EuropeNovelElodie glanced over, her eyes catching on something she wasn't meant to see.
As Jarrod helped his grandmother steady herself, Elodie's gaze landed, just for a moment, on his crisp white shirt collar-and there it was, a faint smudge of brownish lipstick.
She looked away immediately, heart skipping.
Before Jarrod and Sylvie got back from shopping together...
Had they been kissing? Or- Was it something more? No wonder Jarrod seemed to be in such a good mood- Turns out he'd just cback from a little romantic escapade.
"You two stand together-Elodie, link your arm with his." His grandmother's cheerful voice snapped Elodie out of her thoughts.
She didn't ask questions.
What good would it do? She'd only be humiliating herself.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBest to pretend she hadn't seen a thing.
When Elodie glanced up, she saw the old woman holding up her phone, beaming at the sight of the handspair. "Lettake a few photos. I'll send them to your great-aunt." Elodie hadn't expected her first photo with Jarrod to happen like this.
"Whatever makes you happy," Jarrod replied, not refusing, which took Elodie by surprise.
Then again, in the past, when she'd suggested a photo together, he'd never shown any interest. Now that his grandmother was asking, he had to go along with it.
As for linking arms with Jarrod...
Elodie stood still.
Jarrod shot her a thoughtful glance but didn't press the issue, checking his watch twice with an air of impatience. With a little huff of exasperation, his grandmother stepped forward and hooked Elodie's arm through Jarrod's. "There! That's better. Now both of you, smile!" Elodie could feel the solid muscle beneath her palm, but she looked calmly at the camera.
Neither of them smiled. Their expressions were cool, almost distant.
After a few failed attempts at coaxing a smile from them, the old woman gave up and just snapped away anyway.
She grew more delighted as she went, taking photo after photo until Jarrod finally dropped his arm.
Elodie let go as well.
His grandmother, still glowing with excitement, started chatting with her sister on her phone. "I've sent them to your great-aunt-and to you, Jarrod. Forward them to Elodie." Jarrod nodded and started up the stairs.
That's when his grandmother remembered, "Your great-aunt's grandson just had their second baby-there's a christening this weekend, and you two are invited." Elodie stayed silent, looking to Jarrod.
His grandmother and great-aunt had always been close, and even after the divorce, they'd stayed polite to her. Attending the celebration was the decent thing to do.
But whether they'd actually go- That was up to Jarrod.
He glanced back and replied lightly, "Sure. Send us the invitation." Since he'd agreed, Elodie had no reason to object.
As Jarrod headed upstairs, Elodie quickly followed.
Watching them, his grandmother smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. Three years of marriage wasn't it good for young couples to be close? Elodie stopped just outside Jarrod's study as he was about to go in.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Mr. Silverstein, could I have a moment?" He turned, catching the polite distance in her tone.
His lips curled, as though he found it amusing. "What is it?" "It's about my mother's gallery. I need a clear answer from you," Elodie said, standing in the doorway, skipping any pleasantries.
Jarrod could do as he pleased, but what happened between him and Sylvie-she would not allow it to reach her grandmother's ears. That was her bottom line. Jarrod loosened his tie, clearly noticing her tension about the matter. He narrowed his eyes, studying her.
Elodie braced herself for trouble, er fists. "Albthese silently clenching her fists.
years, I've never asked you for E anything. Just this once. Just-" "Did I ever say I wouldn't help?" His deep gaze held hers for a long moment. With one hand in his pocket, Jarrod answered at his own pace.
"...Really?" Elodie stared at him, momentarily stunned. ".
"She and her mother can choose a better location for the gallery Jarrod or said, glancing at his watch again, En: unhurried. Elodie was genuinely surprised he'd relented.
From her perspective, Selma was clearly making things difficult, and Sylvie would never budge. She'd expected Jarrod, as usual, to side with Sylvie, not her.
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