How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

"She'd had people watching Patricia for ages, but they'd never managed to dig up

anything substantial-meanwhile, Jarrod had already struck a decisive blow.

"If you don't want anyone to find out, don't do it in the first place," Jarrod said, his

tone flat as he scanned the menu, methodically picking out dishes. "With her kind

of extreme personality, nothing she does would surprise me. Especially after all

those years overseas... she's picked up plenty of bad habits."

Elodie glanced over the menu and noticed that everything he chose was

something she liked. Even the last dish-a red bean dessert-was her favorite.

She'd always thought Jarrod never really paid attention to her, but now, with some

distance from her old feelings, she could finally see the details she'd missed

before.

"But how did you know when she'd actually do something like that? Those things

are pretty private," Elodie asked, setting the menu aside.

He'd taken care of ordering everything, sparing her the trouble.

"Walls have ears. If you want to live in the spotlight, you'd better be ready to pay

the price."

With his connections in Eldermere, there was almost nothing Jarrod couldn't find

out.

It dawned on Elodie-he must have placed some informant close to Patricia.

She could imagine what a shock this must be for someone as spoiled and willful

might fly, but back home,

tolerated.

arrived,

poured hot water over Elodie's utensils, then

and started peeling the

touching his

the peeled prawns neatly onto Elodie's

your own food. You don't need to do this for

glanced up with a half-smile that didn't quite

idea. I'm not trying to win you

what are you doing?" Elodie

another prawn, his voice soft. "That kiss earlier-I

of

at

The nonchalant pace of his

doing this

so "considerate" about moments

know your

lately, but you should

up your

with your surgery

you want,

know-I'll have someone

get your digestion

Jarrod was

was something

worry that pressed

saw how

become.

couldn't stand watching it

thing about Elodie-he insisted on

the restaurant, Maurice and Joseph Delacroix arrived just

scene through

Jarrod for years.