Well, my wife was a little off about it at first, too. But they have got to be without a doubt one of the nicest to hold snakes. If not THE nicest. Bites are quite rare, and 3 or four feet is not that big considering you don't look at it stretched out all the time. They're not heavy or quick, wriggly bothersome animals to handle.
My wife was immediately taken with Xaero when she got to see him and touch him when I brought him home. He was about three and a half months old, nice and small and amiable.
Here's a pic of her holding him on day one (they're her hands, I swear)

I'm sure that no matter what her opinion now may be, it is almost impossible not to warm up to something so quiet and clean and graceful.
Have you tried bribery?