Description: The marriage of Hugh and Elfie Lyle had all the trappings of perfection, or at least so people thought. They had money, a lovely home, and a history together. And although Hugh was twenty years older than his wife, he was lean, unlined, and cut a dashing look in a suit. Many would say Elfie had much to do with her husband's lasting youth, keeping his life in order and catering to his needs and happiness. Still, there was something missing, and Elfie had reached a point in her life when she finally realized this. From an earlier marriage, Hugh had several children, which for a time had been enough for Elfie, but now she wanted a child of her own. One day, as she holds the baby of her stepdaughter, that desire becomes all too powerful to resist. Yet when she approaches Hugh about having a child, he wavers and gives her at best an uncertain consent. As spring erupts into summer, and summer fades into autumn, Elfie's desire for a baby grows stronger. She becomes convinced that any course of action is excusable when driven by this most basic of natural urges.

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