Michael chortled at Emma's comment. "That was a good one."
Emma smiled at George who was still trying to figure out what she had just said. "It's okay, try harder," she commented before resuming reading the magazine.
After almost five minutes, he snapped, "I am not unattractive."
"I never called you unattractive, did I? But if it fits your shoes then—" Emma shrugged.
"You—" he gritted his teeth and was about to snap at her again when Rachael and Andrew arrived.
"There you are, we were waiting for you," Michael remarked.
"We got stuck in traffic—" Looking at everyone, Rachael nervously chuckled, "Looks like everyone is here."
"You told us to gather here, didn't you?" When she did not say anything, Emma inquired, "Rach, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
Without saying anything, Rachael nudged Andrew and looked at him. It was his turn to speak now.
Awkwardly clearing his throat, Andrew hesitated for a while before making the big announcement. "We have something to tell everyone. And I can't think of any other way to say this—Rachael and I, we got married."
"What?" Everyone got up and shouted in unison.
"You both got married?" George yelled. "Please tell me this is some kind of a joke—" He was definitely not okay with the fact that his little sister had married someone behind his back.
"Oh dear—" Rachael muttered before hiding behind Andrew.
"It isn't Rachael's fault," Andrew stepped in and defended his wife.
"So you're telling me, it is your fault? You forced my sister to marry you." George was mad.
"He didn't force me and it's not his fault either. It was a mutual decision," Rachael stated. How could she let Andrew take all the responsibility by himself when she was equally a part of it?
"Rachael—"
"Wait—" Michael stopped George. "Let me handle this."
When Michael approached them, Rachael nudged Andrew's back and whispered, "Do something."
Andrew frowned and gave her a 'What more do you want me to do?' look. He had already told them the truth and reality, what else could he do?
Michael stopped in front of them and looked at his daughter who was trying to hide behind Andrew. "Rachael Watson, step forward."
She gulped in nervousness. Her father never called her by her full name unless he was very serious or mad. Left with no other choice, she stepped forward and stood beside Andrew.
Staring at both of them simultaneously for a while, Michael asked, "So you both got married?" When they nodded, he stated, "I need to see some proof."
Rachael quickly took out their marriage certificate from her bag and gave it to him.
When George saw the certificate from afar, he quickly rushed towards them. "Let me see it—" He took the certificate from his fathers hand and as he read what was written line by line, the wrinkles on his forehead kept getting deeper.
"Oh my God it is true," Emma exclaimed. "You both really got married."
Taking the certificate from George's hand, Reeta examined it properly before approaching the couple. "You both do realize that marriage is a very serious thing and not a joke, right?"
"Your mom is right, I hope you both are taking this situation very seriously," Michael remarked.
"I understand why you are feeling this way and we are sorry for not telling anyone of you beforehand." The apology was very much needed. The impulsive decision of getting married without telling anyone, especially Rachael's family, was not very ideal. Andrew knew it was their fault.
"Marriage is a very sacred thing and I can assure you that it's not a joke for me. I am very well aware of the changes and responsibilities this marriage will bring in my life. I am willing to embrace everything this marriage has to offer me and I am willing to offer everything I have and can." The circumstances they got married in didn't matter to him. What mattered was that they were already married and he would give his best to make it work irrespective of the outcome.
Pausing for a while, Andrew added, "I know Rachael and I don't know each other that well. In fact, we just met each other again and went out once. I won't lie to you and say that we love each other and will always stay happy. Like all married couples, we will have our ups and downs too. But I can assure you that I will always try my best to keep her happy. Maybe there is no love in our relationship now but there is respect and understanding. I respect Rachael a lot and that will never change."
Andrew believed that for a relationship to work, respecting and understanding each other was more important than love.
…..