Kalamazoo, Michigan 1974:

College was different, at least. Hell, anything would have been better than high school had been. Yes, good old Adams High, where your best friend could steal your boyfriend and everyone, even the lunch lady, knew before you did. In college, if she met someone, then so be it. It certainly wasn't going to be the all-consuming factor in her life. It wasn't like she was going to marry the guy.

No, Jillian Elizabeth Patterson was young, pretty, and looking to stay free of commitment. She was going to concentrate on having some fun and meeting some people.

She'd decided to go to Western Michigan University because of its good communications program and its location far away from Texas, where her father had been stationed since she'd graduated. The Colonel and her mother had, naturally, objected to her being so far away. She should, they said, go to Southern Methodist University…. She'd been accepted, after all, and it was nice and close. But Jill had passed on SMU, determined to attend WMU and be on her own.

Life went on for Jill. Actually, it went pretty well for Jill. She dated. She had fun. She had sex. She did well in her classes and was considered an "intellectual". She also became seriously (well, semi-seriously) involved with the captain of the debate team, Dan Lyons.

Hell, she even got along with her roommate. Donna Gilmore was a stunning blonde who actually had a good personality. It was Donna who introduced Jill to the man who would forever change her life.

WMU, April 1975:

"Jill," Donna said, "There's someone I want you to meet."

"Come on, Donna," Jill responded, "You know I'm starting to get serious about Mitch."

"You married to him?" Donna asked.

"No…."

"Then you can meet Tim."

"Tim? Tim Taylor? Stu Cutler's roommate?"

"Yes, Stu's roommate." Donna was friends with Stu, whom Jill had met, and Tim Taylor, whom Jill had not yet had the pleasure. Stu was on of the biggest jerks Jill had ever met and she was sure Tim would be the same.

However, against her better judgment, Jill allowed Donna to talk her into meeting Tim. As it turned out, this meeting would have quite an impact on her life. And it certainly wasn't love at first sight. At least, not for her.