How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

He couldn't bring himself to wake Elodie. Instead, he gently draped another blanket over her and drove smoothly back to their place.

They'd actually been living at his family's old house for a while now.

It was all because of Nadia. His grandmother absolutely refused to let him take care of Nadia alone-she doted on the little girl too much to allow it.

In the end, he'd relented.

Besides, Nadia seemed to have taken an unexpected liking to Octavia. Octavia, who used to spend all her time out and about, now came home every day just to play with Nadia.

But with the wedding tomorrow, the old house was hectic-too many details, too much noise. Elodie was exhausted. So he decided to return to their own home for the night, letting her get a good night's rest before everything began.

When they arrived, Elodie was still asleep.

Jarrod got out, circled around to her side, opened the car door, and carefully lifted her out, tucking her arm around his neck.

She stirred, her eyelids fluttering open for a moment.

He met her gaze. "It's alright. We're home. Go back to sleep."

With a soft sigh, she nestled closer and drifted off again.

He carried her upstairs.

the heavy coat from her shoulders, moving with practiced tenderness. He supported her head, making

edge of the bed for a while, watching her

she'd been run ragged lately. Every time he called her for a video chat, she'd be tapping away at code late into the night. These past few weeks had been

might have called the

comforter around Elodie once more, then

morning, Elodie was woken by her phone

and no-nonsense. "It's time.

already here. Get up so we can

jolted upright as the realization hit her-today was the day. A quick glance at the

in this late on their wedding

at the man next to her, who was still sleepily curled around her. Jarrod lifted his head, meeting her gaze with a

felt half-asleep, but there was no

was.

had guests to greet and a

bed, hurrying to the

find out I overslept on my wedding day, I'll never hear

"Just blame it on me. Tell them I

him a glare,

tidied the room a bit, checked the time on his phone, and, satisfied

and got herself together, it was already

buzzing with activity. More than a dozen people