How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 16

Jarrod really did change rooms. Now, so early in the morning, he and Sylvie were coming and going together. There was no doubt they'd spent the whole night in the same room.

Elodie suddenly felt sick to her stomach.

She turned away from the two of them, slipped back into her room, and rushed to the bathroom, trying to throw up—anything, just to get rid of that nauseous feeling.

But nothing came up.

Her appetite had been terrible lately. Maybe things were even worse for her than she'd realized.

Elodie stared at her pale, hollow-eyed reflection in the mirror, a chill crawling up her spine.

People are so fragile, she thought.

At least she could be grateful she'd woken up before things became truly irreversible.

She still had time to become herself again.

With a determined breath, Elodie touched up her makeup, determined not to look so worn out.

She asked the innkeeper to arrange a car to take her back down the mountain. Just then, her grandmother called.

Her grandmother, Rosemary, was a stern, no-nonsense woman. With Elodie's grandfather gone early, Rosemary had poured all her energy into raising her children.

After Elodie's mother passed away, Rosemary grew even more quiet—except when it came to worrying about Elodie.

"Grandma?" Elodie cleared her throat before answering, making sure her voice betrayed nothing.

"Did you have breakfast?" Rosemary asked, her tone gentle for someone usually so serious.

Elodie felt a warmth bloom in her chest. "I'm eating now. Missing me already, Grandma?"

Rosemary chuckled softly. "It's nothing urgent. I just finished knitting two scarves for you and Jarrod. The weather's getting colder, and these will keep you warm. When can you come by to pick them up? Maybe stay for dinner—I'll make your favorite sweet and sour ribs."

Elodie looked down, guilt flickering in her eyes. "Grandma, you really don't have to go through all that trouble."

"It's different," Rosemary insisted. "I know life isn't easy for you, married into a family like his. There's not much I can do to help, so I do what I can. Be good to Jarrod, all right? If he has any conscience, he'll treat you well too, won't he?"

Elodie's eyes burned. She wiped the corner of her eyes with her fingertip. "He's just… been really busy lately, maybe—"