Finding Love

Chapter 22: Michel's Much Needed Explanation

The four of us gathered in the sitting room to hear what Michel had to say. Jack was leaning against the bookcase while Lisa had placed herself next to her son, concern evident on her face. I sat across from the 2 of them and the 3 of us looked at Michel expectantly.

"Why didn't you tell us Michel," Lisa asked in soft voice. He looked up and my throat seemed to close up as I noticed the stray tears that had escaped his eyes.

"I wasn't just worried you would reject me you know," he said glancing towards me before turning his attention to his mother.

"I thought you would give me away to him, its what you've been waiting for for so long haven't you, for my father to reappear again. I know I could refuse to live with him but, but I couldn't bear the thought of losing you," he said in a soft voice, glancing at his mother and then to his brother. Lisa had tears streaming down her face as she hugged her son tightly. Jack remained impassive and didn't move an inch from his position. Michel slowly got up and went to stand in front him.

"You actually thought we would let you go? You've lived in this house for almost as long as I have and you think we'd suddenly just kick you to the curb," asked Jack in a disbelieving tone.

"I, I'm sorry brother," Michel said before staring down at his feet. Jack stepped forward and hugged him hard, a few tears slipping down his face. Michel returned his hug and patted him roughly on the back before letting go.

"You're my brother and I would never, ever let you go, do you hear me," said Jack in a loud clear voice, his green eyes locked on to his brother's. For once, Michel seemed like the younger one of the two. Michel nodded once before stepping away from his brother to face me. Time seemed to stand still as he slowly made his way towards me until he stopped just a foot away. Somehow that distance was too much.

"I'm sorry Emma, I just thought you might be upset..." he stopped his blabbering abruptly when I clamped my hand down on his mouth to effectively silence him. His eyes widened slightly but he didn't step away.

"Don't ever question how important you are to me. I may not have known you for a very long time but that doesn't make you any less important to me, any of you here. I don't care about your past, all I care about is the person these people here have molded you into, so I advice you to forgot whatever it was that happened and try to understand how lucky you are now to have a wonderful family like this one," I said in a determined voice and I meant every word of it.

I glanced once at all three of them before removing my hand from Michel's mouth, blushing slightly at their stares. Michel looked at me in awe before he pulled me into a hug, burying his face in the crook of my neck. Lisa and Jack joined us in our hug and Lisa whispered softly in my ear.

"Whether you want it or not, you're now a part of this family too." My eyes became watery and I held on to all of them a little tighter, feeling like it was truly Thanksgiving.

"So you mean she'd be like my sister," Michel asked in a slightly disgusted tone and I punched him lightly in the stomach before melting into his hug once again.