Chapter Eight
Flo had just turned the closed sign over to open on the diner’s door when Jamie walked in. Jamie looked at Flo, and she had the biggest shit-eating grin on her face. She nodded slightly to Jamie before walking back to the kitchen window and shouted something to Walter.
Jamie went into the kitchen and was about to start making corn bread when Dexter stopped him. “Jamie, we have enough corn bread for tonight already. No sense in making more.”
“What about biscuits?”
“Yep, plenty.”
“Is there anything you need me to do?” Jamie was about to put on a clean cooks shirt.
Dexter stopped him. “What I need you to do is to go on upstairs and have some time to yourself. It isn’t going to be so busy tonight. Matter of fact, Flo sent Minnie to stop by and look in on Timmy on her way home. Walter and I fixed them up a big plate for the both of them.”
“Wow, it’s that slow at dinner? It used to be full in here.” Jamie looked through the order up window. “I know Tuesdays weren’t the busiest of nights, but it was still a decent night.”
“Yeah, it’s been steadily going down for a while now.” Dexter looked into Jamie’s eyes. “I hate to put all this on you, but if you don’t step up and do something, and quick, this diner won’t be here next year.”
When Jamie went out the back door, he saw Salzy sitting on the bumper of his big semi. Jamie waved, and Salzy waved for him to come over.
“Want to come up for a beer? Looks like you could use one.”
“I thought your fridge was on the fritz?” Jamie said.
“It is, but I do know how to operate a cooler, ya know.” He pointed his thumb back towards his rig. “How do you think I manage on the road?”
Jamie snorted. “You make a valid point, my friend. And yes, I will take you up on the beer. Also, tomorrow I want you to go and find the fridge you want and then let me know which one it is, and I’ll get it delivered.”
“Whoa, now.” Salzy stopped walking. “I never asked you to go and buy me a refrigerator.”
“Nope, you didn’t. But you pay rent here, don’t you?”
“Well, yeah. Not all that much, though.” Salzy kicked at the loose gravel.
“I’ve been... wanting to talk to you about that too.
” He stopped walking. “Basically, I pay squat in rent. Only a hundred bucks a month. I know your grandparents could have gotten a lot more from some of the army guys, but they wouldn’t hear of it. ”
“Things stand as they were, at least for now. You pay rent, so you need to have a refrigerator to make it a legal rental. You can’t be expected to rent a place, and it not have a flipping refrigerator in it.”
“Okay.” Salzy stopped at the bottom of the stairs to go up to the apartment over the garage. “You’ve made your point. But I’m not going to go and pick out the most expensive one they have just to have one, ya know.”
“I know.” He pushed Salzy up a step. “Hurry up. I want that beer and... well, maybe talk some business with you.”
Salzy rolled his eyes. “I swear, sometimes I think you’re your grandmother and then you say shit like that, and then I think your Mr. Solan.”
Jamie chuckled. “Maybe a little of both?”
“Oh, lordy, help me now.”
Salzy opened the can of beer and handed it to Jamie. “Have a seat.”
Jamie sat on the old sofa. Even with a throw blanket on it, he could tell how shabby the old sofa was. He took another long sip of beer. “When did you say you were heading out again?”
Salzy squinted his eyes. “Did Flo say something to you?”
“No. Why? Actually, she didn’t say one word to me when I came back from meeting Mr. Brown.”
“They cancelled my next big run. That was always my run. I’ve been doing it for a solid year. One of the biggest I have.” Salzy drained his beer and went to the cooler to get another one.
“Uh... why?”
“Punishment.” Salzy flopped down next to Jamie. “I asked for an extra day to be around here after Ms. Mattie and all. Now they took away not one but two runs from me. I think they’re wanting me to miss a payment on my rig so they can fire me is what I think they want.”
“That sounds... well, kinda stupid if you ask me. If you got a good employee who is reliable and paying for his truck, why would you sack him?”
“Humph. The old man’s daughter just got married to some bum who can’t hold a job down.” Salzy looked at Jamie. “See now?”
“Ahh, I gotcha now.” Jamie thought for a moment. “How much do you need to make that payment?”
“I am not taking money from you. I don’t do charity.” Salzy’s face was turning red.
“And I’m not looking to give you any, so there.” Jamie took a swig of beer. “That run to Jacksonville was to be today, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“And how long was that big run they just cancelled on you?”
Salzy lowered his chin. “It takes me about three weeks round trip.”
“How much do they pay you?”
“Gettin’ pretty nosy there, aren’t ya?”
“I was just thinking...” Jamie leaned over, his elbows on his knees, cradling the beer can in both hands. “What about doing some work around here on the diner? Make enough to make up the money you’d have earned with them?”
Salzy blinked a few times. “Really? You’d do that for me?”
“Well, it isn’t just for you.” Jamie drained his beer and handed the empty to Salzy. “Got another one of those?”
“Yeah, sure.” Salzy got Jamie another beer.
“It seems like Papaw was a rather shrewd businessman.”
Salzy snorted. “I could have told you that.”
“It also seems that Mamaw didn’t do much with the money when he passed, and it’s all sitting in the credit union.”
“How much you talkin’ about?” Salzy frowned slightly.
“I don’t know the amount, but I do know it’s a lot.” Jamie smiled. “I’m thinking I’m going to close the diner for renovations, send all the staff on a vacation, and just get it done. Want to help?”
“I could kiss you.”
Jamie grinned and pursed his lips.
“Yeah, no. I ain’t gonna kiss you.”
“See what I get?” Jame teased.
Surprisingly, Salzy leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s all you’re getting!”
“Okay.” Jamie smiled. “I can live with that.” They both laughed.
Salzy’s stomach growled.
“Why don’t I go and make us something to eat?” Jamie was about to get up.
“I got a better idea.” Salzy smiled, then drained his beer. “Why don’t I treat you to some of the best, most authentic Mexican food there is to be had anywhere close to here?”
“Oh, I am so in.” Jamie was about to drain his beer before Salzy took it away from him.
“You’re driving.” Salzy gave him a smarmy smile. “I buy, you fly. The only vehicle I have is that rig.”