Chapter Fourteen
Salzy strode into the apartment, letting the screen door slam behind him.
He hefted up two plastic bags. “I wasn’t sure what you liked to drink, so I got two twelve packs.
You seemed to have liked the Modelo I had, so I got that, and then I got Becks.
I like both so...” Salzy looked closely at Jamie, his eyebrows furrowed. “What’s up? You look... different.”
“I’m staying,” Jamie said. “I’ll put those in the fridge.” He took the beer from Salzy.
“What do you mean, you’re ‘staying’?”
Jamie opened the refrigerator, looking inside, he saw a half-used pint of milk, which he knew would be off.
There was a nearly empty jar of Miracle Whip and he chucked both into the sink.
He took one of the Becks and one of the Modelos, handing that one to Salzy.
Jamie shoved the case of beer into the fridge and turned to face the man behind him.
“It means that I’m going to move back to Columbus and run the diner.”
Salzy’s mouth fell open. After a moment, he let out a loud whoop and grabbed Jamie into a big hug. Just as quickly, he let Jamie go and did a little happy dance, spilling some of his beer.
“You get to clean that up.” Jamie said with a smirk. “What would Mamaw say?”
Salzy stopped. “First off, I think she’d tan your ass for bringing beer into her house and then she’d make you clean it up! That’s what I think.”
Jamie pointed to Salzy. “You brought the beer in, and you spilled it. You clean it up.”
They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
* * * * *
They sat outside on the veranda. Jamie in Papaw’s rocking chair, and Salzy in Mamaw’s.
They didn’t say much till they’d finished their first beer.
Salzy got them a second, again, letting the screen door slam behind him.
When he sat down, he looked at Jamie and then back out towards the new spring growth in the fields.
“What made you decide to stay?”
Jamie thought a moment. “I think... I think it’s where I belong.”
“Yeah,” Salzy quietly agreed. “I think you’re right.” He leaned over and slugged Jamie lightly on the shoulder. “We can be brothers.”
Jamie looked at Salzy and frowned, rubbing his shoulder. “That doesn’t mean you get to hit me.”
“Sure it does. We’re brothers!”
“Since when do brothers get to slug each other?”
Salzy rolled his eyes. “All brothers beat on each other. It’s the law.”
“Law? Assault isn’t law, no matter who it is.”
“Listen, I have two brothers, and we are always fighting each other. It’s fun.”
“I don’t see what is fun about fighting.” Jamie looked away from the other man. “As I remember, fighting was painful and... humiliating.”
Salzy was quiet. “You were bullied, weren’t you?” he said softly.
Jamie nodded.
“See, this is where brothers come in handy. You fight one of us, you fight all of us. We always have each other’s backs.”
“But it’s okay for your brothers to beat on each other?”
Salzy faced Jamie, a huge smile on his face. “It sure is.”
Jamie shook his head. “That makes no sense.”
“It does. You’ll see.” Salzy took a long sip of his beer. “Now, what did you want my opinion on, and didn’t you say we’d look at refrigerators?”
“Already done.” Jamie smiled. “I ordered it while you were out getting beer. You’re also getting a new mattress. I know mine sucks, so I’m sure yours does as well. I know you rent that apartment furnished, so you don’t get a word in the matter other than thank you.”
“That’s two words.”
“Oh, for hell’s sake.” Jamie sipped his beer. “How long have you lived here?”
Salzy sat back, rocking slightly. “Let me see... almost two years, I think.”
“You like living here.” Jamie kept his eyes forward.
“Well, yeah. It’s like having a family home.” He turned towards Jamie. “What’s this all about? You want me to clear out?”
“No, nothing like that.” He turned towards Salzy. “I’m just mulling things over in my head. It’s like... like reading a road map right now. Trying to figure things out is all.”
“Okay.”
They sat for a while longer, nursing their beers, when there was a yell. “Jamie, you up there?” It was Dexter.
“Yeah, Dex, out on the back veranda. Come on up,” Jamie yelled back.
The Black man opened the screen door to the veranda. “It sure is cooler out here; it’s getting hot already. I bet this summer is going to be a scorcher.” He wiped his forehead with a bandana pulled from his back pocket.
“Walter sent me up here. He says there’s no need for you to work tonight. He doesn’t think that we’ll be busy, and there’s still plenty of corn bread and biscuits.” He looked at the two men and then at the beers they held. “Laws-a-mercy. Ms. Mattie is sure ’nough rollin’ in her grave.”
Salzy laughed. “I told him that.”
Jamie smiled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she came back to haunt my butt.” He turned towards Dexter, smiling. “Tell Walter thanks for me. I could use a day off.”
Dexter nodded. “Boss, I think you deserve more than just a day off. You should take a few off.”
“I agree,” Salzy added. “It isn’t right for you to take on the world all at once, especially with... well, you know.”
Jamie looked out over the fields. “I’ll think about it.”
“Well, I’ll go and tell Walter. You guys enjoy your evening.”
Dexter walked back inside, not letting the screen door slam behind him.
Jamie leaned over and slugged Salzy.
“What the hell, man?” Salzy rubbed his shoulder.
“That’s for letting the screen door slam.” Jamie smiled, not looking at Salzy.
“That hurt.”
“It was meant to.” Jamie glanced over at the other man. “It’s so you remember not to let the door slam.”
Salzy grunted, still rubbing his arm. “What opinions you wanting?”
Jamie scooted the rocking chair around so he could see his new friend.
“The first thing was to get your take on me staying on here and running the diner. I think we covered that.” He smiled.
“Thanks for that, by the way. The other was what your plans were, and if you planned on staying here. Again, covered that.” Jamie took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“The other things mostly have to do with the diner and... well, how it’s been run and looking towards potential growth. ”
Salzy scooted his chair around to look directly at Jamie. “You do realize I have no clue as to how to run a restaurant, right? I don’t know what you think I could contribute to that conversation.”
“You know this area better than what you’re letting on. I also think you have opinions, and there isn’t a lot of things that you don’t notice.”
“Hmm...” Salzy looked around. “Well, I’ve told you that things look like they need a major update.”
“And I’m working on that. I’ve decided to do a complete overhaul on the diner. I also think that I’m going to do this apartment and yours as well at some point. Don’t know when, but it only makes sense. It’s way past due, and it will only increase the property value.”
Salzy blinked a few times. “There’s Mr. Solan. I sometimes don’t even know who I’m talking to. Sometimes you’re like Ms. Mattie, then just you, and then your grandfather. It’s like you have three personalities sometimes.”
Jamie had to laugh. He held out his empty beer bottle.
“Yeah, yeah. I see how it is now. I’m just more hired help.” He stood taking the two empties. He paused. “You’re serious about renovating both apartments?”
“Yep.”
“I have a wish list.” Salzy smiled before going inside.
“Oh hell,” Jamie said, making sure it was loud enough for Salzy to hear.
When he had a fresh beer in hand, Jamie asked, “What’s on the list?”
Grinning like a loon, Salzy answered, “I’d like a hot tub.”
“Not gonna happen.” Jamie shifted in his seat and crossed his legs, then took a big slug of beer. “Maybe later we can think about a joint use one. But it won’t be anytime soon.”
“I could live with that.” Salzy took a drink.
“What I do think is that you should extend this veranda and make a big deck. Get like a grill and some tables and chairs. Take advantage of the short winters.” He indicated the fields that would be full of wildflowers and wildlife come summer. “I mean, this view is great.”
Jamie looked out. The breeze was picking up now that the hottest part of the day had passed. “I’ve always liked being out here.”
“Ya know...” Salzy paused and then stood up. “You could make a super big deck that would connect the garage apartment and this one, and that’d give us covered parking underneath. Be like a big U-shape.”
Jamie stood up. “You have a great eye for things like that. I agree with you; it is a good idea.”
“And... there would be plenty of space for that hot tub!”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “We’ll see. First off, I need to get the diner redone. What do you think of the current menu?”
“Huh?” Salzy shook his head. “I don’t know. What do you mean?”
“How many things on that menu would you order?”
“Um...” Salzy thought for a bit. “Personally, I like the ham and egg platter. One of my favourites. For sure, the biscuits and gravy. Oh, and I do like your biscuits better.” He shook his head.
“I’m sorry Ms. Mattie,” he said, looking skyward.
“The meat loaf is okay, if not a little bland, and I’m not sure it should be on the menu every day. Maybe make it a special once a week?”
“Okay, okay.” Jamie stood. “Let’s go inside so I can write all this down.” He looked down at Salzy. “This is what I’m talking about. You just kinda know things. Fresh eyes. I don’t think that menu has changed much in over twenty years!”