Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

After finishing the phone call, Andrew took his seat beside Rachael. 

"Do you want anything to eat?" When she shook her head, he asked, "Aren't you hungry? There will be snacks on the plane too." 

Before she could say anything, he threw another question at her. "Do you want to eat something different for dinner? I will ask them to arrange it." 

"No it's okay." Rachael wrapped her hand around his arm and rested her head on shoulder. 

"Are you okay?" When she nodded, he kissed the top of her head. "Everything will be okay after we reach home. I have already booked an appointment with the best Gynaecologist in town. I will take you there as soon as we land, okay?" 

"When did you do that?" She looked at him, surprised. 

"Just now," he answered. "Who do you think I was talking to? I called the hospital to book an appointment for you and Kate. We will go there together." 

Rachael's eyes teared up. Here she was thinking he didn't care but he was already preparing for their first OBGYN visit. 

"Rach, what happened." Andrew gently cupped her cheeks and frowned. "Did something happen? Did Owen tell you anything?" Though he was talking over the phone, his eyes were still on Rachael. He had seen Owen come over and talk to her. 

She shook her head. "I thought you didn't—" She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face on his neck. 

He moved her to his lap and gently patted her back. "You were overthinking, weren't you?" 

Rachael did not say anything. She didn't have to say anything. Andrew knew her well. 

Neither of them said anything. She kept sobbing in his arms while he comforted her not with words but actions until it was time to board the plane. 

...

"Hey, is everything okay?" Daniel inquired. "I saw Rach crying." 

"She is fine now," Andrew answered. "I will talk to her after we reach home." 

"Did you manage to get the appointment?" 

He nodded. "Yes, we have to go there straight from the airport." 

"Okay, I will let Kate know." Daniel patted Andrew's back. "So how do you feel? You are going to be a dad soon." 

Andrew did not say anything but a weird sensation creeped in his heart. An overwhelming feeling which felt good and not so good at the same time. 

Noticing his conflicting expression, Daniel added, "Don't worry, you'll catch up with it very soon. When Kate was pregnant for the first time, I was lost for days. I didn't feel anything which was of course weird. But one day, it just hit me and it hit me so hard that I almost freaked out." 

He still clearly remembered how scared and excited he was. He was scared of the new responsibility that was slowly making his way towards him but at the same time he was excited to take up his new role as a father. He was excited to bring a new life into the world but he was scared of f*ucking up as a parent. 

"Will you believe me if I tell you that I am super freaked right now but I have to mask it well," he sighed. "If I freak out then Kate will freak out too and I don't want to unnecessarily make her feel that way." 

Keeping quiet for a while, Andrew asked Daniel, "It's going to be okay right?" 

"What?" 

"The pregnancy and Rachael," he added. "Everything is going to be okay, right?"

"Of course," Daniel assured him. "Everything is going to be okay. All you have to do is be with Rachael and take care of her." 

Andrew nodded. Of course he would be with her and take care of her. He would never leave her side. 

"Did you receive Riftan's message?" 

"I did." 

Daniel chuckled. "News spreads faster than fire there." It hadn't even been a full day since they learnt about the pregnancy and the news was already out. 

Both of them understood why Riftan had congratulated them. He wanted to warn them that the word is already out and that they had to be careful. 

"Let's talk about it after we reach home." 

...

[18 hours Later] 

[Elisberg City] 

As soon as the plane landed, Daniel and Andrew along with Kate and Rachael left for their appointment. 

Elsa and Justin went to pick Ben from Rachael's parents house while Ben straightaway drove to Tina's house, leaving Owen all by himself. 

...

[Owen's apartment] 

When Owen reached home, he was greeted with the exact scenario he had in mind. 

Juliana was sleeping on the couch with one leg hanging off the couch. Half of the thin quilt covering her body was on the ground while her hair was scattered all over her face. 

Owen tossed his suitcase in a corner and slowly approached her. 

He sat on the single couch and smiled as he listened to her soft snores. 

How could a woman look so sexy, beautiful and cute at the same time?

He sighed and helplessly shook his head. "Owen Volkov, you have gone crazy," he muttered to himself before walking towards the kitchen. 

…..

[Kitchen] 

When he entered the kitchen, he picked up a banana that was lying on the counter and devoured it. 

When he opened the trash to toss the peel, he frowned. The trash was stashed with empty instant cup noodle covers. 

Did the woman survive only on instant noodles? 

He then checked the fridge only to find it stocked with fresh groceries. 

He picked up a few things from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter, rolled his shelves and started cooking. 

…..

Juliana, who was fast asleep, woke up with a loud sound. She groggily opened her eyes and looked around. 

When she heard some noise from the kitchen, she quickly got up. Wasn't she supposed to be alone?

She then grabbed a vase from the nearby counter and slowly made his way towards the kitchen.

...