I learned to read  Bette very well.  I knew when the right times and wrong times were to get my way.  I must admit the windows of opportunity to get my way were very small.  But when I saw them I went for them.  Like when we decided to start a family.  I wanted to carry our baby.  I  always wanted to be a mommy, but only after I got my career underway.  I talked her into letting me take off work for a year to work on getting pregnant I knew the stress of my job would weight on me.  So I came up with a proposal after we were together about five years.   We had already talked about having children together over the years.  Here‘s what I proposed to Bette.  That we would trying living on one income, hers, as much as possible over the next year.  And we would pay off what ever debt we had between us with the other income, mine.  And what was left we would invest.   We both made a very decent living so we weren’t going to be struggling to make ends meet.   That just meant fewer shopping trips and vacations closer to home.  I figured it would get us prepared for the expense of raising a child anyway.  

I was so excited that she went for the idea.  But I did come at her like I would as if I were giving a presentation at work.  You know one of those selling people on an idea. I had a PowerPoint presentation and spreadsheet and everything.  I had made her this fabulous meal, I had to appeal to all of her senses that night.  I called her at work and then told her that I had something to talk to her about after dinner.   She was in between shows, so she wasn’t stressed out.  I learned never to ask her anything important when she was highly stressed or hungry.  Well I could if I wanted to get my head chopped off.  I got enough of that at work.  That is one of the reasons I was on medication for anti anxiety.    I was always under pressure at work I didn’t need it at home.  All I wanted was peace.  Okay so back to what I was saying about the “ Project Baby Time” .  Bette was already past her ten year plan for her life so I played to that and her sense of order.  She can be anal, but I said that already.  I proposed the budget graphically, threw in lots of  images of babies and mommies.  I really did it up I even had baby sounds and smells.  Only the good smells.  Baby oil and baby powder.   I thought, “how can she tell me no after all this?”   Beside that I had on the sexiest dress that I own when I presented it.  I was so excited when she told me yes.  I thought that I was going to exploded.  I think I did.  In fact I did several times that night.  We made love that night to seal the deal.  And I thought make up sex was good.