We didn’t even have what I would have called a fight.

He said he would be more careful.

I wanted to accept that as a solution.

I had already paid deposits, mailed invitations, discussed our future apartment, and pictured a marriage that would finally let me share the work of family life.

For the next several weeks I watched for obvious unkindness, but there was none.

Matthew smiled, showed up on time, and asked Mabel about preschool.