Capítulo 7: A loveless marriage

By the time Andrew left, it was already 10:00 PM. After seeing him off, Michael and George came inside.

"This boy is still so humble and kind," Michael remarked.

"Now that he is a grown man, don't you think he resembles Frederick a lot?" Reeta asked.

"Yes he does. The more I looked at him tonight, I missed Fred a lot," Michael sighed.

Frederick and Michael were high school best friends. The sudden demise of his only dearest friend was a shock for him too.

Placing her hand on his shoulder, Reeta tried to console him. "I am sure both of them are in a better place."

"They would be so proud of Andrew if they were here. That boy has managed to achieve so many things at such a young age, it's quite incredible." Pausing for a while, Michael added, "And you know the best part, Andrew is looking for a wife."

"A wife? Really?" George asked.

"Yes, Andrew's paternal grandmother is very sick. The doctors have said she doesn't have much time left. It seems like her last wish is to see Andrew happily settled down with a wife."

"I didn't know that—so if he is looking for a girl then that means he is single, right?" When Michael nodded, Reeta remarked, "It's hard to believe a man like him is still single."

"What do you mean mom? I am also single," George frowned.

"You are single because you are picky," Reeta snapped. "You have rejected all the potential marriage proposals because you didn't like the girl's nose or her eyes. Sometimes the head is too big and sometimes the forehead is too small."

Shrugging, George defended himself. "What am I supposed to do if you keep setting me up with women with large heads or weird looking noses?"

"Yes, this is why I have stopped setting you up. So either you find a woman for yourself or die single." Reeta had arranged multiple dates for her son to help him find a wife and finally settled down. But when George kept rejecting everyone over silly reasons, she stopped trying and decided to leave things to fate and God.

"I just hope that kid finds a good wife and leads a happy life." Looking at Rachael, he asked, "What do you think honey?"

"Okay, I know what you are trying to do dad," Rachael frowned. "It's not gonna work."

"Why not?"

"Because it's insane. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was when you suddenly fixed an outing for us?" she sighed. "He could not even reject it because you were so persistent."

"How do you even know he wasn't interested? And how is it insane?" Michael shrugged. "A capable handsome young man is trying to find a wife and I happen to have a beautiful talented single daughter.. How is it insane if I want my daughter to marry him?"

"Marry?"

"Yes, I want you and Andrew to get married," Michael stated.

Before Rachael could retort, George jumped for her rescue. "Dad, don't you think it's too much? How can you ask her to just marry anyone?"

"Andrew is not anyone, he is like family. He used to hand out with you guys, especially with Rachael all the time—"

"Rachael was ten at that time and now she is twenty seven. Many things have changed since then. You have to consider all the other factors as well." It's not like George thought Andrew wasn't good enough for his sister. But his sister being forced into a loveless marriage for the rest of her life was the last thing he wanted.

"What factors? What makes you think I am suggesting this without considering everything?" Michael snapped.

"Alright, it's very late to have this conversation. We all should go to bed." Reeta stopped them before the heated conversation could set off.

…..

[NEXT DAY]

"So uncle Michael wants you to marry the handsome hunk?"

"Yes." Holding a black and red dress on either of her hands, Rachael asked, "Which one looks better?"

Sitting up straight, Tina frowned, "Wait a minute, Andrew is looking for a wife and uncle Michael wants you to be his wife but you don't want that. But you are also going on a date with him today?"

Checking the dresses out in the mirror, Rachael answered, "It's not a date." When both Emma and Tina scoffed, she started defending herself. "It's really not a date."

"Okay—" Emma placed her hand on Rachael's shoulders. "Is he picking you up?"

"Yes."

"Will you guys have lunch later?"

"Maybe—I don't know."

"Are you trying to look nice?" Before she could answer, Emma snapped, "Don't even try to deny it because I know you are."

Slapping her hand away, Rachael snorted, "Will you stop overthinking? It's nothing like you are making it sound. You both are insane just like my father."

"Seriously Rach, I don't see a problem here. He is single, you are single—"

"And this is the kind of guy your family will never reject or object to," Tina added.

"And since Andrew is uncle Michael approved, I don't think he will turn out to be a jerk like—" Stopping midway, Emma sighed, "The bottom line is, you should give him a shot."

Just then someone knocked at the door. "Can I come in?"

"Dad, you don't have to ask."

"Well, I don't want to interrupt the young ladies." Looking at the dresses Rachael was holding, Michael said, "Go with the black one."

"I was about to choose that, you look sexy in black," Tina remarked.

"Honey, can I talk to you for a second?" Michael asked.

…..