Cole noticed his father Leo’s loneliness. Determined to find his widowed dad a wife, Cole tests potential matches with a simple proposal. Most fail. But at a charity gala, fate steps in…

Since Mom had passed, Dad had been lonely. So, I took matters into my own hands — proposing to women on his behalf with my bottle cap ring.

Most laughed. Some asked what made him special. I told them — he was kind, funny, and always kept his promises.

Then came the dealbreaker: “And what does your dad do?”

“HE’S A DRIVER.”

That’s when their smiles faded.

One redhead scoffed, rolled her eyes at his picture, and sneered, “Driver, huh?! Not good enough for me.”

Then she walked away. But that charity night he took me to changed everything.

Dad was finally talking to someone. I smiled — until my stomach dropped. HER. That REDHEAD.

No. No way.

I stormed over and grabbed Dad’s sleeve. “Dad, stop. She’s not the one.”

HER: “Excuse me?”

ME: “Forgot me? I proposed earlier.”

Her face stiffened. “You little brat.”

I bet she regretted it a lot. Yes, he was rich. That’s why I tested them all.

Before Dad could react, I said, “I know who you should be with.”

Then, I pointed.

My dad followed my gaze, and he froze. His grip on my hand tightened.

Confusion. Sh0ck. Something deeper, too.

“Dad?” I frowned, confused.

Then, she turned. Her eyes landed on my dad and widened.

And she laughed. Warmly, like my mother had always laughed.

“Wait! You’re the young man who’s been advertising your dad?” she teased, shaking her head in amusement. “All the ladies are waiting to be approached by you.”

“It’s… you.”, My dad said.

I had never seen my dad look like that, like his entire world had just shifted.

It turns out that there had been a lot more to my dad and the woman.

“I knew Billie years ago, Cole,” he explained.

Back then, they had been inseparable. They had plans, dreams, and promises. But life had other ideas.

Billie’s father thought that my Dad wasn’t good enough, too simple, too ordinary. As a result, they had been forced apart.

Now, Billie was at the charity gala since she was a long-time donor, working with at-risk kids, helping them transition out of the foster system. She did a lot of their admin, too. The same kids that my dad’s company helps.

“I never thought I’d see you again, Billie,” my dad said.

“And yet, somehow, here we are,” she said, smiling a little.

She seemed sad. And hopeful, too.

“It’s been decades, Leo,” she said. “I knew that someone named ‘Leo’ was helping the kids, but I didn’t expect it to be you. Until tonight.”

“Well, I guess my job here is done,” I said.

“Where are you going? There’s still a few speeches left before we can leave, son.”

“I’ll be at the snack table,” I said. “I heard that the crab cakes are pretty good.”

That night wasn’t just a reunion.

And for the first time in a long, long time, I saw my dad truly happy.

Later, while Dad and I were getting some ice cream before heading home, he turned to me and smiled.

“I had no idea that you were trying to advertise me,” he laughed. “And proposing to people?”

“I just wanted to see who was out there,” I confessed. “But a lot of people turned away after hearing that you were a driver.”

“So, you didn’t tell them that I was the owner of a transportation company?” my dad chuckled.

“Well, you drive the vehicles!” I exclaimed. “That makes you a driver!”

“Mint choc chip or just plain chocolate ice cream?” he asked me.

“Mint, please. So, are you going to see Billie again?” I asked.

“Cole, relax,” he said, but he was smiling. “I’m going to see her, sure. But we do have a lot of history. And I did love her once. But your mother was the love of my life, so I need Billie to understand that before we even consider anything else.”

I nodded.

“I’m just happy that you’re thinking about it,” I said.