Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

A few minutes later, Andrew came back after talking to the doctor. Seeing his grandma enthusiastically talking to Rachael warmed as well as pinched his heart. He didn't want to lie to her but he also didn't wish to break her heart and disappoint her when she was on the brink of death.

After his parents death, Grandma Collins was the only person he treasured. Even after he had to move to Russia with his maternal family, he always stayed in touch with her. Though he hadn't spent much time with her, she was very close to his heart and the thought of losing her made him feel anxious.

"There he is—we were just talking about you," grandma Collins smiled. "Come, sit beside me."

Sitting beside her, he kissed the back of her. "Are you eating well?"

"The hospital food is very bland and not to my liking."

"But you have to eat it grandma, you can't be so picky," he chided.

Grandma Collins sighed. "Can't I just eat homemade food?"

"Okay, I will ask aunt Rosie to send food over—"

Interrupting him, she frowned, "No—I don't like her cooking. I would rather eat the bland hospital food."

"I can send over some homemade meals for you if you want," Rachael remarked.

"You can cook?" When she nodded, grandma Collins beamed, "That would be lovely, only if it's not too troublesome."

"Of course not."

"Then I will wait for your meals everyday."

…..

[Parking lot]

After spending some time with grandma Collins, Andrew and Rachael left. They promised to visit her again.

While they were walking towards the space his car was parked in, Andrew said, "You really don't have to do it. I will ask someone else to deliver the food—"

"That's alright, you don't have to ask someone else. Just get me her diet chart so that I can prepare the meals accordingly, okay?" Since she had promised grandma that she would cook for her, it wouldn't be nice if she didn't do it.

Hesitating for a while, he apologized to her. "I am sorry for what happened earlier. She kept pestering me to go on dates so I told her that I already had a girlfriend. Today when she saw you, she thought you were the one. I couldn't even deny because she was so excited, it was just—"

"I understand. I didn't mind so you don't have to apologize. If I was in your place, I would have done the same thing too." Rachael understood the seriousness of the situation very well. In the current situation, it wouldn't be nice to disappoint grandma.

When they reached near his car, Andrew asked, "Do you really want to go to the museum?"

"I thought you wanted to see the museum."

"Shall we go somewhere else?"

"Oh yes please," she sighed. "Anywhere but a museum." Rachael was not interested in spending hours touring the museum. But since her father wanted her to accompany Andrew, she had agreed.

Opening the car door for her, he said, "Let's go then."

…..

[Outskirts]

It had been thirty minutes since they were driving and Rachael had no idea where they were going.

Rolling down the window, she looked at the sky which was now covered with grey clouds. "I think it's going to rain."

"Hmm—the weather here is still unpredictable," he sighed.

"I think that is what makes it beautiful. Unexpected rain is not that bad, don't you think?"

"Do you like rain?"

"Uh huh, don't you?" she asked.

"It's tolerable." Andrew wasn't a fan of rain. He believed that people romanticized rainy weather for no good reason.

"So you don't like it," she chuckled. "Don't you feel like just staying in your bed, drinking coffee in a weather like this? It's so cozy."

"Well, I like coffee," he remarked.

Rachael rolled the window up when it started pouring. "Should we stop somewhere?" The rain was quite heavy, so it wasn't safe to drive.

"If I remember correctly, there is a café nearby." After driving approximately 700 meters, they found the café.

Parking the car somewhere nearby, both of them ran towards the café through the heavy rain.

The café however was crowded with people.

"Should we wait outside until someone leaves?" Andrew asked as he couldn't find any empty seats.

Pointing towards the empty bench outside the café, Rachael suggested, "Or we can get some coffee and enjoy it there."

Andrew agreed and asked her to sit there while he got coffee for them.

….

After almost ten minutes, he came back. Sitting next to her, he asked to hold the cups. He then took off his coat and placed it over her shoulder.

The sudden gesture startled her but it also warmed her heart. Due to the sudden temperature drop, she was feeling cold. Since she did not bring her coat, she was all ready to endure it.

Did he notice that she was cold? Rachael never expected him to be so observant.

He then took his coffee from her hand. "I heard people talking inside, they were saying the coffee here is quite good."

"Well that explains the crowd." She took a sip of the coffee and sighed in satisfaction, "This feels so nice."

The satisfied look on her face made Andrew smile. It made him feel warm and satisfied too.

…..