Maybe (i) either a very late marriage by one or both, hence not much time for children - I don't know if we ever find out how old the Merricks are when Patrick is 16, but I wouldn't be surprised by mid-50's, and I definitely think older than 40ish.
Or (ii) one or other was not good at producing children - I know a couple who tried everything, natural and artificial, to have a child, and no luck; they were 23 years married and had given up all hope when along came a daughter. (On the other hand, I work with a lady who had twins by AI and was told by doctors she was physically incapable of having any more children; 18 months later, along came no. 3)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-06-09 09:21 pm (UTC)Or (ii) one or other was not good at producing children - I know a couple who tried everything, natural and artificial, to have a child, and no luck; they were 23 years married and had given up all hope when along came a daughter. (On the other hand, I work with a lady who had twins by AI and was told by doctors she was physically incapable of having any more children; 18 months later, along came no. 3)