"Hi, Phil. The bastards re-assigned my office to a team developing software to market dog food." I was long past being resentful of the vagaries of my...management."We need to talk. Come into my office." You've moved up market. I could get my whole team in here." The big office had windows looking out on the car park. I prowled around, noting the squalid carpet and the damp stains on the window sills. The walls were marred by Blu-Tac stains"There's a panic on. This is my war-room." Phil was smug,. I was distraught, caught so easily, I admitted, “Sorry.”“You are so silly Laura. If you had admitted you masturbated at least you would have been telling me the truth. Now not only were you deliberately disobeying my new rule but you lied as well.”Well, that was clear. How come I only saw so clearly after I dug a deep hole for myself? It was my temper again, my short fuse.Beccy looked like she was considering what to do.She eventually said, “Put your knickers back on.”My goodness, no. I want a baby!" Janice said hesitantly.Tim's eyes opened wide in surprise. Not because Janice wanted a baby now but that she would bring it up as a bargaining chip. "I thought we were going to wait a few more years for that." I know, but I'm not getting any younger and neither are you." I know, sweetheart, but a baby makes life a lot more difficult with our careers and all," Tim answered in a less than convincing tone."That's the deal. Take it or leave it," Janice said trying to sound. "It's quite understandable. We need to be careful here."Further evidence to support that point came later in the afternoon. The drive back to the university, with the four of us once again packed into my car, was uncomfortably quiet. I knew I needed to talk privately to my sister, but I wanted to touch base with Dave first. I waited a couple of hours, and then gave him a call."Yeah, what happened today made her feel jealous," Dave confirmed, "but it's more than that. Your parents have really.