How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie couldn't help but look at him, puzzled.

Jarrod closed the door behind him and strode over without a word. He plucked the bag from her hands before she could react.

She reached out to snatch it back but was too slow. Frowning, she demanded, "Jarrod, what are you doing?"

Ignoring her irritation, Jarrod set the bag aside and took hold of her wrist. "Come with me. To the master bedroom."

Elodie's mind immediately jumped to a suspicious conclusion, and she shot him a wary look. "You're not thinking-"

She stopped herself, pressed her lips together, and said firmly, "I have to pack. Don't start with your nonsense. I'm not in the mood for distractions."

Especially not now.

He was still recovering, after all.

She certainly wasn't about to let him get away with anything reckless.

Only then did Jarrod pause. Amusement flickered in his eyes as he stepped closer, feigning innocence. “Nonsense? What's the problem? Is that not allowed between husband and wife?"

glare. "Are you trying to make your recovery take even longer? The doctor said you're

curve of his lips deepening, laughter lurking in his eyes.

wanted to help you pack. Does that count as 'strenuous activity' now?" Elodie

as if something had just occurred to him, his eyes widened in mock realization. "Wait, is that what you meant? Were you thinking I was talking about, you know... marital exercise? Ms. Thorne, what exactly is going on in that

be doing this on

arching slightly. He reached out and gently patted her on the head, as if trying to soothe her. "Maybe you should try to hold back a little, hmm?

you really can't help yourself, I guess I

Elodie: "..."

well he was teasing her, but there was no way to win against him—any protest would just make

practically fuming, desperate to

get the upper hand with

lips quirked as she tried to move past him, but he didn't let go of her hand.

toward

glare but

moved out of their marital home before, Elodie had only taken a few essentials, leaving nearly

always assumed Jarrod would have thrown her things out by now, but as she stepped inside, she saw everything neatly arranged, just as