Chapter Forty-Two
Salzy was on one side of Jamie, and Joesph on the other. Jamie had erupted into hard sobs and crying. Joesph had to close the portfolio case, so the delicate drawings did not get wet. When Jamie’s crying started to slow, Joesph got him a glass of water.
“Here, honey.” He pushed the cool glass into Jamie’s hand. “Drink this down.”
Jamie took the glass, his hands visibly shaking. “What is wrong with me?” He drained the glass and handed it back to Joesph. “I’ve never... had this happen to me. Never.”
Joesph had refilled the glass and gave it back to him. “Baby, you’ve never had this much happen to you either. You’ve been under a whole lot of stress, and then the pressure of doing this renovation, it all adds up.”
“Yeah,” Salzy added. “You’ve been going nonstop for almost two weeks now. It’s got to take a toll on you. On anyone.”
“You just need some time.” Joesph rubbed Jamie’s shoulder. “Allow yourself time to grieve, Jamie. It’s okay. I’d say you’ve done remarkably well considering.”
“Go blow your nose and wash your face.” Salzy scrunched up his nose. “You got snot running down.”
Without thinking, Jamie wiped his face, and he could feel himself smearing the aforementioned snot across his cheek.
“Now, that’s just gross.” Salzy pulled him up by the collar of his shirt. “You definitely need to wash your face now!”
“Hello? Anyone home?” The three men could hear Mike’s voice from the foot of the stairs.
“Yeah, come on up, handsome.” Joesph pushed Jamie towards the bathroom. “Quick,” he whispered. “You don’t want that hunk seeing you with snot all over you.”
“I brought some beer and something else.” Mike was almost at the door of the apartment before Jamie dashed into the bathroom.
“How considerate of you.” Jamie could hear Joesph all but purr as he turned on the water and grabbed his washcloth.
Jamie dried his face and looked into the mirror and then around the bathroom.
It was like he was looking at it for the first time.
Some of the green tiles were cracked. The grout falling out in places.
There was a rust stain in the sink and the shower.
Joesph’s right. This place needs a makeover.
Maybe... if I can get this all done, I can move on.
Is it okay for me to go forward? Not look back.
Stop questioning myself? God, I miss Mamaw and Papaw.
“I left some beer by the back door,” Mike said. “I thought it might go into the big refrigerator.”
“It’s called a walk-in,” Jamie said as he entered the room. “Yeah, it can go in there. What did you bring?”
“Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier,” Mike answered. “I thought you might like it.”
“What is it about German beer that I can’t even begin to pronounce?” Salzy stated as he went through the screen door. “We’ve got enough German beer to have a proper party.”
“Oh, and I brought,” Mike pulled a bottle of Don Julio tequila from a brown paper bag.
“Damn.” Jamie took the offered bottle. “It seems that great minds think alike.” He picked up the bottle of tequila that he and Salzy had purchased that afternoon. “I also got German beer. Hefe Weissbier to be exact.”
Joesph turned his back to Mike, as he picked up his portfolio case, and gave Jamie that knowing look, one eyebrow arched. Jamie could clearly read the “I told you so” expression.
“I’ll go and help Sal with the beer.” Mike looked around the apartment. “I’ve never been up here before.”
“I’m hoping that after the diner is done, I can start on this place,” Joesph said, as he wiped the dining table off.
“One thing at a time,” Jamie huffed. “We did discuss this.”
“Maybe Mike can recommend someone to do the deck you want to do,” Joesph winked at Mike.
“Let me help Sal with the beer, and we can talk about it.” Mike pushed the screen door open.
“What part of ‘one thing at a time’, don’t you get?” Jamie turned on Joesph, then ran his hands through his hair. “Just... let me have a break. Please!”
Joesph pulled Jamie into his arms for a hug. “I’m sorry.” He sighed deeply. “I just get carried away sometimes, and I want you to be happy and comfortable in your new home.”
“It’s not new.” Jamie sniffed, his head resting on Joesph’s shoulder. “It’s always been my home.”
“I know, honey.”
Jamie only nodded.
“We brought six bottles of each of the German stuff and some Bud Light for Joesph.” Salzy elbowed the door open, bottles clanking together. “I’m sure there’s plenty of room in that old refrigerator.”
Joesph let go of Jamie and started looking through the cabinets of the kitchen, which were few.
“What are you looking for?” Jamie asked.
“Shot glasses,” Joesph stated, closing the last upper cabinet door.
Jamie started laughing. “You’ll never find those in Mamaw’s kitchen or anywhere else for that matter. Remember, she was a die-hard Methodist, anti-drinking woman.”
Joesph returned to another cabinet, the one that held most of the drinkware. He pulled out four smallish juice glasses; one had a small chip on the rim. “These will have to do then,” he said, holding them up.
“Oh hell.” Salzy sat down on one of the dining table chairs, hard.
“What?” Joesph said, setting the glasses down and putting both bottles of tequila in the center of the table.
“I’m in sooo much trouble,” Salzy said, shaking his head.
“Would you care to explain?” Mike asked, a puzzled look on his face.
“Give Salzy too much tequila and he’ll dance naked on the table,” Jamie laughed as he opened up the Don Julio. “Anyone going to open up these beers?”
“Oh, really now?” Mike faced Salzy. “This could end up being quite the evening. I wasn’t expecting entertainment.”
Jamie poured four good shots of the tequila. Joesph opened the three German beers and his Bud Light.
Mike pulled his beer and tequila close. “You don’t like German beer,” he asked Joesph.
“To be honest, I don’t really like beer much at all.” He held up his bottle. “This is the only beer I tolerate. Give me a good martini any day.”
“So noted.” Mike held up his own beer in salute.
Jamie pushed the tequila towards Salzy. “Now, this is good tequila. It’s not shooting tequila. It’s to be sipped and savoured.”
Salzy smelled the amber liquid in the glass. “Smells nice. So, no salt and lime?”
“It doesn’t need it. You can sprinkle a little salt in it if you like. That’s okay. But taste it first.” Jamie reached for a notepad he kept on the counter. “I need to order some fleur de sel.”
Salzy took a sip and looked at Jamie. “This is really good. Only a slight burn, but a good burn.” He had another sip. “Crap. I like it. What is that... flur stuff?”
“French sea salt. Some of the best in the world. This would be really good with just a flake or two.” Jamie laughed.
“I’m glad you like it.” He took a healthy sip of his own.
“This is so nice.” He looked at Mike. “Thank you. For the beer, tequila and ...” he waved his hand towards the outside. “For everything.”
“Let me know when y’all are getting hungry,” Joesph said. “I’ll heat up the BBQ.”
They only had one beer each and one pour of tequila before they decided to eat.
“So, what’s this about a deck?” Mike asked, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin.
“Let’s put that on the back burner for now.” Joesph stood up to collect the paper plates, everyone having had their fill of the BBQ. He shook his head slightly at Mike, thinking that Jamie didn’t see him, which of course he did.
“Joesph’s got it in his head that the place”—Jamie waved his arms about the apartment— “needs a do-over too. I want to slow things down a bit. Everything is moving so fast that it’s making my head spin. I also need to consider how much money this is all costing.”
Mike nodded. “I understand.”
Salzy frowned slightly, his mouth almost looking pouty. “So... no hot tub?”
“What is it with you and hot tubs?” Jamie asked. “It’s not even summer yet, and it’s already hotter than hades.”
“You don’t have to turn the heat on. It’s like a nice cool bubble bath.” Salzy smiled widely.
Jamie rolled his eyes.
“You know what we need?” Joesph looked around the room. “We need some music.”
“Yeah,” Salzy agreed. He began looking around the room as well.
“Sorry, guys.” Jamie sighed heavily. “The only thing here is my clock radio, and it’s really crap and ancient.”
“Huh?” Joesph stared at Jamie. “No stereo? Not even a decent radio?”
“Nope. You have to remember, my grandparents worked long, full days. The only time I saw the TV turned on was for the nightly news, and that didn’t happen all that often either.”
“I’ve got a boom box,” Salzy said as he stood up. “I’ll go get it.”
“Will anyone like some of that pecan pie?” Joesph asked.
“I might have a piece,” Jamie said.
“Me too,” Mike expressed his interest.
“I’ll run downstairs and get it. I know right where it is in the walk-in.”
Jamie watched as Salzy and Joesph exited the apartment. When he looked over, he saw Mike watching him. “What?”
“I was just wondering if you were okay, is all.” Mike’s eyes were bright and... seeking, Jamie thought.
“It’s been... hard the last few days, is all. I’ve had a lot going on.”
“I’d say that’s an understatement.” Mike drained the last bit of beer left in his bottle. “If there’s anything I can do to help, I hope you let me know.”
“I think you’ve done more than enough.” Jamie lowered his gaze. “Thank you again for everything.”
Mike let out a chuckle. “It’s in my own self-interest, I’m afraid.”
“Oh?” Jamie looked up before emptying his own bottle.
“Well, yeah. I eat at the diner most nights.” Mike smiled. “And I happen to really like the owner too.”
Jamie felt the tension in his stomach lessen as he blushed. He’s got the most incredible eyes.
“I’d still like to kiss you.” Mike leaned forward. “I really would like to take you out.”
Jamie felt his head nodding in the affirmative, not even thinking about it. “Maybe.”
“I can handle that.” Mike stood and got them all another round of beer. “I think that Joesph misses his martinis,” he chuckled. “He had one the night we went to dinner, and he’s mentioned it several times since.”
Jamie smacked his forehead with his palm. “I’m so stupid.” He looked up at Mike. “How did I not think of that?”