How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie was right-he had no intention of letting the Harcourt family off easy. In fact, if things were going to burn, he didn't mind stoking the flames himself.

Elodie ended up coming to the townhouse after all.

As soon as she stepped inside, Cara hurried toward her, relief and worry written all over her face. Clearly, she'd been holding it in for some time. "Mrs. Silverstein, could you go check on Mr. Silverstein? He doesn't want me to say anything to you, but honestly, he's not been himself lately. Even when I stay overnight, I'll sometimes get up in the middle of the night and still find him in the study, wide awake. No one can keep going like that. Yesterday, he came home and went straight to bed sick. He's taken some medicine, but today he's no better."

She shook her head, still mystified by his stubbornness. "He won't let me call you. I suggested you come to keep him company, and he refused. Said he'd be fine in

a bit. But wouldn't it do him more good to have you here?"

"I'll go up and see him," Elodie said quietly. She already had a feeling why Jarrod had fallen ill.

He'd been running himself ragged for weeks-taking on every worry, big and small, shouldering all the responsibilities, and then her illness on top of it all. She'd noticed before that he hadn't really rested.

Cara brightened. "Wait just a second, ma'am. I made some soup. Could you take

it up for him? He needs something warm if he's going to get better."

glanced up the staircase

bowl and walked

the nursery, Elodie's steps slowed

The door was open.

but notice the

the crib, and baby

the unmistakable style for a little girl.

Elodie's heart clenched.

learned she was pregnant, she'd dreamed of moments like this-being able

Now...

get all this?"

her voice soft with emotion. "It was just last week, I think, that noticed. Mr. Silverstein asked me to keep the room clean everyday. Looks like he's

moments-how gentle and careful he'd been, unwrapping and washing each tiny item, hope for the future

Silverstein could

thought, was

these little things, he'd been quietly preparing for a girl. It had been a long time since she lost