Chapter Twenty-Nine
It took no time at all to run by a copy store and print off the documentation for all the new equipment he’d ordered.
He made two copies, one for Joesph and one for himself.
He got a new accordion file holder for himself, thinking it would come in handy.
He also called Adrian at the credit union and transferred some money to pay for it all.
Jamie felt accomplished. I know it’s a lot of money, but I also think it’s money well spent. He turned the Mercedes onto the highway, destination: the outlet mall.
When he walked into the coolness of the Calvin Klein store, he breathed deeply. There was nothing like the smell of a new clothing store. He knew exactly what he was shopping for and was only in the store for thirty minutes.
His next stop was a clothing store. This proved to be more complicated. Jamie didn’t like shopping for clothes. He didn’t want to stand out, not like Joesph. He wanted simple and comfortable.
“May I help you?” a woman who was about Jamie’s age asked.
“Yes, please.” Jamie looked around. “I need... well, some decent clothes. Jeans, some T-shirts, and maybe a pair of slacks and a dress shirt or two.”
She looked Jamie over, assessing him. “Right. Follow me. What’s your waist size?”
“I think it’s thirty-one inches.”
“Hmm, I don’t think so.” She pointed to her name tag. “I’m Romona. I’ll measure to be sure, but I’d be willing to bet that you’re more like a twenty-nine.”
“I don’t want anything too tight,” Jamie said as he followed her.
“Not tight but well fitting.” Romona stopped at a rack of men’s trousers. “Let’s try these first. You’ll need to have them hemmed, of course, but I can recommend an alterations place in town.”
Jamie took the black wool pants. They felt amazing. Light, not too heavy and almost silky.
“Go try them on and let me see.” Romona pointed to a dressing room. “I’ll see about some shirts that will go with them.”
Jamie looked at the tag. The size was twenty-nine. He shook his head as he shoved his jeans aside. When he put them on, he was surprised that they fit and weren’t tight at all. He even bent over to be sure.
When Jamie pushed the curtain aside, Romona was waiting for him. She looked him over, making him turn. “Perfect. Now try these on and let me see.” She handed Jamie four dress shirts.
“All of them?” He looked at the shirts—one he was sure he wouldn’t want.
“Yes, all of them.”
The first one he put on was the one he knew for sure he’d reject. Purple was just not him.
Romona fingered the shirt around his waist when he reappeared.
“I don’t like this one,” Jamie stated flatly.
She stopped. “Why?”
“I’m just not a purple-type person.”
Romona took his arm and pushed him in front of a three-sided mirror. “Have a close look.”
Jamie stood there, stunned. He looked... well, good. He turned from side to side. The shirt fit him perfectly. His shoulders looked broader and his waist slim. Jamie looked closer. He was surprised to see that it made his eyes look bluer, and he looked almost tanned.
“See?” Romona had her hands on her hips, her head slightly tilted to one side. “You need color.”
“I do see.” He looked again. Looking at Romona, he said, “I think your talents are wasted here.”
She laughed. “I’m not usually here. I’m the assistant buyer for the department store. I’m just here while inventory is being done. My office is in Atlanta.”
“Okay. Not surprised.” He looked at himself again. “I’m convinced.”
“Now, go and try on the others. I’ll find some more casual shirts for you.”
Jamie turned to go back into the dressing room. “Don’t forget about jeans.”
“I’ve not forgotten.”
Jamie tried on the other three shirts. He liked them all, but Romona talked him out of the green gingham one.
“What about jeans?” Jamie asked, not seeing any in all the clothes she’d brought him to try on.
“To be honest,” she leaned over closer to him and whispered, “You’d be better off going to the Levi outlet. The jeans we carry aren’t... well...” She looked around. “They’re kind of crap.”
Jamie laughed out loud. “Good to know and thank you for that.”
“Will there be anything else I can help you with?” Romona asked as she bagged up all the clothing Jamie had purchased. She needed three large bags, because he’d gotten so much.
“No.” Jamie took the bags from her. “I’ve never bought this many clothes in one go before. I’ve also never had anyone help me like you have. Is there a comment box around here?”
Romona laughed as she walked with him towards the door. “No, sorry. You can always call or email my boss, though.” She presented him with a business card. It had her name, email address, and phone number as well as contact details of who Jamie assumed was her boss.
“Count on it,” Jamie told her, putting the card into his wallet.
“Thanks.” She smiled brightly. “Makes my job easier when there is a happy customer.”
“Bye, and thanks again.” Jamie lifted one hand, holding two bags.
Romona had given him directions to the Levi store, and once again, he went right to what he needed and wanted, and it took less than thirty minutes, and he was done.
As he was leaving the huge parking lot of the outlet mall, he saw the sign for a major wholesale food store. “Perfect. This is turning out to be a great day!”
He was pushing the shopping cart out of the big store, it loaded to the rim, when his phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Jamie, it’s Adrian Jackson from Planters Credit Union.”
“Hi, Adrian. You know you don’t have to go through your full name and where you’re calling from, right?” Jamie laughed.
“Yeah, sorry. It’s just habit more than anything. Listen, I’ve heard from Mr. Manley, and he’d like to come down Thursday, if that will work for you.”
“Yeah, I don’t see why not. What time?”
“He said he’d like to meet about three thirty. He also wants to see the diner, so is it okay if we meet there?”
“The diner?” Jamie unlocked his car. “I guess so. There isn’t a table in the diner or any chairs. We could meet in the apartment, but it’s small and... well, not the most attractive place.”
Adrian laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything else, having known your grandparents. I think it would be fine. I’d say it wouldn’t last more than an hour or so.”
“Okay. Sounds good to me. I’ll be there.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then, Jamie. Looking forward to getting all this taken care of,” Adrian said before hanging up.
Jamie got everything into the car, but just barely. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Salzy.
“Hey, Jamie. I was just thinking about calling you. What’s up?”
“I’m on my way back to the diner. Are you there?”
“Yeah, I decided to start trying to go through the garage and see what all this stuff is in here. Joesph didn’t need me, so...”
“Great idea. Is there much worth keeping in there?”
“Um... that would be a big fat no. I think Mr. Solan was a bit of a pack rat.”
Jamie laughed. “Oh yes, he was. Mamaw was constantly throwing stuff away when he wasn’t looking.”
“A lot of the trash bags in here are mostly old clothes and... shoes.” Jamie could hear something rustling. “And the boxes are just junk, I think.”
“Alright.” Jamie started the car and turned the AC on high. “I’d like for you to help me unload my car, and then I’ll help you with the garage.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Jamie heard more shuffling and rustling. “Did you get beer?”
“Sorry, no. I didn’t think of beer.”
“Why don’t I go and get some, and then I’ll meet you back here?”
“Sounds like a plan. What’s Joesph doing?”
“He’s been on the phone most of the day. He’s so different when he’s working. You’d never know he was gay. A total pro, ya know what I mean?”
Jamie had to roll his eyes a little. “Yeah, I know. It’s a little bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
“Yeah, kind of scary. Okay, I’m in the truck. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“See ya.”
Jamie put his car in gear and started home. “This has been a good day.”