Her doubt about the relationship
Barbara’s hesitation stemmed from the uniqueness of her relationship with Larry compared to her past experiences. While she had always been warmly embraced by the families of her previous partners, Larry seemed reluctant to involve her in his own. Whenever she broached the subject, Larry attributed his reluctance to his strained relationship with his family.
Larry seldom spoke about his family, and when he did, it was with a palpable discomfort. This unfamiliarity left Barbara feeling perplexed and uncertain about the future of their relationship. She had always been transparent with Larry about her own family, making his reluctance to share puzzling. She couldn’t help but wonder if there was a hidden aspect, a dark secret, that he feared revealing.