Page 52 of The Holy Grail

JULES: How are you doing today? PAIGE: I’m good. David is going to go shopping for birthday stuff with me, and Jacob wants to go, too.

Paige had finally told Jules about the tradition of buying gifts each year, to acknowledge the birthdays with something age-appropriate, and while it had made her sad Paige hadn’t confided in Jules about it years ago, she could understand the need to keep it a secret.

For a moment, she pictured her friend buying gifts for her lost baby while rubbing her ever-expanding belly, feeling sad and happy at the same time, because sometimes those emotions went hand in hand.

JULES: I’m glad they’ll be going with you.

JULES: A new spin on an old tradition. PAIGE: Yes, it will be nice.

PAIGE: We’re going to make a day of it, and have a nice lunch somewhere.

I’m thinking Indian food … I have a craving for Tandoori chicken.

Or maybe Tikka Masala. JULES: Why choose?

You’re eating for two, aren’t you? JULES: There.

Problem solved. PAIGE: OMG … PAIGE: Why didn’t I think of that?

PAIGE: Thank you! JULES: You’re welcome!

PAIGE: We’re also going to be looking at a few houses.

David really wants us settled before the baby is born.

JULES: I think that’s a good idea, but don’t tell him I said that.

JULES: So, you should definitely buy a house today—and make it a nice one, while you’re at it.

Don’t be afraid to use Carter’s money. PAIGE: You really don’t think using it would curse the house, or something like that?

JULES: Hell, no. JULES: I mean, putting some of that money in Jacob’s college fund isn’t going to curse him, is it?

JULES: No, it isn’t. So, buy a majorly nice house, the house of your dreams, then live your best fucking life in it.

PAIGE: Wow. Okay. PAIGE: So, enough about me.

How are YOU doing? PAIGE: How’s Malcom? JULES: I’m fine and he’s fine.

We’re both fine. PAIGE: Does that mean things are progressing nicely?

Even though it really went against the grain to not share things with her best friend, Jules didn’t want to get into anything even remotely related to Evan, yet (and what may or may not happen after the meeting with him in a few days), mainly because that was a tenuous situation, but also because she didn’t want Paige to be focused on anything other than incubating a baby and tiring her husband out. So, Jules kept her response neutral.

JULES: Yes, things are progressing nicely.

PAIGE: I take it you two ‘go to the mattresses’ a lot?

PAIGE: Did you see what I just did there?

JULES: You mean make a lame sexual innuendo and desecrating The Godfather ?

PAIGE: It wasn’t lame and you know it. PAIGE: Lame would have been me asking if you two were spending a lot of time playing ‘take the cannoli’.

That one was so terrible, Jules actually laughed out loud.

JULES: That probably would have ended our friendship, right there. JULES: We wouldn’t have been able to come back from that. PAIGE: Wrong. We can survive anything.

Jules smiled to herself, because Paige was her person . They truly had been through a lot, most of it good, some of it bad, and some of it really bad, but they had remained connected through it all, like sisters.

JULES: Enjoy your day, okay? PAIGE: I will. JULES: Hugs, my friend! JULES: Love you! To the mattresses and back! PAIGE: Love you, too! JULES: Say it … PAIGE: To the mattresses and back!