, then nodded.

fallen asleep before nine and hadn't eaten since. Now her

forehead before saying, "I'll have them make some