A desperate, but devout, churchwoman marries a soldier and months later falls for a smooth-talking playboy while her husband is deployed to the Korean War.
At 21 years old, Gerry figures it’s time for church folks and kin folks to butt out of her life.
Reared in the South under the church’s strict beliefs and guided by the heavy hand of her guardian, Grandma Mae, Gerry’s sheltered upbringing affords her no practice with romantic relationships or worldly experiences. And with her grandmother controlling nearly every move she makes, Gerry worries she’ll end up being yet another old-maid, "church girl" hired to do rich peoples' housework.
Soon Gerry meets John, an unassuming army sergeant. When he quickly proposes marriage, Gerry sees it as an answer to prayer. So she marries him, fully intending to be a faithful wife and expecting to love him over time.
Unfortunately, the newlywed couple's budding marriage and Gerry’s deepening love are abruptly interrupted when, six months later, John is deployed to fight in the Korean War.
During John’s absence, through a chance encounter Gerry meets Ben, a charming man-about-town. His smooth worldliness proves to be too advanced for Gerry's naive ways. And, what starts with Gerry's innocent flirting ends with the Sunday school teacher spending a passionate night with Ben.
And that’s when the “it” hits the church fan.