How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Esmeralda's birthday had arrived.

It was today, in fact, but she was swamped with work and would have to get through it before making any evening plans.

She nodded absently, her gaze flickering with a trace of hope, as if she was waiting for something.

Suddenly, Elodie seemed to remember and arched an eyebrow. "Ah, that's right— your fiancé's back in town. Got anything planned with him?"

Esmeralda's shoulders slumped as she shook her head, crestfallen. "He hasn't even called. I'm not sure he remembers."

Before Fleming went abroad, he always made time for her on her birthday.

Elodie ruffled Esmeralda's hair. "He'll remember. He's back now, and even if he forgets, you can always remind him. Just tell him you want to spend the day together."

Esmeralda's eyes lit up as if a cloud had lifted. "You're right! And it's Sunday, so he's got to be free."

Seeing her friend's smile, Elodie couldn't help but grin too.

"Is everyone here?" Elodie asked as they walked down the hall.

Esmeralda shook her head. "Not yet, but Alex is inside, chatting with a few of them already."

from the base would show up today-they'd be working together a lot

headed up to the third

there, all of them well-dressed and striking in appearance. Two of them, Elodie recognized immediately-they were special ops pilots who'd transferred

shot a quick and critical look

she was doing. Satisfied she was

Greetings were exchanged.

called out

Traffic

the room, Elodie felt Esmeralda freeze at her side, gripping her arm even

hitched, nerves written all over her

first to crack a joke or stir up

took a surreptitious deep breath, forced her most

was standing there, her

the threshold, and beside him was a tall, slender woman with

exactly striking, but she had an effortless grace and carried herself

who she was:

around the room. "This is my sister, Lucy. Hope nobody minds if she joins

wasn't strictly official, so there was no need for