Why Would a Handsome and Successful Guy Like Me Want to Get Married? – He Wondered. – When Will We Finally Have Grandchildren? – His Parents Asked

“Why would a handsome, successful chap like me want to get married?” thought Andrew. “When will we have grandchildren?” wondered his parents.

After dropping his friend home, Andrew returned to his flat in Reading.

He made himself an egg and ham fry-up. Sitting at the table, Andrew switched on his phone, which had been off through the night, and began scrolling through missed calls.

“Mum called,” Andrew muttered. “Shes bound to have a go at me for being so hopeless”

Hopeless, Andrew certainly wasnt. He had a decent job, a two-bedroom flat, and a carevidence to the contrary. It was just that at twenty-five, he remained unwed.

“Why should someone as good-looking and successful as me get married?” he mused.

“When will we ever see grandchildren?” pondered his parents.

Andrew dialled his mothers number.

“Hello, Mum! How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Im all right,” she replied.

“And Dad?”

“Him too. You ought to come visit. Youve got a caronly half an hours drivebut we hardly see you. Your fathers planning to sort out the veg patch, time to get the potatoes in.”

“Mum, I cant today. I promise, Ill come next weekend.”

“You keep promising youll bring your girlfriend round.”

“Mum, I swear, next weekendIll come with my girlfriend. Promise!” It just slipped out.

“Your fiancée?”

“Not yet, Mum.”

“Oh, Im so pleased for you, darling! See you next Saturday. Ill cook lots of your favourites!”

After speaking with his mum, Andrew was deep in thought.

“Why on earth did I say that? And who on earth am I going to take as my girlfriend? Rita? Perhaps. Ill sleep on it and ring her. She wont go for the countryside, but I could persuade her for a visit. Anyway, time for a nap”

Leaving the frying pan on the table, he headed for bed.

After a good sleep, Andrew remembered his promise to his mum and rang his friend.

“Hello, gorgeous!” he said when she answered.

“Hello, Andrew,” she replied coldly.

“Rita, did you not get much sleep? Ill pop round now.”

“Andrew, I think we need to stop seeing each other. My future plans have changed.”

“What plans?” Andrew felt his brow furrow.

“Im getting married.”

“Ill come round and talk to youand your fiancé”

The line went dead.

Annoyed, Andrew tossed his phone onto the sofa. Usually, he was the one to leave girls, but this time, hed been dumped.

He took himself to the bathroom, then made some coffee in the kitchen. He started thinking, “How am I supposed to find a girlfriend now? If I ring any of my recent dates, theyll think Im desperate.”

Before hed finished his coffee, his car alarm went off. He rushed to the window. Andrew always parked round the back, where it was quiet and he could keep an eye on the car, even at night. A man in his late forties or so was standing by his car, looking up at him.

“Whos that?” Andrew grumbled.

He threw on some trainers and dashed outside.

“Excuse me, what are you doing near my car?” Andrew demanded.

“Listen, mate,” the stranger said arrogantly. “If I see you anywhere near Rita again, youll regret it!”

“Get lost!” snapped Andrew.

Just then, a burlier bloke appeared out of nowhere.

Andrew tried to respond, but everything went black

“Andrew! Andrew!”

He came round to see a rather plain-looking young woman leaning over him. He had a vague feeling hed seen her before.

“Can you hear me? Dyou need an ambulance?” she asked.

“No, thanks. Ive got everything I need in my car,” he managed a smile. “Can you help?”

“YesIm a trained nurse.”

Andrew looked at her and suddenly rememberedshe lived in the next block and always smiled at him, but hed thought she was still at school. He tried to recall her name. The girl seemed to sense this.

“Im Alice. I live next door,” she said helpfully.

“Hop in, Alice,” he opened the back door. “First aid kits there.”

He sat up front while she patched him up.

“Nothing serious,” she reassured him.

“Thank you!”

Andrew caught her eyes in the mirror, uncertain, as if asking whether she should go now.

“Shall we grab a coffee? I missed breakfast altogether.”

“Dressed like this?” she glanced down at her T-shirt and joggers.

“Why not? Im in the same boat.”

“Id better not”

“All right,” Andrew smiled. “How about we get changed and meet properly?”

Half an hour later, she turned up in a simple dress and light makeup. Suddenly, Andrew fancied a walk instead of taking the car.

“Alice, fancy a stroll?”

“Lets,” she intertwined her arm with his.

All the way, Alice chatted away. They found themselves at a cosy café and took a seat. Andrew nudged the menu over.

“Get whatever you fancy, Alice.”

She eyed the prices more than the meals themselves. Realising she wasnt a regular at this kind of place, Andrew just waved at the waiter.

“Bring something nice for her, and a coffee.”

“And for you, sir?”

“Just coffee.”

“We have some lovely cakes.”

“Go on, then!”

After coffee and cake, they headed back and parted ways at her building.

The workweek flew by. On Friday, Andrew came home from the office.

“I did say Id bring a girl home tomorrow. What am I going to do?”

He put the kettle on to make tea and whipped up a couple of sandwiches, thinking about his parents.

“Ill just show up alone. Mumll be disappointed. There must be another way”

Suddenly, it hit him.

“What if I take Alice? Even though I havent seen her since Sunday. Ill say I was busy at work”

He quickly ate, shaved, changed into his best shirt, and headed out.

He knew which block Alice lived in, but there were fifteen flats, and all he remembered was her first name. He stood outside a while, scanning the windows, when suddenly the front door opened and out she flewstill in the familiar T-shirt and joggers.

She paused, unsure.

“Hello, Alice!”

“Hello, Andrew!” she beamed.

“I wanted to ask if youd like to go for a walk.”

“Im not dressed properly”

“Ill wait,” he grinned. “Half an hour enough?”

“Yes!” she ran back inside.

“Mum, whats going on?” her mother asked in surprise.

“Mum, Im heading out for a walk.”

“In such a rush?”

But Alice just darted from room to room. Her mum peeked out the window, then rushed to her.

“Youre going out with Andrew?”

“Yes.”

“Why bother with that heartthrob?”

“Mum, Im twenty,” Alice replied, trying to hide her smile.

“Youve seen the girls he goes out withmodels, all of them!”

“Mum! Dont fuss.”

Her mother tutted, but Alice was already in her own room. Alice knew the whole block would soon be talking, but she didnt care.

Everyone knew Andrew, and everyone knew her as being quiet. Now, the old gossips would have something new to add. But she didnt mind anymore.

She stepped outside, eyes straight ahead, sure her mum was watching. She reached out, took Andrews arm, and asked:

“Where are we off to?”

“Lets go to the park, maybe grab a coffee, and stand under the moon for a bit.”

They did just thatwalked, had coffee, and lingered under the moonlight. Then Alices mum rang.

“Alice, its one in the morning!”

“Coming, Mum!” she replied, blushing. “Andrew, I have to go.”

“Ill walk you home”

At her door, they hugged again. Then Andrew said, determinedlynot a question, but a statement:

“Tomorrow, youre coming to visit my parents with me.”

***

“William!” called his wife, spotting their sons car. “Andrews here!”

“Has he finally remembered us?”

“Hes brought a girl!” she exclaimed, hurrying outside.

Valerie rushed to her son, greeted him, but kept her eyes on his companion. She approached Alice.

“And you are, dear?”

“Alice,” Alice blushed.

“Im Auntie Valerie, pleased to meet you. Come in!”

“Thank you!”

Andrews father came out. He headed straight for Alice with a merry smile.

“So our boys finally brought home a lovely girl. Whats your name, beautiful?”

“Alice.”

“And Im Williamcall me Uncle Will.”

Alice was taken aback by such warmth. Shed imagined stiff, critical parents, but they were as down-to-earth as hers. In fact, they seemed happy she was just an ordinary girl.

After lunch, Andrew and his dad went to turn the vegetable patch. Alice said to Valerie:

“Auntie Valerie, shall I clear the table and do the washing up?”

“Lets do it together!” Valerie beamed.

Once the men had finished digging, they all planted potatoes together.

When it was done, Alice said with a hint of regret:

“I should be getting home, Mum will worry.”

“Nonsense,” Valerie smiled. “Well have supper and youll stay the night. Go home tomorrow.”

“Im not sure” Alice tried to resist, but her heart wasnt in it.

“Ring your mother, love,” said Valerie.

Alice called.

“Mum, can I stay here tonight?”

“Are you sure, Alice? You promised youd be home tonight”

Valerie stepped in, gently taking the phone.

“Hello, Pauline? Its Valerie, Andrews mum.”

“Hello!”

“Let Alice stay tonight, shes safe with usbig house and theyll be in separate rooms.”

“Im not sure what to say…”

“Youve raised a lovely girl”

They chatted for half an hour, sharing stories and laughter.

***

They didnt drive back to the city until late the next day. Valerie packed them up with food, turning mostly to Alice.

“This bags for Andrew, and these two are for you.”

“Auntie Valerie, its too much!”

“You townies eat nothing decent, no wonder youre so slim.”

Then Valerie pulled Andrew aside.

“Have you two got plans to get engaged?”

“Mum! We havent even talked about it!”

“Youd better, before someone else snaffles a good girl like that,” she wagged her finger. “Dont think you can bring home anyone else and get the same welcome!”

As soon as they left, Valerie grabbed her phone.

“Pauline, theyre on their way back. Ive sent some of our countryside treats with them.”

“Oh, Valerie, you shouldnt have”

“Nonsense! God willing, we might be family soon.”

“Youre funny!” But Paulines voice was approving.

“My sons twenty-fivehes got a flat, a car, what more could you want in a son-in-law? Though I wonder whats going on in Alices head.”

“In her head? Shes absolutely mad about him.”

“Well, then. If we adults dont guide them, who will?”

“Your Andrews a handsome lad”

“And your Alice is a treasure, always helping around the house and a great cook”

***

Driving home, Andrew wore a mysterious smile. Alice finally asked,

“Andrew, why are you grinning?”

“My parents liked you.”

“As if that’s such a big deal.”

“Mum told me not to let you slip away.”

“And you?”

“I wont!”

Their eyes metboth shining, filled with love.

Sometimes, happiness finds you when youre not looking for it, and the simplest acts of kindness can lead to the brightest joys. In opening their hearts to another, Andrew and Alice discovered that what matters most is not how things look to others, but the warmth found in honest connection, family, and love.