How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod glanced sideways at her. "Are you planning to suffocate yourself? Relax a little."

Elodie swallowed hard. "Who does your daughter take after? She's probably past the awkward phase now, right? I never learned how to hold a baby, Jarrod, my heart is about to jump out of my chest."

She started rambling, as she always did when nervous.

Jarrod watched her, then turned his head and covered his mouth, trying to hide a laugh.

"So if she isn't cute, you'll just send her back?"

Elodie shot him a glare. "What, you think this is like returning groceries at the supermarket?"

He just grinned, taking his time. "You must be out of your mind. With genes like ours—especially mine-how could my daughter not be adorable?"

She wanted to snap back, but words failed her.

He wasn't exactly wrong.

And so they bantered, back and forth, the whole way there.

Half an hour later, Elodie found herself in a secluded neighborhood of upscale villas. The area was deserted, and the roads were tricky to navigate.

wasn't sure if it was the cold or

arm around her,

another world-a place straight out of a science fiction movie, gleaming with high-tech equipment and bustling people. She couldn't

team in charge here. One of them looked from her to Jarrod. "Mr. Silverstein, please come

took Elodie's hand as they rode the elevator

And then-

vast, spotless room. At the far end, inside a special incubator, Elodie caught sight

over the months crystallized into reality in

child-right before

She barely registered Jarrod letting go of her as she drifted forward,

tiny

Her skin was pale, her eyelashes long and delicate. Even as an infant, her nose was perfectly shaped, her features striking

tiny-barely the length of Elodie's forearm-but clearly

on its own, pressing gently against the glass,

that single, overwhelming moment, tears broke free,

sense of connection-a bond deeper than words-rooted itself inside her, filling her

Tears kept falling, unstoppable.

girl she cared about so much, loved so fiercely, was safe

down so his eyes