Shattered Pieces

Twenty Five

Spencer

"Well, if it isn't my favorite couple." Dr. Alexander says as he walks in to find Olivia and me hand in hand on his couch.

"Hey, doc!" I smile at him.

"Great game this past Sunday, by the way. Pity that injury to the QB on the last play of the game. Are they saying if he'll miss any time?"

"Not sure, yet." I lie. Our QB is out for a few weeks, but that's not official news yet, so I remain tight-lipped.

"And, Liv! How has opening week at the studio been going?"

"Better than I ever could've imagined." My wife beams, squeezing my hand.

"I'm so delighted to hear that! So, onto the good stuff... I take it that things are going well with Spencer being back in the home?" The doc pulls his notepad out, ready to jot down his thoughts about whatever Olivia and I say.

"Well is an understatement. I needed time away to see just how important my family is, but now that I'm home, no chance in hell I ever leave again." I lean over and kiss my wife's temple, acutely focused on the heat rushing to her cheeks at the feel of my lips on her skin.

"How would you guys say communication has been?"

"I think we definitely see where things broke down. I'm not afraid to express what I'm thinking to Spencer, which has helped. Although I do have a little confession... or two." My wife's words draw out as she turns to look at me.

Send help. Confessions are a recipe for disaster between the two of us. My heart begins to race, and I feel a chill run down my spine.

"It appears we may have accidentally become new homeowners."

The words are out of her mouth so fast I have to take a second to repeat them to myself before fully processing them.

"A moment of weakness. Some might even call it an ill-advised decision."

"I'm interested to know how one accidentally buys a house, Olivia. Please share with the group." I roll my bottom lip between my teeth to keep from laughing because... my wife is crazy.

"Well, Justin... you know Justin, right?"

"Yes, baby. I know my teammate, Justin."

"Mmhm, that one! His wife, Toya, she's a real estate agent. So cool!"

"Little Tiger," my voice is stern.

"Right. It was brought to my attention, by my own research, that someone made a bid on that house in our neighborhood one block over." She plays with her fingers, and her eyes fidget between me and my lap.

"People make bids on houses that are for sale, baby. Remember, that's how we got the brand new house we live in right now."

"So you're familiar with the process, good. Toya... she just signed their daughter up for classes at my studio, and we got to talking. It was Kennedy... the bidder. Naturally, I couldn't allow that to happen, so I..." She looks at me and then tugs at her bottom lip. "I made a little impulse purchase." Her whisper still manages to clear the air from the room.

I can see the incredulous look on Dr. Alexander's face at her admission, and I once again hold back a laugh. I would call these first-world problems, but I think even that would be undershooting it.

"I'm sorry, doc. My wife is apparently in the wrong form of therapy." I meet his eyes, and I can see he wants to laugh too. Olivia needs intervention far beyond his scope, it seems.

"So, sweet, beautiful wife of mine. If I understand you correctly, you spent a million dollars to make sure Kennedy didn't live near us?"

"Ye... yea. Somewhere in that range. That about sums it up."