Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Jamie, I’ve got the potatoes cut. You want them blanched and chilled,” Walter asked.
“Yes, please. Make sure that Dexter and Timmy have left us enough equipment to cook with.” Jamie looked over and saw Mike bent over, his ass on full display. How can any man have thighs the size of tree trunks? Jamie looked long and hard at Mike’s calves, covered in thick dark fur.
He looked up at Walter, who stared at him. “Matter of fact, make sure they leave enough unpacked, so I have something to cook with during the renovations.”
Walter nodded, the side of his mouth curled up, not quite a grin.
“We need more boxes, Sal,” Hazel yelled through the order window. “Do we have labels to mark what’s in what?”
“Use the markers I got,” Salzy yelled back. “I’ll have more boxes made up in a minute.”
“Jamie, you gonna need sheet pans?” Dexter was glistening with sweat. “If so, how many you want left out?”
Jamie paused for a moment. “How about three. Think about leaving enough equipment out so I can cook for three or four people.”
Dexter nodded, smiling, glancing over to where Joesph and Mike were measuring the wall, as Mike worked up on a ladder, stretching as far as his arm would reach, his legs bulging muscles.
Of course, Jamie had noticed and was sure he was going to get whiplash looking over his shoulder so much.
“Hey,” Joesph sauntered across, Mike beside him. “Do you know where you’re going to put the new exhaust fan?”
Jamie wiped his hands on a towel, his hands greasy from dealing with the muffin tins. He thought a moment. “Since we’re going to move that thing, or replace it, I’d really like to move it here,” He indicated where the cold service bench was. “Make this the center of the kitchen activity.”
“Really,” Walter said, his eyebrows raised. “My back to the dining room?”
“Yep. Most of the professional kitchens I’ve worked in have it set up that way.”
“Oh, I gotcha,” Joesph said. “Like the Pleasant Peasant.”
“Exactly,” Jamie answered.
“Hmm...” Joesph turned to Mike. “We need to remeasure then. That window will become more like a bench and more heat lamps.” He turned to Jamie. “Do you want that same set up? It would help with costs some.”
“I think so. What do you think?”
Joesph thought for a moment. “I think it would be great and streamline things a lot for the waitstaff. The only issue is that you’ll be able to see more of the kitchen from the dining room, so it will need to look good.”
“I’d already thought of that,” Jamie said. “By moving the exhaust unit, it will streamline a lot of the cook line.”
“I’m seeing that,” Joesph said as he wrote in his notebook. “I’m liking it.”
“I have a question,” Mike said, raising his hand. “What’s for brunch?”
“Walter, will you get that butter melted and separated for me, please?” Jamie looked up at Mike. “Eggs Benedict, O’Brien potatoes, fresh berries, fresh asparagus, and banana nut muffins.”
Mike closed his eyes and licked his lips. “Another favourite,” he said quietly. “It’s almost like you know all my weak spots.”
Jamie’s mouth went dry again. Salzy laughed from behind Jamie, loudly.
* * * * *
“You gone and done it once again, Jamie,” Dexter said, leaning back. “That was very good. I’m pleasantly full, but not too full.”
“Amen to that,” Walter said, wiping his mouth. “I wasn’t even sure I could eat today after eating so much last night.”
Mike looked at Jamie, who was sitting next to him, again, Jamie noticed. “That was the best hollandaise I’ve ever had.”
“Thank you.” Jamie looked around. “It looks like you gals have gotten the dining room pretty much done.”
“The only thing that isn’t packed up is what we have on the table,” Hazel said.
“We can pack up all the glasses if you want,” Minnie said.
“Good idea. I’ll get us some plastic cups to see us through. Plates too.”
“The tables, booths, and chairs are being picked up tomorrow,” Joesph announced. “Since Jamie has changed the kitchen set up, there’ll only be room for a few stools for that counter,” he said, pointing towards the kitchen.
“There’s gonna be some upset some old men,” Florence said as she stood, gathering up the dirty dishes.
“How many?” Jamie asked. “We can always move the register over to that corner. We’d lose that small booth, but the counter could be longer that way. No one ever wants to sit there anyway.”
Joesph looked and thought a moment. “Okay. That would give you five, maybe six stools. So only half of what you have now.”
“That’d be plenty.” Florence continued picking up plates and Minnie helped.
“Can you please not pack up all the flatware?” Jamie asked. “I hate trying to use that plastic or wood stuff.”
“Yes... boss. Whatever you say... boss,” Florence said, snickering.
“Oh hell.” Jamie lowered his head into his hands. “I hope this vacation helps that woman.”
Hazel laughed as he went through the swinging door to the kitchen. “Not much, I’d say.”
Dexter and Timmy took care of the dirty dishes, drying and packing them up.
Walter cleaned the stove, and Salzy continued to make boxes when needed and moved the full ones.
Jamie had decided to put the old shelves that were along the back wall outside, dedicating an area for things to go to the dump. The day seemed to fly by.
“Stack all those boxes up against that back wall, labelling facing out, please,” Jamie directed.
They were almost done for the day when Joesph came up to Jamie, Mike right behind him. “Jamie, may I have a word with you... outside?”
“I’ll help—”
Mike started before Joesph cut him off, “You too.” Joesph crooked his finger as he walked to the back door.
“Okay, what’s up? Is the steel beam not going to work?” It was still a major concern for Jamie.
“No.” Joesph turned to look at the two men in front of him, his hands on his hips. “Would the two of you just go and fuck and get it over with. Watching the two of you moon over each other is not only irritating but distracting to everyone around you.”