by Sylvia Woodham

Created on: September 08, 2008   Last Updated: September 09, 2008

Abby Lowe

It is a painful thing to move to a new town. Particularly when it is a town, however large, with a small town mentality. Fearful of life outside their conservative bubble, no one ever leaves, and no one knows how to handle people who come from the outside. Bored with their own lives, they rarely have anything better to do than to talk about the lives of other people.

Abby Lowe was cute. She was world travelled. And she was stuck in a small town where no one could appreciate that. Plus her string of luck with men had not been that hot since she moved here. It seemed to get off to a great kickstart, and she wasn't sure what had happened since then.

For some reason, Abby did not find it easy to meet people. Without trying, the first man she met wanted to date her, and it was bliss. He wasn't just from a small town, though! He had studied at Princeton Seminary and now he was on the right track for a career in the church. That's where they met. He had an eye for cute girls. Though his eyes did not always point in the same direction, they tended to agree where this area was concerned.

Despite his deformity, Ralph had a way with the ladies, but did not stick with one long. He couldn't resist the charms of the new girl, particularly one who was so impressed with his intellect. She almost took him for a real Ivy Leaguer. It was easy to win her heart. A heart so easily won was even easier to break.

Abby thought it was perfect. Ralph and the other assistant pastor were both so smart. They had learned so much at Princeton, even more than Abby had learned at Bible college. The other pastor met his wife in New Jersey. She was a small town girl who didn't go to an Ivy League school, and he fell in love with her! Ralph's attention gave Abby hope that she could find someone with such a great mind for herself.

It gave her status immediately to have Ralph's attention. Not long after arriving, she was somebody. People knew who she was. They asked her to teach Sunday classes at church. She did not have to overcome the awkwardness of meeting people, and she was loved. When Ralph grew tired of her, her world was crushed.

There were other men who noticed her, but compared to Ralph, who were they? They had all grown up in this small town, and it was all they knew. She jumped into dating the next guy, and eager to get married, she was thrilled when he took her to the church class for serious couples. He did not last long.

Abby couldn't help it. She liked "culture." She wasn't sure

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