The Miracle of You

“Van Gowen… Van Gowen…” Joanna murmured the name as though trying to recall something. “The name is familiar.”

“Her family owns a chain of hotels all over the country,” Michael supplied.

“Ah, the hotel entrepreneur. Luther van Gowen.” There was clear recognition in her eyes. “I had a meeting with him a few years ago. I also encountered him on special occasions at galas. I remember that I had to do some research on him and his family to know his background and his tastes. That way, we could have a fruitful and productive discussion.”

“What did you find?”

“I remember reading that he has two sons. But as for his daughter…” The realization flashed in her expression the next moment. “There was a news article years ago about his daughter running away from home. Could she be…?”

Michael nodded. “Camille.”

“Oh my.” Joanna put her hand on her knee, looking pensive. “So the girl you liked all those years ago abandoned her family and disappeared without a trace. Is that why you looked so despondent and determined when you asked me to teach you the business?”

“At that time when I came to you, I only just discovered that she had left and had no intention of coming back,” Michael said quietly. “It was so out of the blue that it shocked me. But before she left, she gave me her necklace, and I realized… that was her goodbye to me. She never said a word about what she was going to do. It made me feel…”

His voice trailed off uncertainly. He wondered how he had gotten to this point in the first place, sharing his feelings with his sister.

Funny, this never happened in his wildest dreams.

“…Heartbroken?” Joanna supplied.

“That… I guess encompassed my feelings at that time,” he admitted.

Joanna sighed and directed her gaze to the ceiling. “There is no shame in admitting your feelings for someone in this way. If it helps, I truly think that Camille was good for you in the past. She made you a better and happier person.”

Michael was silent for a moment. “In the past, you say?”

She nodded. “I am not so sure as of now, but whenever it came to her, you seemed like a different person overall. She was one of the reasons why you worked so hard, right?”

Michael closed his eyes. “Yes.”

Joanna looked at him. “Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you still love her after all these years?” she asked. The words seemed a little accusatory, but her tone was not unkind. “There was plenty of time for you to have met numerous women. She can’t be that special, can she?”

Michael gave a wry smile. “What do you suppose constitutes as ‘special’, then?”

“You have done many things for her, yes? This might seem offensive, but…” She hesitated. “What about her towards you? I ask because I do not know.”

He frowned. “She did a lot for me. She was the one who whipped me into shape back then, figuratively speaking. She didn’t treat me any differently than the others and told me what was right and what was wrong.”

“Is that so?” Joanna murmured. “So she could get that through your head unlike our parents.”

“I rebelled against her at first,” he confessed. “I tried to refuse many times and still attempted to skip classes. But for some reason, she caught me red-handed most of the time. Almost as if she could easily read me and predict my movements.”

“Why would she do that to you?” Joanna asked, a hint of curiosity lacing her tone. “Involve herself in your business, I mean.”

“She was the student council president. She was also a year higher than me. I guess she thought that it was her duty.”

“Interesting,” Joanna remarked.

“Why?”

“Did she do that to the other students as well, or was it just you?”

“She did it to the others, too. As a result, they weren’t very happy with her.”

“So in other words, she was a busybody.”

“…In a way, I suppose… yes.”

Joanna’s lips curled upward. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying what she did was a bad thing. It just amuses me to think about it.”

He couldn’t help but frown. “What part of it is amusing?”

Joanna leaned forward, her face a mask of intrigue. “So… did she not notice at all?”

“Notice what?”

“Your feelings for her when the two of you were in high school. At that age, teenage love should be blooming all over campus.” She raised an elegant eyebrow. “Or did you not confess to her?”

Michael shifted slightly in his seat, uncomfortable. He really didn’t want to have this kind of conversation right now.

At that moment, his savior came in the form of Joanna’s husband – Rick.

Rick walked into the living room and saw them immediately. He was in his late thirties, a year older than Joanna, with slicked-back black hair and kind brown eyes.

In contrast to Joanna’s usual icy and stern demeanor, he was like a kind, well-mannered father and always welcomed Michael warmly when he visited.

“Good to see you, Michael,” he greeted, knowing full well not to question the scene. “Joanna informed me that you were visiting to give Kenny a birthday present.”

Michael nodded and got up from the sofa. “I already gave it to him. He’s having fun with it outside.”

Joanna glanced at the clock on the nearby wall. “Well, look at the time.” She stood up as well and turned to Michael. “Would you like to stay for an early dinner?”

Michael shook his head. “No, thank you. I have another appointment to get to. But thanks for the offer.”

Joanna crossed her arms over her chest. “All right, then. Thank you for coming today.” A small smile curled her lips. “Be safe on the road.”

He nodded. “I will.”

He turned around to leave, but then her voice stopped him in place.

“Michael,” she called out.

Confused, he turned his head to look at her. Did he forget something?© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

But she only stared at him, and then nodded ever so subtly.

“It’s not my place to say anything right now, but if I can give you a small piece of advice…” Her voice was soft and without judgment. “I want you to continue to follow your heart, as you always have.”