Charlotte closed the journal in her lap and folded her hands. Bonnie had been a good listener earlier that night and had kept her commentary to a minimum-just what Charlotte needed. The last thing she could have dealt with was her best friend expressing shock or disappointment or passing judgment.

Bonnie had simply nodded a lot Held her hand. Let her talk. And as the words had spilled from Charlotte's lips, she felt somehow separate from the story she told her friend, as if it had happened to another woman.

She supposed it had.

After all, who is the same woman at thirty-five as she was at twenty-two? No one she'd ever met, that was for sure. On that day thirteen years ago, she'd been young and optimistic, ready to graduate, ready to get engaged, ready to start her life. She'd felt like she was ready to step out into the bright perfect world of her future.

But somehow, right there in that convertible on the GW Parkway, it hit her like a cinder block to the forehead- Kurt Tasker would be the first and only man she'd ever have sex with. Sex-that dark territory she'd tiptoed around and shut her eyes against in order to stay a good girl-would be experienced with Kurt and only Kurt. He would define it for her. He would be her travel companion. Her tour guide. The only places she'd ever go would be the places he took her. Just him. One man.

Forever.

Even back then, had she known in her heart that it would be a no-frills excursion? Yes, if she answered honestly, she had. But at the time that had seemed a small sacrifice to make. After all, Kurt Tasker was good for her, just what she needed in so many other ways. And a woman couldn't have everything, right?

Charlotte recalled the conversation they'd had before he flew out to his interview at the Enquirer, Once again, it was Charlotte who brought up the subject of sex, only to be guided back to moral ground by Kurt. It was best to wait until they were married, he'd reminded her. It was the right thing to do. It would be worth the wait. They would enter into their covenant of marriage in God's favor.