Sara was initially confused upon hearing the name, as it had been so long that it felt unfamiliar. But as she said it out loud, it seemed strangely familiar.
Seeing her puzzled expression, Mrs. Rose teased, "What, you don't remember? You used to insist that he be your future husband, telling everyone he was your future husband. You even cried to bring him along when we moved to B City, forgot all that?"
With this reminder,Sara remembered immediately.
When she was three, she had watched an old TV show with her grandmother, right when the Warner family had a new baby. She went with her grandmother to see the baby, and the little one in the swaddling clothes was incredibly cute.
Being a sucker for good looks from a young age, she decided on the spot that this little brother would be her future husband. The adults joked about it, but she insisted, even brainwashing Jamie as he grew older.
By the time the adults noticed, it was too late to change her mind. Whenever asked who Jamie was, Sara would declare loudly, "My future husband! My future husband!"
And when asked who he was to Sara, Jamie would earnestly reply, "Her future husband, her future husband."
The two had a deep bond, and both the Warner Family and Rose Family went along with them, thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea if they ended up together. But no one expected Grandma Miah to pass away suddenly. With no one left in the old home, Sara had to move to Beijing with her parents, and the two were separated. Since kids didn't have cell phones back then and Sara got carsick easily and couldn't travel back, she eventually forgot about it over time.
Now reminded of her childhood embarrassment,Sara felt so mortified that she found an excuse to flee back to her room.
Maybe it was because she was about to go back, or because her mom had mentioned Jamie, so Sara couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned all night, her thoughts consumed by him.
Mrs. Rose said he was now working in the city near the Westbrook Hamlet and often visited Grandma Lorelei. Would she run into him this time?
If they met, what would she say? Should she pretend not to see him? No, that wouldn't work. Living next door, ignoring him would be awkward. Maybe make some small talk? But what if he remembered their the promises ages ago? That would be even more embarrassing.
Thinking about it, Sara sat up, forced a smile, and waved at the air, "Ah, you must be Jamie, right? Long time no see. How have you been? Alright, go ahead, see you next time, bye."
After the mock encounter, she fell back onto the bed with a long sigh, then slowly slid under the covers, mumbling, "Whatever, sleep."
She had left when she was thirteen. If not for her mom's mention, she would have forgotten. Jamie was even younger back then, only ten. He probably wouldn't remember either, as no one would remind him constantly.
In the next room, Mr. Rose was on the phone, calling just about everyone, asking them to look after Sara while she's here. But he was still worried, so he turned to Mrs. Rose and asked, "Should I take some time off and go with her to help her settle in, then come back?"
Mrs. Rose sighed, "She's 25, she can take care of herself. Don't worry."
Mr. Rose muttered a few more words and then started complaining to Mrs. Rose, "I still don't know why you mentioned Jamie to her. It's better if she just forgets. Hopefully, Jamie does too. That way they won't...hmm."
Rose Mom rolled her eyes, "Jamie wants to forget, but how could he? Every year when the villagers see us during annual family memorial visits, they tease him saying, 'Sara didn't come back again, she doesn't want you as her husband anymore.' I heard someone say that last year too. You should worry about yourself instead. Jamie is a good kid…"
Her voice gradually trailed off, and Sara finally fell asleep.
However, her dreams were hazy tonight, and she couldn't remember anything when she woke up.
Sara yawned, started booking tickets, and began packing her luggage, preparing for her journey back to her hometown.
