Epilogue
“Happy anniversary,” Mike said, kissing Jamie, who had been sitting on the bed, pulling his shoes on.
He leaned back onto the bed, kissing his husband. “It’s hard to believe it’s been five years already.”
Mike let out a long breath. “I know. The years have flown by.”
“It’s been fun, though.” Jamie kissed Mike again.
“It has been that” Mike said, laughing. “I didn’t know I’d be marrying an empire builder.”
“Pfft, I’m not that.”
“Okay. What’s your plan for the day?” Mike rolled over onto his side to watch Jamie getting ready for work.
“I’m going over to the bakery first to check on Christine and Ian.
They’ve got a big wedding cake due in a few days.
I need to make sure it will be travel-ready to make the trip to Atlanta.
Then I need to go to the Bistro and see if Robbie has everything he needs and to check on the new line cook he has. ”
“That’s all?” Mike asked.
“Not quite.” Jamie stood up and pulled on his freshly laundered chef’s coat. “I have a meeting with Salzy, Timmy, and Mandy at the diner. I want to go over the menu and see if anything needs to change. I may need to bring Ian and Robbie into it. Not sure yet.”
“And Mandy is working out as the lead waitress? I know that Hazel is only doing breakfast, and Minnie... didn’t want the position, but... Flo is still working two days a week, as is Walter.”
“Yeah, she’s really picked it up quickly.” Jamie looked at himself in the full-length mirrored door of the closet in their bedroom.
“What about the Roof Top? Everything to your liking there?” Mike asked, having gotten out of bed, standing there naked.
Jamie felt his mouth water. “Um... yeah. You know that. You’re the contractor for it. Makes me happy you were able to retire. I’m not sure I’d trust anyone else with this.” He looked at the clock on the mahogany bedside table. “I could...” Jamie started to unbutton his chef coat.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Mike said, throwing a pillow at him. “I have to get a move on myself. I have all that tinted glass being installed today in the new restaurant, which you are in charge of, I might remind you. It was your idea.”
Jamie frowned. “Why did you have to remind me?”
“It was you who said that Columbus was big enough to support a fine dining restaurant. And it was you who decided to build it.” Mike pulled on a pair of black briefs.
“Now, tell me you’re not an empire-building maniac.
You have Mattie’s Diner, Puckett’s Bakery, The Bistro, and now the Roof Top, on the top floor of the new skyscraper bank building. ”
Jamie frowned. “You don’t play fair.”
“All’s fair in love and war.” Mike kissed Jamie hard. “And I love you for it.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with having a little party tonight in the diner?” Jamie asked, letting his forefinger make a trail down the hair on Mike’s chest.
“I told you I was.” Mike opened a drawer of the big mahogany dresser. He pulled out an undershirt. “Robbie said he had a surprise for us.”
Jamie frowned. “Funny, Ian told me the same thing.”
That made Mike stop from pulling on a flannel shirt. “Okay, now that makes me nervous. If it were just one of them, I’d say fine, but both of them?”
“Just what I was thinking,” Jamie said, handing Mike his work boots. He glanced at the clock. “I need to go, or I’ll be late.” He kissed Mike. “See you back here at four?”
“You got it.” Mike pulled Jamie into a big hug and then a deep kiss. “I’m so glad I married you.”
“I think I am the one who got the better end of that deal.” He looked into his husband’s eyes. “I’ve never met a more patient and understanding person in my life.”
Mike shrugged. “You make it easy.” He gave Jamie another quick kiss, then a swat on the butt. “Get out of here before you make both of us late.”
* * * * *
“Do you think they have any idea?” Ian asked Salzy and Joesph.
“Ha, if Jamie did, he’d have a cow,” Salzy said, snickering.
Joesph rolled his eyes. “No. Mike would have said something to me this morning if he did.”
“The escargot is all prepped and ready, as is everything else,” Robbie said.
“I’ve got Hasha out by the back door so they can’t walk in,” Joesph said. “I know he won’t budge either. I’ve threatened him with no sex for a month if he does.”
“Do I need to start planning a wedding cake anytime soon?” Christine asked.
Joesph scowled at her. “Has Hasha said anything to you?”
“No, and I wouldn’t tell you if he did.” Christine laughed.
Ian looked down at his phone. “The gang will be here at five thirty.” He looked up. “We need to make sure to keep an eye out for them and open the front door.”
Joesph looked at the dining room of the diner. “I’d like to take credit for those window coverings. Whose idea was that?”
“Mine,” Ian said. “I got the idea from those window decals on the public transport buses.”
“Pure genius,” Joesph commented. “They look just like a street café in Paris.”
“That was the whole idea. I can’t wait for them to see it.” Ian looked at Robbie and then at Joesph. “My biggest worry is how the food will go down. Jamie has a perfect palate, and his father isn’t far behind. Makes me nervous as hell. It’s hard to cook for your boss.”
“I don’t think you have to worry,” Joesph said, patting Ian’s arm. “He’s just happy that anyone would cook for him. Ask Mike about him cooking for Jamie.”
“What?” Christine asked, shocked. “Mike cooked for Jamie?”
Joesph laughed. “Oh yes, he did. He made them omelettes.”
“Okay, that man needs another medal. That takes balls.” Christine shook her head in disbelief.
* * * * *
Mike pulled into the parking lot of the diner, about to drive around back as was his habit, and stopped when he saw that the windows of the diner were whited out. He couldn’t see if there were any lights on. He slowly drove around to where his and Jamie’s new apartment was.
He shut off his truck and got out, walking towards the back door of the diner. The screen door was latched. “Unreal,” he muttered before banging on the door.
“Afternoon, Mike,” Hasha greeted Mike. As usual, there was no real emotion on his face.
Mike noticed that Hasha opened the back door of the diner, but not the screen door. “You going to let me in?” Mike asked.
“Nope,” was the flat answer.
Mike squinted and tried to look around the rather large man. Hasha made sure that the door wasn’t fully open, and Mike couldn’t see anything. “Did Joesph put you up to this?”
“Yep,” was the simple answer.
Mike looked at his watch and smiled. “I can’t wait for Jamie to get here. This I gotta see.”
No sooner than Mike sat at one of the picnic tables, which were only a few months older than his marriage, did Jamie pull in, parking his sports car next to Mike’s truck. “What the hell is up?” Jamie asked as he approached Mike.
Mike shrugged his shoulders. “You tell me... after I get my kiss.”
Jamie smiled as he gave his husband a deep kiss. “Hello.”
Mike wrapped his arms around Jamie. “Hello, indeed.”
“So,” Jamie looked over his shoulder. “What gives?” he asked.
“You tell me,” Mike chuckled.
Jamie pulled away from Mike and tried to open the screen door. When it didn’t open, he knocked on it.
Hasha, again, barely opened the door. Jamie wasn’t able to see around the large man. “Let me in, Hasha.”
“No can do,” Hasha answered.
“Tell him to go away and come back at six,” Joesph yelled from behind Hasha.
“Joesph said—”
“I heard what he said.” Jamie got up on his tiptoes, trying to get a look inside.
“Okay, then. We’ll see you at six.” Hasha closed the door. Jamie heard the lock.
When Jamie turned around, he saw Mike grinning. “You knew that was going to happen, didn’t you? That’s why you’re sitting out here.”
“Yep,” Mike said, standing up. “Come on. Let’s go take a shower. A nice long shower.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Jamie let himself be led up the stairs to the apartment. Once inside, Jamie opened his chef’s coat before walking into their bedroom. The first thing he saw was his and Mike’s best suits hanging from the closet doors with a note.
Jamie read it out loud, so Mike could hear it. ‘“Wear these. No exceptions. If you don’t, you’ll miss your own party. Joesph.’”
Mike laughed. “Maybe we should get the locks changed?”
Jamie turned. “I knew something was up this morning when I knew you said that about Robbie. I don’t know who is worse, Ian or Robbie.”
Mike pulled off the undershirt, the flannel shirt already in the laundry hamper in the corner. “I’d blame your father.” Mike undid his jeans, having pulled off his boots. “Ever since they came back from France, they are incorrigible.”
“I have to agree with you.” Jamie tossed his chef’s coat into the laundry bag inside the closet. “However, you have to admit, they both work like dogs and the experience they got there was nothing short of miraculous. I’ll make sure to bring up your complaints next time we video chat.”
Mike walked up to Jamie, already naked, and pulled him into a tight hug from the back. “I’m naked and you’re not. You lose.”
“Fine, I’ll wash your back first.”
Mike laughed and walked into the ensuite bathroom. “I’m so glad we have a big bathroom now,” Mike called out.
“Me too,” Jamie said, joining Mike, who had the water on already, the temperature just right. “Turn around,” Jamie said as he picked up the loofah sponge, squirting body wash onto it.
“Here,” Mike said, holding a bottle of lube in his hand. “While you’re back there,” he said, snickering.
“Ah, now I see,” Jamie said, laughing. “Now I see why you were in such a hurry to get naked.”
“You complaining?” Mike stretched out, his arms on the tiled wall of the large shower, the one shower head, letting the water run down his back.
“No, I’m not complaining at all,” Jamie said, hanging up the sponge.
* * * * *
“Everyone ready?” Joesph asked, looking at the dining room. “You guys outdid yourselves.” Joesph looked at Ian and Robbie. “It looks just like a Parisian café.”
“Thanks,” said Robbie. “He got us some great photos,” he pointed to Jean-Claude.
“I am only sorry that Mike’s parents could not be here,” Jean-Claude said. “I understand since his mother is unwell.”
“Yeah, me too,” Salzy said.
“Everyone looks so beautiful,” Mandy said. “Flo, I just love your dress!”
“Thank you. It’s not often we get the chance to get all gussied up.”
Walter was fiddling with his necktie. “Why do I always think I’m about to be hung whenever I put this thing on?”
“Hasha, go to the back door. When they knock, tell them to come in the front,” Joesph instructed. Hasha, forever the man of few words, nodded and went through the door to the kitchen.
“Nice music,” Ian said, speaking to Jean-Claude.
“Merci. It is my personal playlist for dining.”
“Here they come,” Hasha announced, returning to the dining room.
Salzy was standing by the front door of the diner, holding it open. Joesph was standing far enough back so he could get a photo when Jamie and Mike walked in.
“What the...” Jamie said, freezing in place at the threshold of the door.
“What?” Mike asked as he pushed Jamie inside. “Oh, holy hell,” Mike said.
“Surprise,” the small group of people inside said.
“Wow,” Jamie said, spinning around, taking in everything. “It’s... amazing.”
Jean-Claude quickly approached his son. “Happy anniversary, my beautiful son.” He hugged Jamie, and then, in typical French fashion, kissed each cheek. He turned to Mike. “And the same to my other son,” he said, repeating the same greeting.
Jamie and Mike were surrounded by those closest to them. Their friends, family, and those whom they truly loved.
After champagne. After a delicious dinner, which surprised him, and after an all-around great night, Jamie went to the wall of photos.
He placed his hand on the photo that meant more to him than any other.
“Thank you.” He kissed his hand and pressed it against the glass.
“Because of you, I have a wonderful life and...” He looked over his shoulder.
“And a beautiful family.” He looked at the picture again.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
He turned around just in time to see, and then hear, Florence say to Walter, “Kiss my grits, you ol’ goat!”
The End.