Page 188 of The Holy Grail
Malcom sighed. “But the bottom line is I’m not supposed to be gay in any way, shape, or form, so in order to stay in Dad’s good graces—such as they are—Evan would have to be tossed aside like my pink shirt, and the part of me that likes men would have to be locked back in the closet. Those are Dad’s terms … but even if Iwereto comply, it’s not like he and I would actually have any kind of a relationship going forward after all this anyway. I know he knows that, which means his ultimatum is more about the optics of having a gay son than it is about maintaining our relationship.”
Beverly gave him a sad smile. “Yes, I’m afraid so. And now that I know where he obviously stands on this and what he’s capable of, it changes some things for me.”
“It does?”
“Yes. When I said the way your father treated you was unforgivable, I didn’t just mean it was unforgivable in regard to you. I also meant it was unforgivable tome, as well. No one treats my child that way, especially not my child’s father.”
Malcom’s throat tightened at his mother’s words. He hadn’t let himself have any expectations that his mom would say what he wanted and needed to hear, so hearing them filled him with unimaginable relief. On the heels of that, though, came a quick stab of worry. His mother was sounding like the female version of Michael Corleone, andMalcom could picture her in the scene where Michael tells his brother, “It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business,” with zero inflection and cold, emotionless eyes.
Was she about to go on the warpath with his father? Because of what Malcom had told her?
“I know what you’re thinking,” Beverly said.
“You do?”
“You’re worried I’m going to confront your father because of what you’ve told me.”
“I am, a little.”
“Well, don’t be.”
“Don’t be worried, because you’renotgoing to confront him?”
“Oh, no, I will be confronting him, but you just don’t need to be worried about it,” she said. “He put himself in my crosshairs the moment he said those vile things to you last night, so he will be confronted about it.”
Knowing there was nothing he could say to make her change her mind, he said, “Fine. But could you at least wait until after I deal with him first?” The last thing Malcom wanted was for it to look like he’d gone crying to his mother, and she was fighting this battle for him.
“I can wait,” she agreed.
“Thank you.”
“So, how do you plan on dealing with him?” she asked.
“Well, first I’m going to tell him to go fuck himself, something I wish I’d been able to do last night, and then live my life without a father, I guess. Those are his terms and I’m willing to accept them.” He took a breath. “I just don’t have the particulars worked out, yet. The where, the when, or the how, and I want to be able to handle it like Michael Corleone … and not Fredo.”
She actually smiled atThe Godfatherreference. “I understand, and you should take all the time you need to work out the particulars,” she said. “Make your father hear you, loud and clear.”
“I will,” he said, just as the sound of the front door opening, then closing could be heard, followed by two sets of footsteps coming down the hall. A few seconds later, Jules and Evan stepped into the kitchen and spotted Malcom sitting at the island with a cup of coffee, looking like he hadn’t slept at all, his eye and cheek still swollen and bruising nicely.
“Good morning,” Jules said quietly.
After taking a long look at the damage he’d inflicted, Evan murmured, “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Malcom returned.
“Is that Jules and Evan?” Beverly wanted to know.
“Yes,” Malcom answered.
“Is that your mom?” Jules asked.
“Yes. I was telling her what happened last night.” He turned the phone so Jules could see Beverly. “Hi, Beverly,” Jules told the other woman, leaning across the island to grab the phone.
“Hi, Jules.”
Evan moved in close to Jules, getting into the picture. “Hi, Beverly.”
“Evan,” she returned, a little flatly. “I want you to know I’m not happy about what you did to my handsome son’s face …”
