Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

290  The Good News n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 [In the Kitchen] When Juliana stepped into the kitchen with a vase on her hand, ready to bang it on anyone she bumped into, she widened her eyes in shock when she saw Owen. "You—" "Do you think that vase is going to protect you?" Owen said as he continued chopping the veggies he was planning on putting on the soap he was preparing for her. "I wasn't—" She quickly placed the vase down. "When did you come?" She wasn't expecting him to see him anytime soon. "When you were sleeping on my couch like a pig." He looked at her. "You were drooling too." Juliana touched the corner of her mouth and awkwardly cleared her throat. "I wasn't drooling." Owen smirked. "Go freshen up, your breakfast is almost ready." Without saying anything, she did what he asked her to which he found very weird and suspicious. "Drop it." When she stopped and looked at him, he added, "Drop whatever is going on in that head of yours, throw it out of the window right now." "Excuse me?" Juliana frowned not understanding he was implying to. When Desmond did not say anything, she asked again. "Are you going to tell me or not?" "All I am saying is that if you are thinking of taking up the job your so-called friend offered, you shouldn't." "And why is that?" She crossed her arms in the front. She couldn't understand what his problem was with her taking the job she was offered. "Because I am your current employer and I refuse to let you go," he stated. "And don't forget about the contract you have already signed." "But—" "No ifs and buts, go freshen up and come for breakfast," Owen interrupted her. He was very annoyed with Juliana trying so hard to leave his employment and join somewhere else.

Was he not paying her enough? Whatever he was doing for her was ten times better than what she used to do a few weeks back. Not to forget that he had already covered all of her brother's medical expenses. What else did she want? Not left with any other choice, Juliana left the kitchen to do what she was asked to. It had already been over an hour since they arrived at the hospital. While Kate and Daniel were off for their first ultrasound, Andrew and Rachael were waiting for the blood report that would confirm the pregnancy. Rachael had her arms wrapped around Andrew's while she rested her head on his shoulder. "Tired?" He asked, pressing his lips on the top of her head. "A little." She was feeling more mentally exhausted than physical exhaustion. The whole pregnancy thing was erupting newfound feelings in her heart which was quite overwhelming. "We will be home soon." He gently caressed the back of her hand. "What if—" She looked at him. "What if the result is not what we think? What if I am not pregnant?" Rachael's heart clenched at the thought of the pregnancy test they were waiting for coming back negative. Though she was scared, she was also excited for the arrival of their baby. "Then after the appointment, we go to your favourite dessert place, get whatever you want. And when you feel better, we make love until we are exhausted and fall asleep in each other's arms." When she smiled, Andrew added, "Rach, though I am excited for the baby and I want us to have one someday, I want you to always remember that nothing is more important to me than you and your happiness." "Babies?" He scoffed. "We can make fifty of them if we want but you—" He cupped her cheeks. "I will never find someone like you ever again." Rachael looked at him with teary eyes. "Why are you so sweet to me?" "You are my wife, you deserve all my sweetness." "Mr and Mrs. Collins—" The nurse called them. "The doctor is ready to see you now." …..

[Watson Mansion] "Will you stop?" Reeta snapped at her husband. "You are making me dizzy." "What is taking so long?" He glanced at his watch for the 100th time in the last 60 minutes. "Relax dad, they will be here soon," George tried to calm his father down. Rachael and Andrew had called the family almost an hour ago informing them about their sudden visit and had asked everyone to be present as they had something to share. Since the phone call, Michael had been restlessly pacing back and forth the living room, growing impatient with every passing minute.

"George, stop—" Reeta groaned again. "They will be here soon." "Dad, you need to relax."

Not listening to the mother and son duo, Michael kept waiting for them anxiously. He just felt there was something different about the sudden visit which made him even more anxious. ...

[Outside] "Are you sure it's alright for us to come now?" Kate asked for the second time.

After the doctor's appointment, Rachael and Andrew decided to visit her parents to share the good news. Yes, they were indeed pregnant. She was very early in her pregnancy and their first ultrasound was scheduled three weeks from now. Andrew and Rachael even brought Kate and Daniel over with them. Rachael wanted Kate to meet her parents. "Kate is right, we can always drop by next time," Daniel added. They were going to share such an important event of their life with their loved ones, they didn't want to intrude on it.

"Why are you two being so formal?" Rachael wrapped her arms around Kates. "You are my family and I just want you to meet my family." She guided her inside the house. "You are going to love them, especially my mom." ...

As soon as Michael saw Rachael, he quickly approached her. "Are you okay? Is everything fine?" Without waiting for her answer, he turned towards Andrew and asked him the same question. "Are you okay? Is everything fine?" "Dad, are you okay?" Rachael placed her hand on his shoulder. ...

[Special Author's Note] Greetings to everyone, I hope everyone is doing well :) It's been a very long time but I hope you guys remember me. I know I have been inactive for more than a year now and I would like to apologise for my uninformed absence. There are so many things I want to share with you guys but there isn't much I can say right now. 2023 has been very tough for me and my family and one of the toughest phases was losing my father. I always thought I wasn't that close to him. We did share a nice conversation every now and then whenever I was home. But only after I lost him did I realise how important he is and how much impact he has in my life. My father's demise took a big toll not only on my physical health but more on my mental health. I lost interest in everything, especially writing which I absolutely loved doing. I decided to focus only on myself for sometime. I took some time off (which was longer than I expected) to make things somewhat normal.

So after months of grieving, I am finally at a state where I can share what I have been feeling for the past 12 months. Things are still tough but I am trying my best and will continue to do so.

And I hope I will be able to continue writing my stories without any interruptions starting today. I hope you guys will continue supporting me in the future as well. With Love <3

Sofia05

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