Chapter Thirteen
Jamie had stopped by the largest grocery store in town.
He was glad to see that it had been remodeled and upscaled as well.
It was good to know that he could get good cheeses and a wide selection of sausage when he needed them.
He’d lucked out and got some really good quality Andouille sausage, a key ingredient for his shrimp and grits.
He hurried up his shopping, keeping in mind that he had raw shrimp in the car and the day was warm. Not really hot as yet since it was still just springtime, but too warm to leave raw proteins in the car.
As he pulled in behind the diner, he saw Salzy using a power washer on the steps to the garage apartment.
He was on the bottom step, having worked from the top down.
They each waved as Jamie hauled the groceries into the diner.
Setting everything down on the biscuit table, he glanced at the wall clock. It was just passed two thirty.
Jamie put everything away, making sure that the shrimp were okay and on a new bed of ice in a strainer. He made sure that everything he needed for the staff dinner was placed together, and he put a Hands Off! sign on the trays.
Closing the walk-in behind him, he noticed that the kitchen was set up for dinner service.
He looked out at the dining room, and it was also ready, but no one was around.
The back door had been locked, which wasn’t all that unusual.
The dining room was dark, and the closed sign on the front door.
He knew the kitchen staff would be back about three thirty, and the waitresses would be back later to be open by five.
He went out back to see Salzy hauling the pressure washer into the garage. Jamie could see that both sets of stairs had been washed and six treads had been replaced. Two up to the garage apartment and four on the stairs to his place. His place? Where did that come from?
“Whew,” Salzy said. He lifted the bottom of his T-shirt to wipe his face. Jamie got a quick look at his Salzy’s tight stomach and the dark trail of hair from his navel to where it disappeared behind the top of his jeans. “That was a job.”
Jamie smiled. “I bet it was. Looks like that pressure washer is heavy.”
“It’s not too bad until you try and keep it balanced so it doesn’t pull you down the stairs. It vibrates pretty good.”
Jamie nodded. “I see you got those treads replaced.”
“It took me longer to find the circular saw than it actually did to fit them in place. I screwed them in instead of nailing.” He shook his head slowly. “Gonna have to clean out that garage. Can’t find anything in there.”
“One step at a time, my friend. One at a time.” Jamie looked at Salzy’s apartment. “Did you find a refrigerator?”
“No, not yet. I’ll have a shower first and then look online and see what I can find. Will more than likely go to the big box store. They usually have the best prices for a decent brand.”
“That’s a good idea. Why not grab a shower and come over? We can look together. Might be able to just order it online and have it delivered.”
“Good idea.” Salzy lifted his arm and took a big whiff. “I stink.” He looked up. “You got any beer?”
Jamie laughed. “I was just at the store and didn’t get any. I knew I’d forget something.” He pulled out his wallet and pushed some cash at Salzy. “Why don’t you run and get us some when you’re done. I’d like to get your opinion on a few things.”
Salzy tilted his head to one side. “I’m not... I’m not sure how to put this, but I did tell you I wasn’t gay, right?”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “Don’t go flattering yourself. And why would you even ask that?”
“It’s just I’m not good at doing colors or decorating shit, ya know.” Salzy’s eyebrows shot up. “What? I’m not hot enough for you?”
Jamie laughed. “Well, I did kiss you, didn’t I? And no, I’m not asking your opinion of any of that.”
“Ha! You did.” He smiled brightly, his white, even teeth looked brighter against his dark skin. “You kissed me. You think I’m hot!” He waggled his eyebrows.
“You want that beer or not?”
Salzy turned and sang and danced across the small parking area behind the diner. “He thinks I’m ho-ho-hot,” doing a little cha-cha-cha step as he went.
Jamie shook his head as he climbed the stairs.
As soon as he opened the door, he pulled off his shirt.
I wish I had a pair of shorts. He turned on the oscillating fan before he sat and opened his computer.
He pulled up the big Homes store website.
He found a large range of refrigerators.
He took the bull by the horns and just added one to the shopping cart.
He sat forward and stretched out his back. “Damn, that bed is going to kill me.”
He turned his attention to mattresses. I might as well get all new mattresses for his apartment and the garage apartment. He remembered how shabby that sofa was in Salzy’s apartment. Jamie had a look around him. Just like in the diner, everything was old and just plain ol’ worn out.
Jamie stood up and walked out to the back veranda.
He ran his hand along the back of one of the two rocking chairs.
The one where his Papaw had died. The view from here wasn’t bad.
Most of it just patches of weed filled fields.
It made Jamie wonder just how far back the property line was and how much of it Papaw and Mamaw owned.
How much he owned. “It... just doesn’t seem real. ”
There was a slight breeze, and Jamie lifted his arms up over his head, trying to catch as much of it as he could.
He let his head drop forward, his eyes closed.
Taking a deep breath and let it out slowly.
He opened his eyes and saw that the floor of the veranda needed some love.
Everywhere he looked, he was struck by how shabby things looked.
“What am I going to do? What do I want?”
Jamie returned to the small table, looked at what all he’d picked out and hit purchase. He busied himself setting up a delivery for the next day. He sighed and then smiled. Salzy will just have to suck it up. I’m buying him a new fridge and mattress whether he likes it or not.
No sooner had he thought that he heard the old truck pull in, and the engine shut off. He was quickly learning the sound of Salzy’s footsteps.
“Honey, I’m home,” Salzy called out. “I have beer.”
A wide grin broke Jamie’s solemn face. I’m staying.