It concerned children.

Early in the arrangement we had agreed not to make plans about starting a family.

Neither of us had wanted a child to become another obligation we failed to discuss honestly.

Later, as our love deepened silently, we each assumed the other still wanted that arrangement.

One evening Meredith found a box of old picture books in the attic of the new house.

They had belonged to my nieces and nephews, who were teenagers now.