How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

After confirming the flight data with Lily, Elodie turned just in time to see Jarrod arrive.

As she reached the doorway, Jarrod glanced up and noticed she was dressed lightly too lightly for the crisp weather outside. His brow furrowed in quiet concern as he strode over, shrugged off his jacket, and draped it over her shoulders. "Aren't you cold? We're going to the base, not a runway show, you know."

Elodie was instantly cocooned in his jacket, the warmth from his body and the subtle, cool scent he always wore enveloping her. Lately, Jarrod seemed hyper- attuned to everything concerning her; the slightest shift, and he was there, ready to intervene before anything could go wrong.

"Weren't you the one who said there was something urgent?" she asked, cutting straight to the point.

Jarrod had already opened the car door for her. "Yeah. Get in."

He was being uncharacteristically mysterious. Elodie frowned but slid into the passenger seat anyway.

As soon as they were inside, Jarrod started the engine, his tone casual. "Let's go get dinner."

"Dinner? That's the urgent matter?"

He kept his eyes on the road, unbothered. "We're going to a private bistro. It's a bit off the map, has your favorite cuisine. Maurice Nilsson owns the place-he asked us to stop by for the opening."

Elodie didn't bother arguing. "You could've just said that from the start."

I had, would you

lips together, giving him a look. This was so typical of him. For a

didn't seem to think there was anything odd about it. "Besides, Maurice said he wanted us there to support

let out an exasperated sigh. "You really

you have paid attention if

She didn't answer.

gnawed at him -one that couldn't be easily soothed. Six specialists had already arrived in Eldermere, meeting to discuss her case. He pinched the bridge

it struck her as strange that, for once,

the secluded bistro with little trouble finding a

stepped out of the car, her phone buzzed.

nothing had ever happened: [I'm hosting an art exhibition. Care to come and take a

almost comical. As if Patricia hadn't tried to expose her at that old woman's birthday party, as if she were oblivious to everything Elodie

turned cold. There were people in the world whose

as if the

should bend to their will and

Patricia's message. He read the polite

another move in