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

fly, but back home, those

tolerated.

food arrived, dish by

water over Elodie's utensils, then slipped on a pair

and started peeling

his own

the peeled prawns neatly

food. You don't need

that didn't quite reach his eyes.

not trying to win you

are you doing?"

another prawn, his voice soft. "That kiss earlier-I shouldn't have

asking. Think of this as

stared at

the slightest bit sorry. The nonchalant pace of

he was doing this entirely

never been so "considerate" about moments of closeness

your

you

up

your

you

know-I'll have someone

get your

was

something heavy

that

he saw how thin

become.

stand watching it day

thing about Elodie-he

the restaurant, Maurice and Joseph Delacroix arrived just

the scene through the

known Jarrod