Page 23 of The Holy Grail
Richard’s face came into view as he looked at the phone over Edie’s shoulder. “Hey, Freckles.”
“Hey, Dad.”
“So, what’s going on? What do I need to weigh in on? Stocks?”
“It’s not about her stocks,” Edie answered. “It’s about a man.”
Richard cocked his head to first look at his wife, then Jules. “A man? Do I need to put someone in the hospital?”
Jules laughed at the thought of her diminutive father putting someone in the hospital, let alone a man at least six inches taller than he was. “Take it easy, Dad.”
“What? I could do it. For you, I’d make it happen.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.”
He rubbed his hands together. “All right, so what’s going on? I’m ready to weigh in.”
Edie quickly proceeded to share with Richard everything Jules had said, and when Edie was finished, he pursed his mouth and said, “Are you sure you want to proceed with this man, and not just let it go? I mean, if he was still interested, he would have called you back, right? And the fact he didn’t immediately call my beautiful daughter back tells me he’s an idiot, and you’re probably better off without him.”
“I think I agree with your dad on this—not the part about Malcom being an idiot because we don’t know that for sure,” she said, giving Richard a reproachful look. “However, I think the rest of it is valid. It really might be too late.”
“I know. But I won’t know for sure until he tells me it’s too late, and I think I need to hear that, or else I won’t be able to let it go,” Jules said. “I want a chance to explain, andthen, if itistoo late, I can apologize to him properly. But I need to get him to talk to me first.”
Her parents were both silent for a moment, and then Edie said, “All right, well, you could try calling him again—”
“No,” Richard interrupted. “Flowers.”
“Flowers?” both women repeated.
“Yes, flowers,” Richard insisted. “Men like to get flowers, too, and since we hardly ever do, I think it would be unexpected. Impactful, even.”
“Impactful,” Jules mused, at the same time Edie said, “That’s actually a good idea, honey. I’ll have to remember that the next time I make you upset.”
“You never make me upset,” Richard insisted, kissing her temple.
Jules good-naturedly rolled her eyes at them, used to the fact they were always way too happy with one another. “Okay, I’ll send him flowers. What kind would you suggest?”
Richard was quick to answer, “Not roses. That would be boring, and my beautiful daughter is the opposite of boring.”
“I would send him some hydrangeas,” Edie suggested. “They’re sort of gender neutral, but I think they’d be … impactful.”
“Hydrangeas … okay.” Jules nodded slowly, liking that option a lot. “Thanks.”
“That’s perfect,” Jules said to the florist on the following Monday, pointing to a simple bouquet of blue hydrangeas in a square, glass vase, with bits of baby’s breath mixed in. They were also close to the color of Malcom’s eyes.
The florist, a slightly older man, carried the arrangement over to the cash register and pointed to the display stand filled with various card options to enclose with the flowers. “I don’t get too many women sending flowers to a man on Valentine’s Day. It’s usually the other way around.”
Jules had completely forgotten about Valentine’s Day, as it was a holiday that meant very little to her, as she’d never been on a date with anyone on that particular day, norcelebrated it with anyone. “Oh, shit. Sorry,” she quickly apologized for her language. “They’re not meant to be Valentine’s Day related, so let’s change the delivery date to Thursday, instead.”
“We can do that.”
“Thank you. I’m trying to make a … conciliatory gesture … to someone who’s not very happy with me,” Jules explained, looking over the selection of cards, and ending up choosing a plain one without an occasion listed on it.
The florist frowned at that claim, seemingly having a hard time believing it. “Well, a nice bouquet of flowers should help your cause,” he said neutrally.
“I hope so.”
Jules thought for a moment, then wrote,I’m not giving up, yet, and signed her name. She then pulled out one of her business cards and wrote a phone number on the back, along with,For a character reference, feel free to call my mom. Her name is Edie, to be funny, hoping he might appreciate her turnabout. After putting the two cards in the tiny envelope, she handed it to the florist and arranged for delivery on Thursday at the law firm Malcom worked for, and left.
