The Wedding

It was a long night.

I remember that the moon was full. I still do always notice the stars and the sky. Those stars lit brilliantly a perfectly dark night sky, save for some odd light that kept shining in my eyes. I purposely held her too near the water and I remember it splashing us wet as we kissed such tender and passionate kisses. They were at once deep, forever kisses that burst open upon us like green spring buds. Unexpectedly, suddenly, me and Rachael, wrapped in a kind of unshakable feeling. Unshakable because we desired it. I remember no words, just her eyes deep and steady. Her light smile was to me so tender, so sincere, I felt surely, the earth had lost its gravity. Her womanly touch laid a hand upon my heart each time her skin brushed mine. She made me to stand up from the dust in search of life.

"Uncle Laban," I said quietly as we sat on the soft pillows in the great room under his tents. Uncle Laban was not a rich man but his means were comfortable. He was a steady worker and kept order to his mean flocks, a lot due to his wife, perhaps, but he was not meant for much growth or wealth. We drank coffee and relaxed.

"Uncle Laban, I need to ask you about a really important something ." I couldn't hide a grin because we both knew what it was.
"Your permission to marry Rachael." I looked at him hard in his soft, old eyes.
"Well..." he started, just as he started most of his sentences. "I need to tell you, Rachael is sure a handful."
Laban had made me drop his proper title.
"I understand, Laban," I said . I didn't really understand but it seemed the right thing to say.
"Well, you already know, Jaccob." He paused. "I'd be glad to have you as a son-in-law... if that's what Rachael wants, heh, heh, heh."
Laban had a habit of adding a kind of nervous laugh to the end of his sentences. It was an endearing thing that had come to characterize him. But he was telling me what I knew. That Laban liked me and I liked him, and that I would be the one to marry his oldest daughter.
"Heh, heh, heh."
"I'll do my best and I'll take care of her because I love her, Laban, I do."
And I did love her. I did.
I told you about the kiss and how it made me feel; how she excited my body and how I wanted her. But my love for Rachael was not that. My love for Rachael was His favour. In a new life far from my childhood home He showed me Rachael in a vision of my heart. She was His choice, His appointment to me. Now, I did happen to get the vision after the kissing bit, and well, maybe after a lot more than that, but no matter. The years prove that He was right. It was right to marry Rachael. So why did I marry her sister, Leah?