"I can't imagine how I'd feel if I got a disease and knew I could never have children."
"There are plenty of people that way now."
"Not millions of them, and not me! I always wanted babies but my husband wanted to wait. He was too busy making money ... and having a good time."
"A good time with whom?"
"That's the question that finally broke it up. It's just as well there were no children, I suppose." She leaned over towards me and put her hands on mine. "If I ever marry again, I want a man who wants children."
This time I looked straight at her, and the hell with my blood pressure.
"I want your kids," I said, and pulled her down into my arms.
She broke loose after a while, though I could feel her quivering. It was always the same. I had never been able to break down that last little bit of resistance, that fear of being hurt again. Maybe I never would. I sighed resignedly and sat up.
"Might as well go fishing," I said and I went to lay out the lines and hoist the mainsail.