Chapter Forty-Seven
Salzy had to wait for the dumpster truck to move before he could pull the old truck into the parking area behind the diner. Jamie had thought he’d be back about that time, but Salzy tooted the horn obviously not having seen Jamie.
“He’s back,” Jamie said, and he started down the stairs. “Back in over near the tables,” Jamie yelled out.
Salzy gave him a thumbs-up. As he backed in, Jamie guided him. “There,” Jamie called out loudly.
Mike was already reaching for the tailgate release. “A new grill, eh?” He smiled, looking at Jamie.
“Yeah.” Jamie reached for the large box on the back of the truck. “I thought it would come in handy with no real kitchen but the small one in the apartment.” He grunted, trying to get the heavy box to move. “And this won’t heat up the whole house.”
Mike got a handle on the box, and they manipulated it off the tailgate. “Whew, that thing weighs a ton.” Jamie lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face.
“It has to be assembled,” Salzy said as he came around the truck, carrying several grocery bags. “I’ll put all this in the walk-in.”
“I’ll get my toolbox.” Mike hesitated a moment, looking at Jamie’s flat, toned stomach before trotting off towards his big Ram truck, but not before Jamie noticed him staring.
“Man... when are you going to... you know?” Salzy whispered in Jamie’s ear as he passed him. “He’s got it bad.”
Jamie turned to look at Salzy, his face deadpan. “Hush.”
It was hotter than blue blazes with not even the hint of a breeze. Even in the shade of the diner, it was almost unbearable. Salzy, Jamie, and Mike unpacked the boxes that held all the components of the grill. Mike sat down on one of the benches, reading the assembly directions.
“Do you have a bottle of gas for this thing?” Mike asked.
“Damn, I knew I’d forget something,” Jamie said, thumping himself on the side of the head.
“Propane?” Salzy asked.
“Yes.” Mike looked at the operating section. “Yes, that would be the preference.”
“Hanson’s is still open.” Salzy grinned at Jamie. “I’ll just go and get some. I still have your card if that’s okay?”
Jamie couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course. I’m sure that Mike and I can get this thing put together. If you want, you can invite Terry over for a cookout.”
“Really?” Salzy’s eyes got big.
“Yep.” Jamie patted Salzy on the shoulder. “Oh, how many or how much of the salads or sides did you get. Is there enough?”
Salzy grinned broadly. “There’s enough to feed three of him,” he said, pointing to Mike.
“Do what?” Mike looked up, his mouth slack. “I don’t eat all that much!”
“Pfft... I hate to tell you, but you eat way more than Mike does,” Jamie addressed Salzy. “By a long shot.”
Salzy rolled his eyes. “Okay. Fine.” He pulled the keys from his pocket. “I’ll be back.”
Putting the big grill together proved to take longer than Jamie would have thought. When they got ready to put the barrel-shaped top on, Mike asked, “Why did you get such a big grill?”
“I was thinking that I might use it for the diner sometime. I plan on getting a big smoker too. Maybe put pulled pork on the special’s menu. Perhaps for the Saturday night special.”
“You’d be competing with Porkies, where I got the BBQ from yesterday. They’d be pretty stiff competition.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Jamie helped Mike put on the rotisserie attachment. “I’ll come up with something. Besides, you’ve never tasted my BBQ.”
“You know I will hold you to that,” Mike chuckled.
“Well, tonight you just get hamburgers and hot dogs. Nothing fancy.”
Mike looked at Jamie, his face sombre. “Won’t you get like, bored with just doing diner food? I mean, you’re capable of doing some pretty high-end cuisine.”
Jamie shrugged. “It’s food that I grew up with, and I could cook most of the stuff in my sleep, to be honest.” He stretched his neck. “Maybe. Not sure what to do about it, though. People are counting on me. The diner is my main concern at the moment.”
“You said that you were going to do a pastry... setup?” Mike leaned back against one of the tables.
“A pastry station. Yes. I think that if we had more baked good options on the menu, it would boost sales.”
Mike nodded. “Will you be doing that?”
Jamie thought for a moment. “Initially, I thought I would, but having seen what business is like over the last week, I’m rethinking that.
I have a friend in Atlanta who might like to move down here and do that for me.
She’s just had a baby not all that long ago, and I got the impression that she was not wanting to live in such a big city with a kid.
The schedule for a good restaurant can be brutal. Not at all kid friendly.”
“Just hear me out,” Mike stood up and paced for a moment. “I’m thinking on the fly here, but have you considered... branching out?”
“What do you mean?” Jamie wiped sweat out of his eyes. “Want a beer? We’re done with the grill, and it’s hotter than hell out here.”
“Yeah, I’ll take one.” Mike followed Jamie inside. They both walked into the big cooler. Mike raised his arms. “This feels good.”
“Right?” Jamie handed him a beer, then realized they didn’t have a bottle opener. He took in the biceps and broad spread of Mike’s upper body. “We’ll have to go upstairs to open these,” he said, raising his beer bottle.
“Anyway,” Mike said, lowering his arms. “Might be something to think about.”
“What do you mean, ‘branch out’?”
Mike looked off into nowhere. “Like... doing a bistro, or even a bakery. You know there isn’t a decent bakery in this town. Or even doing something for just carry out, like some of the shops in France do. More high-end type stuff.”
“No. I never thought of anything like that.” Jamie went to the door, pushing it open. “Let’s get these beers open.”
“You should think about it. But... you know... after all of these renovations are done.” Mike was thinking of what Joesph had said about so much happening with Jamie.
They climbed the stairs. “Do you think this town would support a bistro?” Jamie stepped into the apartment.
“Yes. I do think that this town would support a decent restaurant.” Joesph answered, handing Jamie a bottle opener, standing just inside the apartment. “I have a feeling you’ve been away too long. This place has exploded in the last five years.”
Jamie stopped, looking at Joesph. “How would you know?”
“Because Mike took me to a restaurant, which I assumed to be the best in town and to be frank, it wasn’t all that.” Joesph took a long drink of iced tea. “That and I’ve been doing research for the renovations, and the options are a lot more than I had anticipated.”
“I also suggested a bakery.” Mike wiped his face with the tail of his tank top, giving the two other men quite a show of his fur-covered abs.
“He even thought of doing a specialty take-out type shop.” Jamie took a long draw of his cold beer. “You know, like some of the shops we saw in Paris? Maybe... do a one-stop shop. Like a boulangerie, patisserie, fromage, and charcuterie-type place all in one.”
“Oh! I did love that charcutier and cheese shop.” Joesph sighed dreamily.
“Yeah, I don’t think Columbus is ready for paté and terrines,” Jamie said, laughing.
“I think you might be surprised at that,” Mike said.
“Then, Columbus has changed a lot since I last lived here. Besides, I have enough on my plate as it is.” Jamie flopped down onto one of the dining chairs.
“Would you mind if I had a shower?” Mike asked. “I feel kind of gross.”
“Sure. I’ll get you a towel.” Jamie stood up, got Mike a fresh towel and when he returned, he smiled at Joesph. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh, really now,” Joesph replied, coyly. “You know I do love a big surprise.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right back.”
He went downstairs to the diner and into the walk-in. He rummaged around in the bags that Salzy had dropped in there, found what he wanted and returned to the apartment. When he walked in, Mike was standing there in nothing but a towel.
“I guess I should have gotten my gym bag outta my truck before I took a shower. I’ll be right back.” He hurried towards the door.
“Oh. My. God.” Joesph breathed, fanning himself. “I think I may actually swoon. Quick, get me the smelling salts!”
Jamie slowly turned his head slowly towards Joesph. “Me first.”
“Now,” Joesph swallowed hard, still fanning himself. “Where is my surprise?”
“Here.” Jamie gave him one of the bags.
“Oh, joy.” Joesph frowned. “Just what I always wanted. A cheap coffee maker.”
“Oops.” Jamie laughed. “Wrong bag.”
Joesph opened the other bag that Jamie handed him. “Yes!” Joesph jumped up and hugged his friend. “I do love you, no matter what anyone says about you.”
Joesph pulled out the premium vodka, the garlic stuffed olives, and a set of four martini glasses.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think of it sooner. It was Mike who reminded me. Sometimes I’m just plain stupid.” Jamie sat down.
“Oh, honey,” Joesph hugged him tightly. “You’ve had a whole lot going on in that head of yours. I get that. Besides, it hadn’t been all that important to me. If it was, I could have gone and gotten it myself.”
“Sorry,” Mike said, returning carrying a black canvas bag. He dashed back into the bathroom.
Jamie and Joesph were silent for a moment. “Whew...” Joesph fanned himself again. “After all that...”—he waved his hand towards the bathroom—“I need a good stiff drink.”