"Is it weird for you?" I asked Jane.
She took a second to consider my question. "Yes, it's crazy, Rose. I mean, I honestly didn't know how to react. One time, I thought you two had something going on, but I wasn't sure… And then last night, I thought…" She hesitated. "I don't know. Apparently, I'm the only one in the family who didn't already know it was coming."
"Already know what was coming?" I asked.
"You and my brother."
"What do you mean? Who knew?"
"Everybody besides me knew y'all were destined or whatever," she said. "Pa had a dream when we were all babies. He saw you and Jesse all grown up, and he woke up knowing who y'all were and that you were together in that way—you know, married or whatever."
"Wait, Pa had a dream about Jesse and me?"
"Yes. When we were little. And I guess it moved him enough that he told my mom and your dad about it. He also told my mom the other day when you and Jesse were at the cabin that you looked similar to his dream."
It was difficult for me to take in what she was saying.
I had cold sweats and my ears started ringing.
"Hang on, hang on, hang on," I said. "How did Pa get involved in all this. Who all knows about this? Can you please back up and tell me who all knows about this?"
"Okay," she said. "Jesse came over to my house last night after some encounter he had with you and my parents at the shop where you ran off. He spilled his guts to me, and I told him I was too scared for this to happen, and he said it wasn't my choice, and that I had absolutely no input in the matter. So, I called Mom and Dad. We had a big family talk, and they told me they saw the whole thing coming since we were kids. That's when we talked about the dream. We had a long talk about it, and by the end of it all, I realized they were right. It's actually amazing and creative of God to put you and Jesse together from the start. I mean, I think back, and even as little kids, you were his girl, you know? I never thought I would hear myself saying this, but I can really see you two together, Rose. And I saw it in Jesse's eyes. There's love there. Real love. I guess that's why I'm calling. I wanted you to know you have my blessing to love my brother. Not that you need it, but you have it."
Her words caused tears to form in my eyes, and I blinked, causing one to fall to my cheek. "How'd you know where to find me?" I asked, glancing at the clock, which told me it was almost 10am.
"Mom called Pa and Nana this morning. She was so curious about that dream that she called him to ask about the details. That's when Pa told her the part about seeing you two on the fishing trip recently. Anyway, I think they ended up calling your dad, so I'm sure he knows about it now—not that he didn't already—you know, from the dream and everything."
I put a hand to my chest feeling completely stupefied. "Are you being serious?" I asked. "Are you telling me that family knows there's something going on with Jesse and me?"
"Yes, I am. Apparently, everyone else has been knowing it, and I'm the only one just finding out."
"Wait, I'm just finding out, too."
"Oh, yeah, so are you telling me you haven't been secretly crushing on my brother all these years?" she asked, teasing me.
I could hear the smile in her voice. I could not in clear conscious tell her that I had been crush-free all these years, so I remained silent, which caused her to laugh.
"My mom's got a picture of you and Jesse that was taken right about the time Pa had that dream. He was sitting next to you over by Nana's garden, and y'all were looking at each other. Mom brought it over last night when we called her."
"I don't think I've seen that picture," I said.
"Ask Jesse's for it," she said. "He's got it with him."
My heart dropped at the sound of his name.
Jesse.
Where was Jesse during this whirlwind? Would he forgive me for running away?
"What did Jesse say?" I asked, feeling desperate to know where he was and what he was thinking.
"He said he loved you and you loved him, and Mom cried about it. She's still amazed about it—joking around about Pa, and calling him 'the prophet'."
"Did I mess it up with him?" I asked. "Since I ran away when your parents drove up?"
"Jesse didn't come over here until after you did that, Rose."
"Where is he?" I asked.
"Somewhere between here and Dyersburg, I guess. I don't know what time he left."
"Dyersburg? Here? Is Jesse coming here?"
She laughed at my excitement. "Did I not tell you that already? I meant to. I thought it was one of the first things I said when I called."
"No, you didn't," I said, still holding the phone to my ear as I craned my neck to look out the window.
"Jesse's headed up there," she said.
"Do you have any idea when?" I asked.
"He's got to be getting close," Jane said. "I tried to call you every fifteen minutes for the last hour, but you never did pick up."
"I was out on the dock."
"Fishing?"
"Sleeping."
"Weird-o. You probably got ate up with mosquitoes."
I looked at my own arm. "I don't think I got a single bite," I said. I glanced at the clock again even though it gave me no frame of reference with Jesse's timing.
"I love you," I said, knowing I wanted to take a shower. "Thank you for calling."
"I love you, too," she said. "And please know that no matter what my initial reaction was, it honestly makes my heart happy to think about you with my brother."
"It makes my heart happy to think about your heart being happy," I said.
She chuckled.
"No really," I said. "You have no idea how much it means that you're being supportive about it."
"Uncle Jacob is adopted," she said. "So there's really nothing to be unsupportive of—other than I'll kill y'all if y'all ever break up."
"We won't," I assured her.
"That's what Jesse said," she said.
"I love you, Jane," I said, looking out the window again.
"I love you, too," she said.
I hung up the phone and instantly ran over to the window, making sure Jesse wasn't there yet. I didn't know whether he would be driving his truck or his motorcycle, but I didn't see either of them, so I decided to take a quick shower and freshen up. I glanced outside again once I was finished, but he still hadn't arrived.
I put on a little bit of makeup, watched some television, and before I knew it, it was an hour later, and Jesse was nowhere in sight.
I finally decided to go out onto the dock. It was, after all, the best part about being at the cabin, and I could still see and hear Jesse when he pulled up, so I figured, why not wait for him out there?
I walked out of the front door, headed down the path that led to the dock. I couldn't see the dock at first, but the closer I got, the more certain that I was that someone was sitting on it.
There was no doubt in my mind that it was Jesse. I could see it in the confident but relaxed way he held his shoulders.
"Heyyy!" I yelled, causing him to look at me.
It was Jesse all right, and he smiled and stood up as soon as he noticed I was on my way.
I was finally free to love him, and I felt like I was floating on air as I rushed down the embankment and onto the dock, moving as quickly as my feet would take me.