The doctors did keep Una in the hospital a couple more days just to make sure she was okay, but to Everett and Una it was already clear she'd recovered. She started feeling impatient to get out and start doing things again, though Everett suggested they maybe not try hiking in the snow anymore, at least not this year. Instead they discussed a trip to the skating rink for later in the winter. Everett stayed with Una in the hospital as much as he was able to, and they entertained themselves with the movies Una had brought.
The only thing worrying Una is when she decided she really should call her mother and let her know what happened, and her mother panicked over the phone. "She won't want me to go on winter vacations ever again after this!"
"Of course she will," Everett told her. "She wants you to be happy. She's just worried about you. I was, too," he added looking down, and he pulled Una into his arms again.
Una and Everett drove back home once she was released, and Una was pleased to see that all the snow outside didn't make her feel upset or scared, though for the moment she did prefer seeing it through the windows of Everett's nice warm car with their favourite showtunes softly playing and another thermos of hot chocolate between them. They reached Una's house, and the first thing she saw was her mother waiting by the doorway. No sooner had Una stepped out of the car than her mother ran towards her and threw her arms around her.
"Una! I was so worried when you told me... you could have died... What on earth were you doing out there without a proper coat?!"
"Mother, I'm fine!" protested Una, wriggling out of her mother's grasp slightly embarrassed. Actually this was a much better reaction than what she had been expecting....
"Everett." Una's mother pressed his hands warmly. "What can I say? That's twice you've brought Una back to me. I don't know what I'd do without you...."
"Mother..." Una shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably.
Mrs. Stratton beamed at Everett. "I think it's safe to say you're part of our family now."
Una and Everett turned to each other and exchanged small smiles. Everett turned back to Una's mother. "I feel that way too, Mrs. Stratton."
The End
The only thing worrying Una is when she decided she really should call her mother and let her know what happened, and her mother panicked over the phone. "She won't want me to go on winter vacations ever again after this!"
"Of course she will," Everett told her. "She wants you to be happy. She's just worried about you. I was, too," he added looking down, and he pulled Una into his arms again.
Una and Everett drove back home once she was released, and Una was pleased to see that all the snow outside didn't make her feel upset or scared, though for the moment she did prefer seeing it through the windows of Everett's nice warm car with their favourite showtunes softly playing and another thermos of hot chocolate between them. They reached Una's house, and the first thing she saw was her mother waiting by the doorway. No sooner had Una stepped out of the car than her mother ran towards her and threw her arms around her.
"Una! I was so worried when you told me... you could have died... What on earth were you doing out there without a proper coat?!"
"Mother, I'm fine!" protested Una, wriggling out of her mother's grasp slightly embarrassed. Actually this was a much better reaction than what she had been expecting....
"Everett." Una's mother pressed his hands warmly. "What can I say? That's twice you've brought Una back to me. I don't know what I'd do without you...."
"Mother..." Una shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably.
Mrs. Stratton beamed at Everett. "I think it's safe to say you're part of our family now."
Una and Everett turned to each other and exchanged small smiles. Everett turned back to Una's mother. "I feel that way too, Mrs. Stratton."
The End
Within a few days of the release of their album, Union, New Religion and the Radiant Terriers' collaboration became very popular. "Bittersweet" was released as a single, and it reached number two on the Modern Rock Charts, right behind "Inside of Us" by The Devil Wants Peace. The Radiant Terriers decided to stay with New Religion until the end on their tour. Leila said, "I'm glad things are going so well now. I hope things continue to go well when we tour." The next morning, the two bands began to prepare for their tour.