“I guess.”

“Well, I don’t guess. I know this for sure because it’s very unusual for me to feel like this so quickly.”

She didn’t respond again, so JT said, “I do have one question for you, though.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“Actually, I’m married. Unhappily. But still very married.”

“So am I, but I’m sure you already figured that out.”

“Yeah, I did. I saw the wedding ring on your finger, remember?”

“True. But on the other hand, I didn’t see one on yours.”

“Stopped wearing it a long time ago.”

“Then you’re on your way out, I take it.”

“Eventually. I have an eighteen-year-old who’s graduating next Friday, so once he’s off to college this fall, I’m planning to file for a divorce.”

“So, it’s that bad?” he asked, wondering how old she was, because she definitely didn’t look old enough to have a child who was about to finish high school. Not that it mattered to him one way or the other, though.

“I’m miserable.”

“I’m really sorry to hear that, but if it’s any consolation to you, I’d certainly like to see you again.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I would. So, when are you going to be back in the area?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know when I have another visit planned. My company sends me here at least a couple of times per month, so chances are I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”

JT heard what sounded like the gate representative preparing to begin the boarding process.

“Hey, they’re calling first-class, so I have to get going.”

“That’s fine, but, Veda, I really want to see you again, and soon.”

“Just call or e-mail me, and we’ll talk about it.”

“I will, and you have a safe flight, okay?”

“I will, and you take care.”

JT ended the call, laid his phone on his desk, and looked at the picture-perfect five-by-seven wedding photo of him and Alicia. He wasn’t sure why she simply wasn’t enough. He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t resist being with other women. He honestly didn’t want to hurt Alicia, but he also couldn’t control his sexual desires or impulsive feelings. He couldn’t help doing a lot of the terrible things he did, and he wished there was something he could do to modify his way of thinking. He wished he could be a better man and stop lusting over this woman he’d just hung up with. But he knew that was never going to happen. He knew JT was going to be JT and that there wasn’t a thing he could do to change that.

Thank you so much for treating me to lunch,” Carmen said to Alicia, and then leaned against her little red Nissan. The two of them were standing in the parking lot of a popular Asian restaurant located a few blocks down from the office where Carmen worked, and Alicia was glad they’d had a chance to get together.

“You’re welcome, and I’m really glad we could do this.”

“And thank you, too, for bringing me the manuscript,” she said, holding the brown envelope close to her body. “I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to read it.”

“Well, I just hope you like it.”

“I know I will, and I’ll be calling you as soon as I finish it. I also can’t wait for the actual book to be released, because then I’ll be able to tell everyone that I’m close friends with a published author.”

“You’re funny,” Alicia said, smiling.

“I’m serious. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.”

Alicia leaned against the side of Carmen’s vehicle but closer to the front of it. “Well, I’m just happy you made the decision to look me up online and then e-mail me, because if you hadn’t, we might not have ever connected with each other again.”

“I know, and now I’m sorry I didn’t try to contact you before now. Although, you know what they say, better late than never.”

“This is true.”

Carmen looked at Alicia for a few seconds and then said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“Did you ever in your wildest dreams think that your father would eventually be known all over the world and that you would ultimately marry a man like JT? A man who’s clearly on his way to being just as famous himself?”

“No, not really. I mean, I knew my father was very successful, but I don’t think I ever guessed he would do all the amazing things he’s been able to do.”

“Girl, you are so blessed. You have everything you could ever want, and most of us will never get to know how that feels.”

“I am blessed and very thankful for the life that I have.”

“You’re beyond blessed. And didn’t you say you only met JT because your dad spoke at NLCC one Sunday?”

“Yeah, and normally, I don’t even go with my dad and Charlotte when they visit other churches. But this time I’m glad I did.”

“I’ll say. And then there’s that huge rock you have on your finger,” Carmen said, reaching over and lifting Alicia’s hand. “I mean, my goodness, it must have cost a fortune.”

“JT is definitely very good to me.”

“Girl, he’s better than good, and I just pray that I’ll eventually find a man just like him.”

“You will.”

“I don’t know. I keep thinking that all I have to do is be patient, but what I want more than anything is to find someone and get married. Sooner rather than later. What I want is to love someone, have them love me back, and then live happily ever after just like in the fairy tales.”

Alicia set her take-home container on the car hood. “Have you been praying about it?”

“Every day.”

“Then all you have to do is trust and believe and keep praying for the kind of husband and life you want just like I did. God always gives us the desires of our heart, and you have to keep your faith in that. My first marriage turned out terribly, but now I couldn’t be happier.”

“Maybe I just need to pray a little harder and a little more often.”

“It certainly won’t hurt, because you can never talk to God too much. My dad is always saying that the more time you spend with Him the better off you’ll be, and I think he’s right.”

“I’m sure he is,” Carmen said, turning the top of her wrist upward and looking at her watch. “Well, girl, I’d better get going. I hadn’t told you, but the other reason I took this afternoon off was because I have a hot date.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep.”

“And when do I get to meet this hot date of yours?”

“Maybe at some point.”

“Okay, well, do your thing, girl,” Alicia said, hugging her. “Have a great time.”

“I definitely will. That you can count on.”

JT had just finished showering and now stood in front of the gold-trimmed, full-length, oval mirror in Carmen’s room, putting his clothes back on. She was sitting on the side of her bed watching him.

“I’m so glad you came by, baby,” she said, but all JT could think was how, for the first time since he’d met her, sex with Carmen had been average at best. He hadn’t even wanted to do it at all, and the only reason he had was because he hadn’t wanted to hear any of her whining.

So he pretended as though he couldn’t have felt better. “I’m glad I came over, too.”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” JT said, zipping his pants.

“You’re everything to me, baby, and no man could ever take your place. You hear me?”

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

“I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and I can’t wait until you leave Alicia. I can’t wait until you and I are married.”

“I know, baby, I’m looking forward to that day as well,” he lied. “But you know you’re going to have to have a little patience.”

“I do, but I’m still so, so excited about the life we’re going to have together. I’m going to make you so happy. I’ll be the best wife in the world. I’ll do any and every thing you want me to without any questions.”

JT put on his shirt in silence. He wasn’t even sure how to respond to such a dimwitted statement, so he let her continue talking.