As time passed since Shadow's passing, Janis got something she had been waiting for, the results from Shadow and Juneau's DNA tests. The test kits arrived when everything was still all right. She didn't order one for Stevie, because Stevie's original owner had papers to prove she was a Staffordshire toro Terrier. He had to give her up, because he was moving to a place that didn't allow dogs. Again, that's another story. Where Shadow and Juneau were both rescues, Janis wasn't sure if they were purebred dogs. She read the results, and she learned that Shadow was a purebred Rottweiler. She also learned that Juneau was a purebred Siberian Husky. Janis later talked with her friends. She said, "I know that Shadow was a purebred Rottweiler. I figured that he was. He looked like one. He acted like one." Simon said, "Still, whether he was purebred or not, he was special to you." She said, "Of course he was! He was a wonderful dog. I'll never forget him." Kelsey asked, "Will you be getting a new dog?" Janis said, "I will get a new dog some day, but I want to grieve Shadow a little longer. I also want to give Stevie and Juneau madami time. One day, I'll go to a rescue center, find a dog that needs a home, and bring him or her tahanan with me." She smiled at the thought. Although the Aso she had Nawawala in the past few years were special to her, she knew that her susunod dog would be special in his or her own way. In the late spring, she went to a rescue center and found a red and white Siberian Husky puppy. His name was Aspen, which happens to be the name of a town in the state of Colorado. She introduced her new dog to Stevie and Juneau, and they got along very well. All was well once again.
THE END
THE END
A few hours later, Una and Everett were comfortably snuggled up together on the couch, sharing the last of Una's chocolates which lay in the open box between them, as the credits rolled on the movie.
"That was so good," murmured Una, her head resting on Everett's shoulder. "You know - I was looking pasulong to your plans, whatever they were going to be, but I was really hoping we'd be able to watch this."
Everett gave a small laugh and shook his head. "I wish I'd known. I could have saved myself all this trouble."
Una grinned. "This year, our Valentine's araw plans were on me," she said. "Next taon I expect it to be your turn."
Everett felt a warm rush at the thought of susunod year, that Una was so certain they would be celebrating Valentine's araw together susunod year. But then... of course, Everett though. He wouldn't have considered anything different.
"I pag-ibig you, Una," he said.
"I pag-ibig you too, Everett," she said.
"That was so good," murmured Una, her head resting on Everett's shoulder. "You know - I was looking pasulong to your plans, whatever they were going to be, but I was really hoping we'd be able to watch this."
Everett gave a small laugh and shook his head. "I wish I'd known. I could have saved myself all this trouble."
Una grinned. "This year, our Valentine's araw plans were on me," she said. "Next taon I expect it to be your turn."
Everett felt a warm rush at the thought of susunod year, that Una was so certain they would be celebrating Valentine's araw together susunod year. But then... of course, Everett though. He wouldn't have considered anything different.
"I pag-ibig you, Una," he said.
"I pag-ibig you too, Everett," she said.
