Ivan narrowed his eyes. "Well then, I''ll leave Elodie in your care, Mr. Silverstein."
Elodie frowned, uneasy. There was something strange about the way he said that.
Jarrod, on the other hand, showed no particr reaction. "Of course. It''s only right."
He looked every bit the picture ofposed dignity-so much so, it was impossible to tell whether he meant any of it.
Ivan hesitated, nced at Elodie once more, then turned and left-off to meet his girlfriend.
Elodie found herself caring about this third anniversary more than she expected. It was, after all, a true farewell. She didn''t need to stay up all night, but her thoughts had been restlesstely, and she actually felt steadier with her mother close by. Tonight, she nned to keep vigil at the memorial.
By the time she''d finished seeing Esmeralda off, dusk had settled.
What surprised her most was that Jarrod hadn''t left.
She sat quietly in front of the memorial altar, Jarrod at her side. When she looked
over, he met her gaze, his voice cool and even: "I''ll stay with you."
There was no warmth in his tone, but his actions spoke for themselves.
Elodie eyed him suspiciously. "I''m staying all night, you know."
"I know."
He nced at his watch, calm as ever. "Do you want me to go?"
A faint, unreadable smile tugged at his lips as he spoke, giving their exchange a strange tension.
Elodie was caught off guard. Was he... not nning to be with Sylvie tonight? Did he feel sorry for her, seeing how grief-stricken she was? Was he trying to spare her feelings?
Her face revealed nothing; she refused to let herself be moved. She didn''t understand his motives, so she simply turned away and said nothing more.
Near eight o''clock, Elodie stretched her stiff arms and legs. When she turned, she saw Jarrod still there, hunched over his iPad, brow furrowed, but steadfastly keeping herpany.
She knew he didn''t have to go this far-not anymore. The divorce meant he owed her nothing, and she wasn''t unreasonable. Truthfully, Jarrod felt more like a guest these days.
At the very least, she could be polite.
Elodie stood up and poured him a ss of water, setting it on the table beside him.
"You don''t have to stay all night," she said quietly, "but since you''re here, I''d like you toe with meter to talk to Grandma about... us." That was her real reason for letting him linger.
Jarrod''s gaze flicked to the water ss, but before he could respond, his phone rang.
Elodie nced at the screen out of habit.
Sylvie.
Jarrod met her eyes, made no attempt to hide the caller, and answered. "What''s up?"
Whatever he heard made his expression tighten. He stood up at once. "I''m on my way. Wait for me."
He ended the call and looked at Elodie. "Something''se up. I have to go."
He wasn''t asking; he was informing.
Elodie had already expected it. "Okay."
She met his gaze, her face calm, betraying neither sadness nor disappointment. Jarrod''s eyes narrowed briefly, then he nodded coolly and strode out without another word.
Elodie didn''t try to stop him. She wasn''t even curious about what could have called him away so suddenly-she already knew. If it was about Sylvie, no matter how big or small, it always came first. The fact that he''d stayed this long was already more than she expected.
As for his promise to keep herpany tonight-only to leave halfway through... Was she surprised?
Not at all.
She''d grown used to it.
Elodie turned and gazed at the photo of her mother, smiling gently from the altar. She stood there for a long while, then carefully wiped the frame clean before making her way to Rosemary''s bedroom.
Rosemary was still awake, sorting through Winifred''s old things. When she saw Elodiee in, she waved her over. "Where''s Jarrod?"
Elodie took a deep breath, moved to her grandmother''s side, and gently took her hand. "Grandma..."
"He won''t being anymore. Actually, we... we''re in the process of getting divorced."