Una might have been nervous about coming 집 after her fight with her mother, about what she would say to her mother and what her mother would say to her once they saw each other in person, about whether she would be able to pursue her dreams again 또는 if things would just go right back to how they were before. But it was just so hard to worry about anything when Everett was there beside her. He was so steady and reassuring, and there was just so much to talk about with him around. They talked 더 많이 about 영화 and about all sorts of other things, too. (It turned out they liked almost the same flavours of ice cream, but that their tastes in 피자 toppings wildly differed.) And at one point, she mentioned to Everett that she was a little nervous about talking to her mother, and he said, "No, she wants to listen to you. I could tell. 당신 both want each other to be happy; I know you'll work something out. And if 당신 want me to, I'll help you."
Una had to glance down at her lap because her cheeks heated up so much she was sure Everett would notice. Why did everything feel so much... easier when he was around??
It was just starting to get dark when Everett's car pulled into Una's driveway. Before Una could even get out of the car, she saw the curtains twitch and her mother's face peering through the window, then a few 초 later the door flew open. At the same time Everett got out of his side of the car and went around to open Una's door, which she had seen done in old 영화 and always half-hoped someone might do for her one day. 다음 thing she knew her mother had thrown her arms around her.
"Una! You're safe! Thank you," she added to Everett over Una's shoulder.
Una's cheeks heated for a rather different reason. "Mother, I'm fine...."
"It was my pleasure, ma'am," said Everett smoothly.
Una's mother finally let go of her. "Come in, both of you. Let me make 당신 some tea, Everett. I must thank 당신 for helping my daughter - and me," she added softly.
Everett smiled. "That would be lovely, Mrs. Stratton."
They all went inside and Una's mother went to the 부엌, 주방 to put the kettle on, leaving Everett and Una alone. Una sat down on their couch, and Everett took the 좌석 다음 to her, with a questioning, hopeful sort of smile. Una grinned and shifted so that she was closer to him. She could swear his smile widened.
"I hope 당신 don't mind my mother," Una said. "She's just a bit...."
"She's happy to have 당신 back," Everett finished for her. "And I don't blame her. And yes, I do like her."
Una flushed happily, but she refused to look away this time. Everett was directly beside her, so much so that she could have reached out and taken his hand if she'd wanted to. Her mother was moving around the kitchen, and she could hear the kettle whistling, and knew that soon her mother would come out and it would be time to discuss Una and what she was going to do with her life now that she wasn't trying to run away anymore. And somehow, she knew that with Everett helping her, it really would all be okay.
Una had to glance down at her lap because her cheeks heated up so much she was sure Everett would notice. Why did everything feel so much... easier when he was around??
It was just starting to get dark when Everett's car pulled into Una's driveway. Before Una could even get out of the car, she saw the curtains twitch and her mother's face peering through the window, then a few 초 later the door flew open. At the same time Everett got out of his side of the car and went around to open Una's door, which she had seen done in old 영화 and always half-hoped someone might do for her one day. 다음 thing she knew her mother had thrown her arms around her.
"Una! You're safe! Thank you," she added to Everett over Una's shoulder.
Una's cheeks heated for a rather different reason. "Mother, I'm fine...."
"It was my pleasure, ma'am," said Everett smoothly.
Una's mother finally let go of her. "Come in, both of you. Let me make 당신 some tea, Everett. I must thank 당신 for helping my daughter - and me," she added softly.
Everett smiled. "That would be lovely, Mrs. Stratton."
They all went inside and Una's mother went to the 부엌, 주방 to put the kettle on, leaving Everett and Una alone. Una sat down on their couch, and Everett took the 좌석 다음 to her, with a questioning, hopeful sort of smile. Una grinned and shifted so that she was closer to him. She could swear his smile widened.
"I hope 당신 don't mind my mother," Una said. "She's just a bit...."
"She's happy to have 당신 back," Everett finished for her. "And I don't blame her. And yes, I do like her."
Una flushed happily, but she refused to look away this time. Everett was directly beside her, so much so that she could have reached out and taken his hand if she'd wanted to. Her mother was moving around the kitchen, and she could hear the kettle whistling, and knew that soon her mother would come out and it would be time to discuss Una and what she was going to do with her life now that she wasn't trying to run away anymore. And somehow, she knew that with Everett helping her, it really would all be okay.
The 다음 day, Greeley accompanied Leila and her aunt and uncle on a ride to the nearest beach. Leila's uncle drove. Leila's dog, Paul, enjoyed looking out the window at the sights. When they stopped for lunch, Leila took Paul out on a leash to "do his business". A few people stopped Leila and asked her, "What kind of dog is that?" Most people didn't believe her when she told them that Paul is a purebred German Shepherd Dog. Leila didn't mind, though. She was aware that most people don't know that Shepherds can be blue, especially solid blue like Paul. Around 6:00 that evening, Leila, Greeley, Leila's aunt and uncle, and Paul arrived at the property. It was a nice 바닷가, 비치 house, and it was very pet friendly. They were all tired from their trip. After unpacking, they got 공식 만찬, 저녁 식사 and relaxed for the rest of the evening. A few hours later, they called it a night.
Leila and Greeley had just finished their first 년 of college. They were looking 앞으로 to the summer. Greeley asked, "What are 당신 going to do this summer, Leila?" She said, "I'm mostly going to relax and take it easy. What are 당신 going to do?" He said, "I think I'll do the same, but we should do some fun things this summer. After all, summer doesn't last forever." She said, "You're right. We should do some fun things together." He said, "I'd like that." Later, Leila texted Greeley and said, "My aunt and uncle and I are going to the 바닷가, 비치 this weekend. They said that I can bring one friend with me. I first asked Rita, but she can't come, because she's taking summer classes as well as taking on a summer job. Would 당신 like to come with us, Greeley?" He said, "I'd 사랑 to, Leila." She said, "Great!" He asked, "Is your dog, Paul, going too?" She said, "Of course he is." The two 프렌즈 were looking 앞으로 to their weekend getaway.
The first 일 of spring was approaching. Leila and Greeley were on Spring Break. Leila said, "It doesn't seem possible that we're going to be finished with our first 년 of college in less than two months." He said, "I know." She said, "It's also hard to believe that my dog, Paul, is not a 강아지 anymore. He's fully grown." Greeley said, "They grow up very quickly." She said, "They really do. I also can't believe that my birthday is coming up. It's the first 일 of spring this year, March 20. I'm going to be eighteen." Greeley said, "Happy Birthday." She said, "Thank you." Knowing that she had 프렌즈 that she didn't have to say "I thought we were friends" to gave Leila comfort. She also knew that she didn't have to have a romantic relationship to complete her. She has and supportive aunt and uncle and great friends. Because of that, she's not lonely at all.
THE END
THE END