Chapter Twenty-Three
Jamie approached Mike’s table, just as Salzy had cleared away the empty plate. There isn’t even a drop of butter left. “How was it?” Jamie asked, smiling.
Mike looked up, his face completely relaxed. Jamie thought that’s what the man would look like after sex.
“Will you marry me?”
There was an almighty crash as Salzy dropped the plate in his hand, the cutlery scattering across the tile floor.
“You at least have to take me out for a date first,” Jamie answered, after a second of surprise, then laughing nervously.
“I’ve had many variations of that dish, and yours far exceeds most of them. That bread was beautiful. The crust crisp and then light and airy in the middle. All in all, a superb meal.”
Salzy was scrambling around on the floor cleaning up the mess he’d made, all the while glancing at Mike and Jamie.
“Would you like a cup of coffee to go with your pie?”
“Yes, please. That would be perfect, thanks.”
“Cream and sugar?” Jamie asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Would you like vanilla ice cream with your pie?”
“Wow. That’d be great!”
“I’ll get it for you.” Jamie was grinning as he turned around, off to get the pie.
Florence came into the kitchen, a tray full of dirty dishes, which she set down on the dish table next to the big industrial Hobart dishwasher. “Is this day ever going to end?” she asked Salzy, who jumped in to do the pile of dishes already there.
“Tell me about it,” Salzy mumbled. “I work all day on those stairs and then I’m waiting tables and washing dishes.”
“You have been busy today.” Florence popped her gum. “But then we all have. I bet Jamie’s been in here since five this morning.”
“I think so,” Salzy said as he pushed a loaded tray in the machine and hit the start button. He motioned for Florence to lean over. “Mike asked Jamie to marry him.” Jamie was looking at them suspiciously, trying to hear what they were saying.
Florence’s mouth fell open. “Nooo.”
“Yes.” Salzy grinned broadly. “He sure did. I heard it myself.”
Florence glanced over towards the big man. When she turned back to Salzy, she was smiling like crazy. “I’ll be damned. When you least expect it.”
“What? You don’t think he was honestly serious do you? That guy can’t be gay.”
“Honey, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, is that you never judge a book by its cover. You never know what thoughts go on in a person’s head, much less a man’s.”
“If he is...”
“If he is, then we need to make sure that Jamie doesn’t mess it the hell up!”
Salzy’s grin widened. “I have an idea, but I may need your help.”
Florence leaned in even closer. “Meet me out back when dinner is done. I do love a good matchmaking scheme.”
“Flo, will you write me out a ticket for Mike, please?” Jamie had walked up right behind the waitress but didn’t hear what she and Salzy had been talking about, even though he had tried. “Just write it out as pepper steak and use the same price as the catfish diner.”
“Yes, boss.” Florence looked at Jamie and winked. “Anything for you, boss.”
Jamie having ignored Florence’s attempt to bait him, set the apple pie à la mode down in front of Mike. “Enjoy.”
Salzy had already gotten the man his coffee and Jamie went back to cutting strawberries, watching as Mike ate his pie.
When he was done, he waited until Salzy had cleared the table.
I never asked Sal to watch his table or to do the dishes.
It definitely looks like he’s done it before. Maybe for Mamaw?
“How was the pie?” Jamie asked, having noticed there was not a crumb left on the plate.
Mike wiped his mouth with the napkin that had been covering his lap. “Where do you want to go for our date?”
* * * * *
“This is when I wish I still smoked,” Florence said as she leaned against the rear wall of the diner. “I’ve been run off my feet,” she groaned.
“Smoking is bad for you.” Salzy also leaned against the wall. “I agree with you. This has been one hell of a day.”
“Soooo...” Florence began, turning her face towards the good-looking Hispanic man. “What’s the plan?”
“Oh, I need to tell you,” Salzy was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Mike asked Jamie where he wanted to go for their first date.”
“What?” Florence’s eyebrows flew up. “What did Jamie say?”
“He just laughed and then gave him the check.”
“Oh boy. This may be easier than I thought.”
Salzy nodded. “I hope so.”
“Do you have a plan?” Florence shifted her weight, turning more towards Salzy.
“Well, you said that Mike eats here most every night?”
“Yes.”
“But tomorrow’s lunch will be the last time the diner is going to be open for some time, right?”
“Right.”
“So, where’s Mike going to go?”
Florence shook her head. “I have no idea.”
“Mike liked eating in the kitchen too, sooo, what if we convince Jamie to continue cooking Mike’s dinner? I mean, we all will have to eat anyway. That’s part of the deal that Jamie has with me. I work and get fed, and he’s going to pay me since I’m not on the road.”
Florence’s face lit up. “You’re absolutely right! You’re a genius!” She grabbed Salzy and pulled him into a big hug. “You leave the rest to me. Hot dog!” She clapped her hands. “This may work.”
“Where have the two of you been?” Jamie asked, wiping down the counters with a wet cleaning rag.
“Smoke break,” Florence said, her hands on her hips.
“Neither of you smokes.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t have a break now, does it?” Florence tossed her head towards Salzy, pulling out her lipstick. “It was hot and smelly in here and we needed some fresh air.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “It makes me suspicious when the two of you are together.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Salzy asked, picking up the broom.
“It means that when the two of you are together I don’t trust either of you.”
“Hmph,” Florence looked at Salzy. “Can you believe him?”
“No, I can’t.” Salzy started to sweep up the back part of the kitchen, just like Ms. Mattie had liked.
Jamie continued cleaning, glancing at Salzy from time to time. I just know the two of them are up to something. But what?
When all the cleaning was done, the dining room was set for the next morning, the staff gathered in the kitchen before leaving for the night.
“I want to thank all of you, especially Salzy, for stepping it up tonight. It was a very long day, and I know we’re all tired, but thank you. Thank you so, so much.”
“All I can say is I’m glad we’re only doing breakfast and lunch tomorrow,” Walter said, rubbing his head.
Timmy nodded.
“Now, on Sunday,” Jamie started when Florence groaned.
He looked at her, his face slack. “On Sunday, I’m going to cook us all brunch.
We can start at nine a.m. packing up stuff.
I’ll get us a bunch of boxes, or I’ll get Salzy to pick them up when he gets paint, and we can pack up as much stuff as we can. ”
“I was in as soon as you said you’re gonna be cooking,” Dexter said with a wide grin.
“I can live with that,” Walter said.
“Okay, then.” Jamie wiped his face with a towel. “Let’s call it a night, and I hope everyone gets some good sleep. I know I will. I think we’re all exhausted.”
“You got that one right,” Hazel said as she made her way to the back door. “’Night all.”
Jamie watched as the employees left. People he had known most of his life. This really is a family. He smiled as he closed and locked the back door.
“How about a cold beer?” Salzy was sitting on the bottom step of Jamie’s apartment.
“Yeah. Sounds good.” Jamie followed Salzy up the steps, each of them moving slowly. “The stairs look good, by the way.”
“Thanks.” Salzy held open the screen door for Jamie.
“Why hello, fellas,” Joesph greeted them, sitting at the table. “Busy night.”
“You know it,” Salzy said. “I need a really, really cold beer.”
“Go on and go sit on the back porch, and I’ll bring it to you,” Joesph volunteered. “You both look like whipped dogs.”
“Thanks,” Jamie said, pulling off his T-shirt. “I stink.”
“We both do.” Salzy also took off his AC/DC T-shirt.
Jamie groaned as he sat down in the rocking chair. “I can’t believe how busy this day was.”
“I’ve never seen the diner so busy,” Salzy commented as he sat.
“Here ya go.” Joesph handed both men a cold beer, a third one for himself.
They said their thanks and just sat there a moment in silence.
“You don’t know how loud that kitchen is until it’s quiet,” Salzy almost whispered.
“Yeah, that exhaust fan will make you deaf,” Jamie commented. “Makes you not even want to talk.”
“Damn, this beer is good.” Salzy glugged more beer and then swiped it across his forehead.
“Jamie, you know I love you, right?” Joesph asked, leaning against the railing, his own beer in hand.
“Oh hell.” Jamie’s head fell forward. “Why does this scare the hell out me?”
“I was thinking...”
“Did it hurt?” Jamie asked, snickering. “Ow, that hurt!” Jamie rubbed the spot on top of his head where Joesph had hit him.
“You deserved that one,” Salzy laughed.
“You’re no help,” Jamie snarked.
“As I was saying,” Josphe continued. “I know it’s late, well, late for you, seeing as it’s barely nine o’clock, but I wanted to talk a wee bit of business with you.” He held his forefinger and thumb, not quite touching.
“Can’t it wait till tomorrow? I’m really beat. I’m so tired I’m afraid of drowning in the shower.”
“If you do, it’ll be a moot point, but...” Joesph took a deep breath. “I was thinking I’d waive all my commission fees for you, which would help with the cost of the renovations.”
Jamie looked up. “And?”
“And in return, you would let me document the renovations and let me use that on my website. You know, like before and after photos.” Joesph took a sip from his beer.
Jamie looked at Salzy, who only shrugged. “It might be good advertising,” Salzy said.
“Okay, I guess. But it won’t cause any delays or anything, would it?”
“No, no. I’d just like to go down there tomorrow and take a whole lot of photos before anything starts.”
“It has to be before nine Sunday morning. That’s when everyone is coming to box everything up.”
“That’s no problem for me.” Joesph took the three empty beer bottles. “I’ll get us another round, and then you can go to bed. You really do look and smell like something that the cat threw up.”