SAME
SOUL, M A N " ! ' BODIES
13?
"Nothing. His silence is the worst." I could see her tremble, though her voice remained strong. Obviously, she was feeling deep emotion. "He's a good man. When I'm happy, he's happy, but when I'm sad, he gets sad too." "And when you're angry and push him away?" "I think he gets angry too, but he doesn't like to show it. Mostly he tries to get me out of my moods—jolly me out of them like I'm some kind of invalid or emotional cripple." " H e tells me you're having trouble conceiving," I said. Her expression grew sad. "Yes." "You've seen a doctor?" "Of course. H e could find nothing w r o n g with either of us." " W h a t about in vitro fertilization?" This was a safe topic. H e r voice grew steadier. "It's an option, but we don't want to d o it unless the doctor feels it's our only choice. I'm sensitive to h o r m o n e s of all kinds. Put me next to a bee, and I'm in terror of anaphylactic shock." " W h a t about adoption?" "Again, an option, a last resort. I want his child." "And he wants yours?" "Absolutely." "Your sex life is healthy?" She blushed. "Robust." " G o o d . " We were silent for a while. I must have been smiling because those penetrating eyes caught mine, and she was suddenly angry. "What's so funny?" "You're both trying to have a baby. Your sex life is . . . robust. He's given no hint that he wants to leave you. I know for a fact that Tom says you're his reason for being. Why not take him at his word?" "Because of the fear," she said gravely. "Fear of what?" "Of being a b a n d o n e d . " She began to cry. "I can't think of anything worse."