Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Your grandma—what happened?" Rachael wanted to ask him about grandma Collins' condition as soon as they left the hospital but she didn't.

"A few months back, the doctors found a tumor in her brain. When they investigated, it was malignant." Taping his fingers on the cup, he further explained, "It is already in the end stage so there is nothing they can do and since she is very old and weak, chemo and radiation therapy will deteriorate her health more. They said she would live longer if they opted for symptomatic treatment."

"I am so sorry." She placed her hand on his arm to comfort him.

"I just wish I was around more often to take care of her." Andrew partly blamed himself for her condition. Maybe things would have been different if he was more attentive towards her.

"It's not your fault," she remarked. "You know dad always says that there are certain things which you can't avoid or control no matter how hard you try. Some things are just meant to happen."

"I guess." He shrugged. "Anyway, how have you been?"

"Well, last year wasn't easy but I survived," she chuckled. "All thanks to my friends and family. I don't know what I would have done without them."

"You are lucky that you have a loving family. Some people aren't that lucky." Taking a sip of his coffee, he asked, "Did uncle Michael talk to you about something?"

Gulping in nervousness, she tightened her grip around the cup. Did her dad talk to him about their marriage too?

"I take that silence as a yes." When she still did not say anything, he assured her. "Don't worry, I'll tell him I am not interested."

Though Rachael was against their arranged marriage his assurance made her frown. Since her father is so determined to get them married, wouldn't things be easy for her if the proposal was rejected by him and not her? Then why was she feeling disappointed when he said he wasn't interested?

"Are you really not interested?" She bit her tongue and cursed herself for asking such an impulsive question.

"Why? Do you want me to be interested?" he teasingly questioned her.

"No—" she shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

"When uncle Michael was talking about us, he sounded very determined and excited. He will definitely keep pestering you if you are the one to reject his offer. I think it will be better if I do it," he explained. "And most importantly, I know you are not in that place right now."

"And neither are you—" When he slowly nodded, she sighed. "It's just a little weird, you know. I don't know why dad is so determined. He really acts very reckless at times."

"I think he is just worried about you."

Rachael agreed. "He is always worried about me, especially after what happened last year." The incident of her being abandoned on her wedding day was a very hot topic back then. Everyone knew about it so she assumed Andrew wasn't an exception.

Talking about that incident did not make her sad anymore though it still disappointed her, it was easy to shrug the feeling off.

Without waiting for his reply, she asked him about the plans he had to deal with grandma Collins' situation. "How will you tell grandma Collins about it? I mean, she still thinks you and I—"

Pinching the space between his brows, he sighed, "I'll just tell her things didn't work out between us."

"She wants you to get married, right?" When he nodded, she asked, "What will you do about that?"

"I'll think of something. If nothing works and I am left with no other choice, I'll just marry someone."

….