The session was held in Dr. Max's office, where a tray of coffee and biscuits was ready on a low table, and four club chairs were arranged around it. Dr. Max was standing by the window, studying the folder of Mr. and Mrs. Quinn's referral notes.

"I will lead them through the medical details first, Nurse Kara," he said. "Then they can ask you anything I haven't covered." Though his voice was studiously neutral and businesslike, he hid his probing gaze. It was impossible to gauge what his memory was of the times they spent together as couples, if indeed he had any particular memory of them at all.

"They...