Chapter Twenty-Six
“Don’t worry about cleaning anything in the dining room,” Jamie told the three waitresses. “Unless it’s something that has to be cleaned.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Hazel said, her feet propped up on a chair in front of her.
“I’m going to have a look at what’s in the walk-in. I’ll make us all dinner. Don’t know what it’ll be yet. I want to clean out whatever is in there.”
“As long as I don’t have to get up for it,” Florence said.
Jamie looked over at Minnie. The poor woman looked utterly worn out.
“I’ll let ya know.”
When Jamie went back into the kitchen, Walter was talking about something with Mike. Joesph was busy with Salzy, putting away all the dishes, while Timmy and Dexter were dealing with pots, pans, and sheet pans.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I need Walter for a few moments.”
“Sure thing.” Mike smiled. “I’ll just head off unless you have something else for me to do?”
“No, nothing for you to do. I really owe you for today. I don’t know what we’d have done had you not shown up when you did.”
“I was glad to help.” He pointed to Walter. “Walter made me up a burger and some fries, so it’s all good.”
“Speaking of food, why don’t you hang around. I’m going to cook us all some dinner. Don’t know what it will be yet. It’ll depend on what’s in the walk-in.” Jamie pointed to the big refrigerator. “I need to empty it all out since we’re going to be closed for a few weeks. Well, about a month or so.”
Mike scowled. “Yeah, I saw the sign on the door. Can’t say that I’m happy about it, but I understand.”
“Yeah, well... since you brought that up, I was hoping to have a word with you about that. Can you wait around?”
Mike smiled. “If you’re cooking, I can wait around.”
Walter and Jamie went into the walk-in and did a quick inventory. “What’s left in the freezer?” Jamie asked.
“Not a whole lot. We really depleted most of our supplies. Jamie, I gotta be honest with you, I can’t ever remember us being that busy. In all the years I’ve worked here, I... just never.”
“Yeah, me either.” Jamie looked around, and there wasn’t much at all. Of all the eggs that Mike had picked up, there were only one dozen left. There wasn’t even any chicken. “Damn nation, there isn’t enough here to make us dinner.”
“Dry pantry is pretty much done. A few onions, maybe a few potatoes, but that’s about it. I don’t reckon there’s enough flour to make a batch of biscuits.”
“Not much to worry on that account. There’s no butter or lard left. I used all of it today.”
“Okay, then what do you have in mind?”
Jamie smiled. “How about Mexican?”
“You’re gonna make Mexican? Out of what?”
“I think we all deserve a night off, including me.” Jamie smiled. “Come on.”
Walter followed Jamie out of the walk-in, shaking his head.
“Oh... Saaalzy... wherefore art thou?” Jamie sang out.
“What do you want now?” Salzy was standing in front of the dish pit, holding what looked like a glass of iced tea. “You want blood now? Haven’t I worked enough?”
“I don’t want you to do anything except maybe make a phone call.”
Salzy squinted his eyes. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch.” Jamie leaned against the counter of the dish pit.
“I was wondering if you’d call that Mexican place you took me to and make a reservation for tonight.
For all of us. There’s not enough here for me to make us dinner, and quite frankly, I’m as tired as the rest of you.
So how about I treat us to a good Mexican dinner? ”
“Okay.” Salzy pulled out his phone. “That I can do.” He looked at Jamie, his face deadpan. “I’m not drinking tequila. Not with you.” He looked at Joesph, who was standing close by. “And especially not with you!”
“And you’re coming too,” He said to Mike, who was looking lost. “How are you with margaritas?”
* * * * *
Jamie got Dexter to call his friend, who was, in actuality, his cousin, to get them all a ride to the Mexican restaurant that Salzy had taken him to before.
As luck would have it, they were all able to ride together in the shuttle bus that was used to take people to and from the airport or other special occasions.
It was probably the same bus that the staff would take to Atlanta in a few days.
Once they were all seated in a large back alcove. Jamie studied the setup. It was big enough to accommodate a large party and was semi-private from the rest of the restaurant.
Salzy and Jamie had previously discussed what was on the menu and decided to order a multitude of dishes to be served family style, so everyone could help themselves to whatever they wanted.
“Oh, and can we get a few pitchers of margaritas?” Jamie asked after Salzy had ordered all the food.
“Voy a tomar una cerveza, por favor,” Salzy said, looking at Jamie. “I told you I wasn’t drinking tequila. I’m having beer.”
While the place was busy, it wasn’t exactly full. Jamie noticed that most of the patrons were Hispanic.
The group were chatting away, smiling and enjoying themselves.
“I like Mexican food too,” Mike said as he leaned over towards Jamie, having seated himself right next to him. “I’ve not been here before or even knew it was here.”
Jamie nodded towards Salzy. “Salzy turned me on to it. It’s some of the best I’ve ever had.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
A server, whom Jamie suspected was the bartender, brought over two pitchers of margaritas and a single beer. A robust woman brought out baskets of tortilla chips and multiple bowls of salsa and salsa verde.
“Oh my god.” Joesph, who was sitting on the other side of Jamie. “This is the best salsa I’ve ever had, and this margarita is divine.”
Jamie took a long sip of his, licking salt from the rim. “Yep, just as good as last time.”
“What type of renovations are you doing?” Mike asked.
Joesph leaned over to look across Jamie. “The whole thing. I’ve got it all laid out, except for the kitchen, which will be Jamie’s department. Although it will be slightly reconfigured because of the new window I want to put into the dining room.”
“It isn’t going to change too much, is it?” Mike had a concerned look on his face. “I mean, it would be a shame to lose the feel of the place.”
“Don’t you worry, honey. It will be the same but newer and I hope better.” Joesph popped a tortilla chip into his mouth as punctuation.
“Feel free to ask me to help out. I am an engineer after all.” Mike was also leaning across and Jamie could feel his breath on his forearm.
“Oh, really?” Joesph’s eyes brightened. “That may come in handy. I’m not sure if that wall between the dining room and the kitchen is load bearing or not.”
“I can almost guarantee you it is.”
Jamie started to feel like he was watching a tennis match, his head swivelling back and forth between the two.
“Sooo, how do I make that window bigger? Will it need a steel beam?”
“I think that would be the way to go, just to make sure it’s structurally sound.” Mike pulled a paper napkin from the dispenser in the center of the table. He had a pen in his hand and began to draw. “The best way would be to insert a steel beam all the way across the existing wall.”
“Oh crap,” Jamie said, as he rubbed his eyes with both hands. “This is going to cost a fortune.”
“Not necessarily.” Mike drew out all the kitchen equipment, from memory, which was almost like looking at a photograph.
“There has to be a lot of reinforcement in the ceiling just to keep that big exhaust unit in place. And if you plan on expanding that window, you’re going to have to move that monster and then reinforce it all over again.
And trust me, when you start opening up that can of worms, there is no telling what you’re going to find. ”
“I thought the same thing,” Joesph said, nodding in agreement. He looked at Jamie. “Does that thing need to be so big?”
Jamie batted his eyes and took a long drink of the margarita, which was starting to water down. He reached for the pitcher. “To answer your question, no. I can’t believe I’m even saying this, but I think it should be replaced. There are much better versions out now that are better and not as loud.”
“I’ve not priced that option,” Joesph said, thinking out loud. “I do have a pretty good idea as to an approximate cost. I’ll go over it tomorrow.”
“I’m not looking forward to that.” Jamie let his head fall back.