How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue novel Chapter 79

As soon as Elodie left, Maurice noticed immediately. "Why did she just leave like that?"

Jarrod glanced in her direction, spotting the untouched plate of food.

"Wow, some people really don't know how to appreciate kindness," Maurice said, shaking his head with a bored sigh. "She acts like she's doing us a favor just by being here."

Sylvie, however, kept quiet.

Of course she understood what was going on in Elodie's mind.

It was just pride—feeling slighted, thinking Jarrod was playing favorites. She was upset, and her wounded ego wouldn't let her stay any longer.

Sylvie glanced at Jarrod.

He'd already turned away, clearly not giving it a second thought.

She curled her lips into a faint smile. "When we're done eating, will you come for a walk with me?"

Jarrod nodded. "Sure."

_

It was Elodie's first time in Fairview Crossing, though her mother had gone to college here. On a whim, she decided to visit her mom's old campus.

She'd made a reservation ahead of time, so once she got through the gates, she wandered for a while.

Fairview University was one of the country's top art schools; her mother had studied oil painting here. Back in her day, she'd been the top student on the national entrance exam, and one of her paintings still hung in the university's gallery.

Elodie found the painting and stood before it for a long time.

Her mother used to say there were meant to be two companion pieces. Fairview University displayed one, but the other had gone missing years ago and was never found.

Her grandmother once told her that, even near the end, her mother was still thinking about that lost painting.

Elodie thought, maybe if she could find it, her mother's spirit would be at peace.

She stared at her mother's work, lingering on the signature at the bottom—Winifred Thorne.

Her heart felt hollow, and all the longing she'd been bottling up came crashing down at once.

All the grievances she'd swallowed lately rose up too, making her nose sting and her eyes blur with tears.

But her mother was gone.

There was no one left to confide in now.

She brushed the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, then slowly turned to leave.

Winters in Fairview Crossing were damp and rainy. The sky was already heavy with clouds, and she guessed it'd start raining soon, so she quickened her pace toward the exit, calling for a ride as she walked.

The moment she reached the gate, rain began to fall in thin, misty sheets.