“Come in Jim, everyone else is in the kitchen.” She said as she led the way up the stairs.
“Okay…” I managed as I followed her up the stairs. I wondered if that wiggle was new or was Maggie doing that for my benefit as I watched her skirt sway provocatively as she climbed the short stairs to the living room. Following Maggie into the kitchen I found Penny in her usual chair on one side of the table and Jules at the far end to her right and Michelle across the table from Penny. All three had a cup of coffee in their hands. Maggie’s cup was at her empty seat at the near end of the table where she had been sitting before I rang the bell. More likely they had heard me pull up out front and Maggie had practically met me at the door as I rang the bell I thought. Penny noticed the box in my hands and those bright blue eyes sparkled as she pursed her lips and turned her head slightly in a silent question. Obviously she recognized the doughnut shop logo on the box, it was after all a local favorite. I smiled and offered her the box.
“Yeah, I stopped and got some doughnuts, I didn’t know what everyone liked so I got a mixed variety. I figured it was an early start and I wasn’t sure who might have had breakfast and who might not have…” I explained. Jules gave me her typical smirk but I saw a smile in her eyes all the same. Michelle squealed and set her coffee cup down and clapped her hands excitedly. Maggie slipped her right hand around my waist as she still stood behind her chair rather than sitting down.
“That was very thoughtful of you darling… Yes it was going to be a coffee only kind of morning as both Penny and I have appointments to attend to this morning. We are going to leave you younger ones to your work I’m afraid. We will be back sometime this evening though.” Maggie spoke as much to the group as to me. It was then that I noticed that Penny too was dressed to go out. She wore floral print dress with a short split on the side from just below the knee to just above it. There was a wide red belt that gathered it about her waist. She had some nude colored stockings or panty hose I’m not sure which and her feet were in some boxy looking low square heeled shoes. Her luscious full lips were a pinkish blushed color from lipstick or gloss, some faint light blue eye shadow highlighted her eyes and her strawberry blond curls were actually tamed into a fashionable wave… well… almost tamed. Nothing could ever completely subdue her locks.
“Before you go could you take another look at the apartment and let us know if there’s anything in particular that we need to move or cover up as we get started today?” Jules asked the ladies as she stood with a Danish in hand. Penny patted her lips with a napkin and stood as well, gathering her cup and saucer to put in the sink. Michelle took her cue from the other two and stood collecting her own cup. Maggie noticed that it was not empty and spoke up.
“Michelle darling, if you’re not finished with your coffee, you can take it downstairs with you, there’s still half a pot left so you all can finish it if you like.” Maggie said as she picked up her empty cup and handed it to Penny. Jules carried her empty cup to the sink and handed it to Penny as well. “Jim? Would you like some coffee?” Maggie asked. I declined as I don’t particularly care for coffee other than the wonderful smell. We all headed to the doorway to go downstairs, Michelle stepped back and grabbed another jelly doughnut to take with her cup of coffee downstairs. I grinned and followed her and the other ladies. Through the beaded curtain and doorway to the apartment, I listened to Jules asking about moving furniture away from the walls, like the wet bar, TV, the couch and lamps. She asked about removing the pictures from the walls. Originally Jules was thinking about moving the furniture out of the room entirely, maybe into the hallway but I suggested that it would be easier to move it all to the center of the room that way a single drop cloth could be draped over it all to protect it. Paint rollers on long handles would make it easy to paint the ceiling over the furniture. Jules nodded her head in appreciation as she thought about it and agreed.
“Good idea Jimbo… smart thinking.” She said and grinned at me. As they went through the galley kitchen on their way to the bedroom Penny took me by my elbow and held me back. Once everyone else was out of earshot she leaned over to me to whisper in my ear.
“Darling, Jules is going to be leaving you and Michelle to yourselves shortly as she told Maggie and I that she had to check up on a couple of other jobs she’s got going today as well…” Penny pulled back and smiled at me with a sly knowing look in her eye. My puzzled expression must have tickled her as she giggled a bit before I felt her slipping something into my hand and closing my fingers over it. “I’m not saying you will need this, but just in case, it’s better to be prepared than not… Trust you feelings.” She said as she patted the top of my closed hand then walked ahead to join the others in the bedroom. Looking down and opening my hand I saw that she had slipped me a condom still in its little square foil wrapper. “What the?” My mind asked. I hurriedly tucked it into my back pocket and followed Penny to join the others.
“Yes, just pull the bed a couple of feet away from the wall and the night stands as well. This dresser will be a little hard to move maybe, but we can pull all the drawers out to move it then put the drawers back.” I heard Jules talking with Michelle and Maggie. “I’ve got a shop-vac I’ll bring by tomorrow or Wednesday to use to vacuum the corners and the walls and ceilings before we paint anything.” Jules went on.
“So we’re just moving furniture today, and taking pictures and things off the walls?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got the paint ordered, it should be all mixed and ready in a day or so, we’ve still got to get the prep work done first though. I told Maggie and Penny earlier that I’ve got to go check on a couple of other jobs I’ve got going this morning so I’m going to leave this to you and Michelle, you two think you can handle this?” Jules asked me and looked at Michelle. Michelle looked and me and shrugged with a curious grin on her face.
“Sure, no problems I think. Do you have some drop cloths or tarps with you?” I said to Jules and saw Maggie standing beside her with a thoughtful expression on her face as she studied Michelle and glanced at me.
“Yeah, I got a couple out in my car, I was going to ask you to come get them before I left.” She confirmed.
“Speaking of leaving, it’s time Penny and I took our leave as well. Penny I think the job is well in hand, if you’re ready?” Maggie spoke as she patted Jules on her shoulder. “Call us if you need anything Jules darling.” She added as she and Penny turned to go. Michelle said she was going to get some more coffee and asked if we wanted any or maybe a doughnut. I declined but told her to just bring the rest of the box downstairs, we could leave it in the galley kitchen as we worked.