Chapter Fifty
Jamie missed not having a full-length mirror. He combed his hair for the umpteenth time. He’d changed clothes four times. “Why am I so nervous?” The first outfit he’d chosen, Joesph nixed almost immediately. He finally ended up choosing the green shirt and black slacks that he’d recently bought.
He drew a deep breath. “Okay.” Jamie took one final look at himself in the small mirror above his chest of drawers. Turned and went into the nearly cleaned out living area.
“Wow.” Joesph stood up from the table, inspecting Jamie. “Turn.” He motioned with his forefinger.
“Is this okay?” Jamie asked nervously.
“Superb.” Joesph brushed a piece of lint from the sleeve of the shirt. “Who bought this for you? I know you didn’t pick this out.”
Jamie had to laugh. “When I went to get some new clothes, there was this woman who was a buyer from the store chain. She picked all this out.”
“Ha! I knew you didn’t choose that shirt. Bravo. You look absolutely fabulous. Those slacks really show off your ass.”
“Wait, what?” Jamie turned to look at his butt. “Is it too much?”
“No.” Joesph looked Jamie up and down one more time. “Honey, you really do look fabulous. You’re gorgeous.”
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous.” As he was about to sit down at the table, but he reached for the martini glass that was almost full and took a big gulp and instantly regretted it. He started coughing, his eye watering.
“You sip a martini, darling.” Joesph sat, holding the glass by the stem.
“How do you drink that?”
“Slowly.” Joesph looked over the rim. “Why don’t you take a deep breath and try to relax.”
Jamie closed his eyes, straightened his back, took a deep breath, and let it out deliberately.
“Hello, up there,” Salzy called out. “Want to come have a look at the dining room of the diner?”
Jamie stood immediately. Joesph doing so a little slower and a lot more calmly. “Yeah,” Jamie yelled, already moving towards the door.
“They’ve almost finished, and it looks amazing.” Salzy was smiling when he saw Jamie. “Holy cow.”
“Doesn’t he look fabulous?” Joesph said from behind Jamie.
“Wow,” Salzy said again. “You look great. Hell, I might even consider dating you.”
“Really,” Jamie said, trying to be flirtatious. “Come here and give me a kiss, big boy.” Jamie stood on the last step, his mouth puckered up.
“Uh... Okay, maybe not.” Salzy took a step backwards.
Joesph busted out laughing as did Jamie. “The look on your face. Priceless, just priceless,” Joesph said, pushing Jamie off the last step. “I wish I’d have had my phone out and at the ready.”
“Would you guys just come see?” Salzy turned towards the back door of the diner.
“I think they did a good job. They were so fast and they got those huge rolls of cork down in a matter of minutes.” Salzy held the door open for them.
“It took them longer to get the old floor up than it did to get the new one down. Wait till you see.”
Jamie stopped where the old door into the dining room from the kitchen used to be. “Damn.” He looked over his shoulder. “Can we walk on it?”
“Yep. Sure can. I asked the same thing.” Salzy passed Jamie.
“Oh yes... this is marvellous,” Joesph said, obviously thrilled. “Just as I designed it. The pattern is spot on.”
“What pattern,” Jamie asked, his voice almost a whisper. “This is... better. I don’t even know how or what to say.”
“The pattern is supposed to look as if there is no pattern,” Joesph explained. “They are coming back tomorrow to finish?” He asked, turning towards Salzy.
“Yeah, they said they’d be finished in here tomorrow and then will help the other guys lay the tile floor in the kitchen.”
“I’m amazed.” Jamie walked around the space, seeing that there were sections closer to the wall that were yet to be done.
“It looks so good.” He looked at Joesph.
“You’re a miracle worker. Thank you.” He gestured around the room.
“Mamaw would have loved this.” He felt himself tear up and shook himself hard.
“Oh, don’t you dare go and start crying.” Joesph held his friend close. “You don’t want to mess up that pretty face of yours.”
Jamie quickly wiped at his eyes and looked at Joesph. “I don’t know how to thank you, but... thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Joesph shrugged. “What are best friends for?” He looked around the room again. “It’s all starting to come together. It looks great.”
Salzy came over and hugged Jamie from the back while Joesph held him from the front, making a Jamie sandwich. “It looks amazing. Ms. Mattie would love it, and Mr. Solan would be screaming about how much it all cost.”
Jamie giggled and then laughed. “Papaw would have had a heart attack at what all this is costing.”
“Yes, but... It’s for the future, isn’t it?” Joesph asked softly. “The future, Jamie. Your future.”
“Hello?” Mike’s voice came from the back of the diner.
“We’re in here, handsome,” Joesph answered. “Come have a look.”
Jamie saw Mike as he crossed the threshold from the kitchen into the dining room. He was dressed in black jeans and a dress shirt that fit him like a glove, the color matching his eyes perfectly. Jamie let out a breath that he’d been holding from the minute he’d heard Mike’s voice.
“This looks incredible,” Mike said in his deep, soft baritone. He walked in a circle. “The colors are... perfect and it’s like walking on a sponge.” He looked at Jamie, Joesph, and Salzy, all huddled together. “Everything alright?”
“Yes. Everything is perfect,” Joesph answered, walking towards the middle of the room, his arms extended out. “It’s fabulous!” He looked at Mike. “Speaking of fabulous, you are looking extremely handsome.”
“Thank you.” Mike smiled.
“And...” Joesph motioned for Jamie to come to him. “And this spectacular specimen is just as fabulous.”
Jamie could feel Mike’s roaming eyes on him. “I would agree,” Mike said, his eyes locking onto Jamie’s.
“Now then, the two of you go and have a wonderful dinner and... whatever else.” Joesph’s sly catlike smile landed on Mike. “And please do keep him out late. Very, very late.” Joesph gave Jamie a shove towards Mike. “You have my permission to do... unspeakable things to him.”
Jamie looked over his shoulder at Joesph. “You need to shut up. I’m starting to regret buying you vodka.”
* * * * *
Mike opened the door of his truck for Jamie, and Jamie thanked him as he climbed into the big behemoth. They drove in silence for several minutes. “So...” Mike started. “How was your day?”
Jamie’s face scrunched up. “Boring. I started unpacking all the stuff from my Atlanta apartment. It amazes me how much crap you accumulate when you stay in one space for a while.”
“Yeah, I hear you.” Mike glanced over at Jamie. “I try not to do that, but it just happens. I moved about a lot early in my army career, so it didn’t happen as much, and I’ve only been here eighteen months, and I’ve already got more crap than I need. Sometimes I don’t know how it even got there.”
“I know. Right?” Jamie couldn’t help but notice Mike’s thick thighs, the jeans looking strained. “I need to... start cleaning out some of my grandparents’ stuff. I’m having a hard time letting it go. Joesph is helping. Just him being here is a big help.”
“It’s hard to let go.” Mike cleared his throat. “Joesph is a good friend, and what he’s managed to do with that flooring blew me away. I’d have never thought of... well, doing what he did.”
“It does look good. I’m ready for it to be finished.” Jamie was noticing that things had changed since he was last here. So much change.
“A lot has happened with the diner in a very short amount of time. I know it seems to be slow going, but I’m surprised at what has happened so quickly.” Mike put on his left turn indicator. “We’re here. I wish the army could move as fast.”
“I’ve not been in this place but once, and I was only eleven, I think. It’s hard to even remember.”
“I’ve been told that here’s a staple for some people and for special occasions.” Mike parked the car and hopped out.
Damn, I almost need a step ladder to get out of this truck.