Chapter Eleven-Checks and Balances
"Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break."~Jane Wells.
It was later that day and Spencer and Lila were at the grocery store. Once Lila gave him the go-ahead, Spencer called Derek and told him they wanted the house. The threesome made arragements to meet tomorrow morning and sign the necessary paperwork. With their living situation taken care of, they were now stocking up on food for the next couple of days. Since they were going to be moving next week, they decided not to purchase too much, so they would have less to take with them.
"I think we have just gone on the biggest shopping spree of our lives. Who buys a house in one day?" Lila marveled.
Spencer and Lila were in the dairy section and Spencer was placing a gallon of milk into the cart. Lila preferred two percent, but Spencer insisted she have whole so the baby would receive optimal nurishment. Lila decided to placate her overprotective, anal husband and allowed him to have final say on the milk selection. Thankfully he posed no objection to brown eggs as opposed to white.
"It isn't a done deal yet, love. We still have papers to sign," Spencer pointed out, loading different types of cheese into the cart, making certain none of them posed a threat to their unborn child.
"Besides," he added. "it's not as if you are putting any money down on this house anyway. I'm not letting you."
Spencer was well aware that his response would not be met with a positive reaction. What he was not prepared for, however, was the feeling of their shopping cart being rammed into his slender frame. He doubled over in agony, grabbing his tummy.
"What the Hell was that for?" he sputtered, looking at his wife in wide-eyed shock.
"For being such an imperial jerk! I am so sick of you trying to control me and tell me what to do! For God's sake, Spencer, I was on my own for twenty-eight years and managed to live to tell about it, so quit treating me like an imbeccile. I may not have a genius IQ, but I'm not stupid!"
"I never said you were, Lila, and please stop shouting and calm down. Stress isn't good for you or the baby. In fact, studies show that high stress levels in expectant mothers..."
By now Lila was tuning out her annoying, controlling husband, focusing on her task of slamming random types of yogurt into the cart. Spencer approached and picked up one of the yogurts, examining it carefully.
"Are you certain this yogurt is made from pasteurized milk? Do you remember what I told you about the dangers of unpasteurized milk during pregnancy?" he asked.
"No I don't because I'm a total fucking moron," Lila hissed, throwing a pack of yogurt at him to emphasize each word.
"Lila, I never said..."
"Yes, you did," Lila hissed, grabbing the cart handle as she swerved it past Spencer, running over his feet in the process.
"Where are you going?" Spencer demanded, not wanting his wife to be alone in a vulnerable state.
"As far away from you as humanly possible. Meet me in the bread aisle when you decide not to be an asshole."
"Lila, I would love to meet you in the bread aisle, but I can't."
"Why not? Do you need to run off and buy a boat without my knowledge? Hell, why not an entire marina? This grocery store? Better yet, why don't you buy the entire town and name it Spencerland because you seem to think the whole world revolves around you?"
"Lila, you know those aren't the reasons and please lower your voice. I cannot meet you in the bread aisle because you are heading towards the hygiene section."
"Ah!" Lila shouted, turning the cart sharply as she stomped towards the correct aisle, knocking over a display in her haste and fury.
Under normal circumstances she would have stopped and cleaned up the mess, but she was too rage-filled to notice. She grabbed a loaf of bread off of the shelf and slammed it into the cart, wishing it were Spencer's head. She couldn't get over her husband's gall. She was trying to be patient and understanding with him because she knew this was his first serious relationship, but he was driving her crazy with his controlling ways. Lila hated that he was so condescending and how he treated her like a child.
He was starting to remind her of her controlling ex-boyfriend from college, as well as Christian. Deep down she knew Spencer loved and cared about her, but she didn't want to be treated like a dolt either. She wanted to be an equal in their marriage, to know that her opinion actually meant something to him. She threw another loaf of bread into the cart, this one raisin bread. She pushed the cart to the end of the aisle and made a left. She was so lost in her own little world she almost ran into the ran who had made her so angry in the first place.
"Spencer, what are you doing?" Lila hissed, manuvering the cart around him.
"I have made the decision to in your words 'not be an asshole.' Lila, I know I may not always word things correctly, but I want you to know that I love you and everything I do is with your best interest at heart."
"I understand that, Spencer, but you need to accept the fact that I am capable of making my own decisions and I don't need you to think for me. If this marriage is going to work I need to be an equal partner and have as much input as you. For God's sake Spencer, what were you thinking, telling me I couldn't contribute financially to the purchase of our own home? And speaking of that house, if it wasn't for Derek you would have gone ahead and bought it without me wouldn't you?"
"Yes," Spencer admitted, bowing his head sheepishly. Derek, having had more experience with women, had been able to forsee the potential negative consequences of buying a home without consulting one's wife.
"See, that's what I mean. Spencer, why can't you be the way you were before, in Vegas? Why have our rings given you permission to turn into a dictator?"
"I...I guess they just made everything real, and that scares me."
Lila remained silent, allowing her husband to continue. He slowly walked over to her and stopped so that he was right next to her. He laced his fingers through hers as he continued.
"Before we were married I just took each day one at a time, wanting to savor every incredible moment with you because I never really thought you would want to be with me forever. Even after we were married that thought remained, only this time I had so much more to lose. I guess by acting as if I'm in control I can let myself believe that I am, although I know I'm not. I know I'm making you crazy with my behavior, but I never want you to doubt your decision to marry me.
I always want you to feel that it was the right choice. I want you to know that even though I'm not from the same circle as you, I can still take care of you. I may not have millions like your family or the families you grew up with, but I can still provide for you and our family."
"Oh Spence," Lila whispered, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him close. She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the lips.
"I know you are capable of being the man of the house, and you are. But Spencer, you need to understand that your contribution goes far beyond the monetary. You give me a sense of peace and security I never thought I could experience. You make me feel loved and because of you I look forward to getting out of bed everyday. I think those things matter more than what you put in our bank account."
A large smile spread across Spencer's reddened face. Lila wiped the tears out of his eyes as she kissed him again.
"Alright...you can help buy the house," Spencer said in between kisses.
"Damn right," Lila replied. "and will you use the debit card being sent to you?" she asked, referring to the one that had originally only been hers.
Spencer hesitated and Lila nipped his bottom lip. Spencer chuckled and pulled back, his sensitive flesh stinging slightly.
"Hey, it takes time to lose one's rigidity!"
"Just don't lose all of it."
Spencer and Lila shared a naughty smile and kiss before wandering down the rest of the aisles. Spencer wrapped his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. They managed to complete the rest of their shopping trip without incident and Spencer even let her use her own credit card to pay for their groceries. Once the shopping trip was complete, they drove home to savor their last few days in their small love nest.
