How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

She gazed at the small bedside lamp off to the side, her mind wandering

restlessly, picturing what her daughter might look like. Would she resemble her more, or would she take after Jarrod?

She'd heard people say daughters often look like their fathers.

The thought made her glance up at Jarrod's profile, quiet and composed in the dim light.

His features were striking-sharp yet harmonious, his nose high and elegant but not harsh, a single mole at the bridge giving him a hint of mystery. His eyelids were perfectly creased, and his lips, set against his pale skin, looked almost vividly red. Every detail of his face seemed carefully carved, refined to the last line.

She'd always known-there weren't many faces out there to rival Jarrod's.

If their daughter looked like him...

Well, there'd be nothing to complain about.

She must have stared too long. Her gaze lingered, almost unwittingly, on his lips for a few heartbeats.

Realizing it a moment too late, Elodie's spine stiffened. She averted her eyes quickly, feeling a warm flush creep up to her ears.

She shut her eyes, determined to clear her mind of all these tangled thoughts.

The second her eyelids closed, Jarrod glanced over, catching that awkward, flustered expression of hers for a split second.

silent, fleeting smile tugged at the

woke to find the other side

rubbed her eyes and sat up.

from the bathroom

shirt before the dressing mirror, checking her abdomen. The small incision had almost completely healed, though

to stay on her medication for a while-antibiotics, hormone supplements, all to prevent complications and balance her recovery. The full course would

dressed, she headed

already bustling about the

eyes crinkling. "Morning, Mrs. Silverstein. Did you

Elodie nodded. "Where's Jarrod?"

glanced at the clock-surprised to see it was already nine. She almost never slept in this

me not to wake you.

let it go, though a little

at the thought of seeing a photo of her daughter this morning. The anticipation

could think

at the

an important meeting today-a session with several pilots to

nove

at a private

to be