“Alice said she was going home for a long soak in the tub, and then off to bed.  I think Angie tired Alice out as much as Alice tired Angie out.”

“You know, I don’t think that today could have worked out much better.  Alice could not have picked a better day to want to spend Angie.”  

“That saved us having to tell anyone yet about the appointment today or our plans.”

Tina took Bette’s hand and interlaced their fingers.  She brought their hand to her mouth and placed gentle kisses on Bette’s palm, and returned their hands to her lap.  They sat on the lounger in comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts.  

“Babe?”

“Hmm?” Bette said as she took advantage of the proximity and position of Tina’s neck and began to nibble at the delicate skin.

“What do you think about Dr. Wilson’s news?”

“It was so good to hear her give us the green light to start trying to have another baby.  Think we might be able to practice tonight?”

Tina pulled Bette’s arms tightly around here and snuggled into the embrace.  “Bette, seriously, are you sure you want to have a baby?”

“T, I cannot think of anything else I would rather do for you, for us, and for our family than to be pregnant and give you a gift like you gave me with Angie.  Besides, Angie will be so excited to be a big sister.  I’m healthy, and even though I’m older, Dr. Wilson told both of us that the pregnancy should be straightforward.  I’ll have to have a few more tests because of my age, but those are standard for women over 35.”  

One night soon after Tina and Angie moved back into the house permanently, Bette and Tina were lying in bed, when Bette raised the topic of having another baby.  They had planned to have more than one child when they first talked about having a family years ago.  They decided that Tina would be the birth mother.  So, when Bette suggested that she be the birth mother to their next child, to say Tina was surprised was an understatement.  Bette told her that she really wanted the experience of being pregnant, and having a baby.  She had done some research and found that the university had a very liberal maternity leave, and her position was flexible to allow her to work at home or the office.  After much discussion over the next few months, they decided that Bette would carry their next child.  They decided to wait to tell the gang until after Bette was pregnant.  Though they knew everyone would have their best intentions at heart, they didn’t want any additional stress.  

Tina turned in Bette’s arms and straddled her lap.  She leaned in and took Bette’s face in her hands.  She kissed Bette with an intensity that conveyed all the emotion that she was feeling. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?  You are so gorgeous.  I cannot wait for you to be pregnant.”

Bette smiled as she ran her hands up and down Tina’s back. “I love you, too.  So much.  You and Angie make me so happy.  You do realize that there are a few details that I’d like us to take care of before I get pregnant.”

“Well, we could probably consolidate our offices and turn mine into a nursery.  There is that contractor that we talked to about adding on a second floor.  I think I might still have his business card somewhere.”

Bette took Tina’s hands in hers and Tina continued to talk about home renovation.  “We should talk to that architect friend of Helena’s for some more ideas.  What’s her name again?”

“T, I was thinking about things a bit more immediate.  Before you have me pregnant, I think you should make an honest woman of me.”

Bette took Tina’s left hand and slipped a diamond encrusted eternity band on her ring finger.  Bette looked into Tina’s eyes brimming with unshed tears.

“Tina, marry me?”