Page 202 of The Holy Grail
After deciding it also needed to be painted, they all went to a nearby Lowe’s and searched through a million paint options until finding a soothing cornflower blue and getting a gallon of it, along with all the necessary painting supplies. Jules also grabbed a handful of sample paint chips for the rest of the rooms in the house.
The next stop was at the same furniture store where he had gotten his sectional at, and after sitting in practically every chair on display, he finally found one that suited him. He also found a small bookshelf, a matching side table, and a thick, borderline shag rug, and as they were looking around for an available sales associate (because for the first time in the history of furniture stores, there wasn’t one in sight), Malcom stopped in front of a large mirror with a beautiful wrought iron frame, displayed leaning against a wall.
“What do you think?” he asked Jules and Evan.
“That’s a big fucking mirror,” Evan replied.
“It’s beautiful,” Jules said, only to immediately point out, “But it seems like a bit much for your new room, if that’s what you were thinking.”
“I was actually thinking it could go in the master bedroom. Maybe hang it on the wall on Evan’s side of the bed. You know … the long way.”
Evan and Jules exchanged a quick glance. “You want to be able to see us in it, when we’re engaging in … fuckery?” she surmised.
Malcom feigned surprise. “I hadn’t even thought of that, but what a good idea.”
“Bullshit, you hadn’t thought of that.”
Malcom looked from Jules to Evan. “So what do you say?”
“I say do it,” Evan said.
Jules nodded. “Do it.”
After finding a sales associate and getting all of the items paid for, delivery was arranged for Monday afternoon, with the added service of having the mirror hung.
“I’d like to have it hung lengthwise on the wall, and if possible, have it on a bracket so that it could be tilted, like a big screen TV,” Malcom said, and to his credit, only appeared mildly self-conscious during the exchange.
The sales associate looked at them all for a moment and then said, “Good enough. I’ll let the delivery guys know because that’s a little more complicated than a standard hanging.”
With that done, they went out for a quick lunch, then returned to Malcom’s house, where they spent the rest of the afternoon rolling two coats of paint on the walls of the den. When it was completed, they admired their handiwork in the empty room.
“This looks great,” Malcom said approvingly, picturing how it would look with his new furniture in it.
“It does.” Jules agreed. “And I can’t wait to start painting the rest of the house.”
Chapter 67
Mirror, mirror, on the wall ...
On Monday, since Jules wasn’t able to take time off and Evan was spending the day doing inventory at Three Amigos, Malcom left work at noon so he could be home when his furniture was delivered.
He showed two of the delivery men where his furniture was to go, then took the other two upstairs to the master bedroom and pointed to where he wanted the mirror to be hung. He told himself he wasn’t embarrassed, that this couldn’t possibly be the first mirror they’d installed to overlook a bed … and even if it was, so fucking what? This wasn’t hurting anyone, and he’d never see either of these men again … and even if he did, so fucking what?
It helped a little.
Jules arrived before it was finished, which was taking longer than expected.
“How’s it going?” she asked, putting her arms around him.
“It was going fine the last time I checked,” he replied. “It’s taking longer than they thought, which is why they’re still here. I think they’re close to being done, though.”
Grabbing herself a glass of wine, she started heading out of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” Malcom called after her.
“To check out the progress.”
He quickly caught up with her on the stairs. “Are you sure?”
