Jamie laughed.“We just passed the airport.I’ll keep an eye out for y’all.”
“Okay, sugar.”Florence pulled the phone closer to her face.“Please take care of yourself.Get some rest.I’ll call you when we get to Seattle.”
“That’ll be great.Have a safe trip, everyone.”
“Bye,” Salzy said and waved.
“Buh-bye,” Florence said, smiling.
Jamie let out a long breath.
Salzy glanced at Jamie.“You okay?”
Suddenly, without warning, Jamie burst into long wracking sobs, covering his face with both hands.
* * * * *
“Jamie didn’t look sogood,” Dexter pointed out, still leaning forward across Florence’s shoulder.
“No.No, he didn’t,” Walter agreed.
Florence sighed.“He’s overdoing it.He still hasn’t taken the time to grieve over Ms.Mattie.”
“Think we should call...well, Joesph?But I don’t have his number,” Hazel said as she started scrolling through her phone.
“We could call the diner,” Minnie said, her voice small.“He may answer the phone.”
“That’s a good idea.”Florence dialled the business phone of the diner.She let it ring ten times, but there was no answer.“I’ll try again later,” she said, looking at her phone.
* * * * *
Salzy was so alarmedby Jamie’s outburst that he pulled the old truck over to the shoulder of the interstate.“Come on, Jamie.Tell me what’s wrong?”
Jamie was shielding his face and shaking his head, still crying.
Salzy pulled a bunch of napkins from the bag that had held their breakfast.He pushed them towards Jamie.“Here.Take these.”
After a few moments, Jamie took the thin brown paper napkins and held them to his eyes and nose.
“Here’s some water.”Salzy held the bottle.“Glad you thought to get some.”
“Thanks,” Jamie said, still holding the napkins to his face with one hand and taking the water with the other.“I’m sorry.”
“Man, there’s nothing to be sorry about.Just tell me what’s going on?”
“It’s...just all so much.Mamaw dying right after Papaw.The diner, my old job, my dump of an apartment...the staff...I feel like I’m trying to do everything all at once.”
Salzy scooted across the bench seat and pulled Jamie into a sideways hug.“Yeah, you’ve been through a lot.It’s no wonder it’s catching up to you.”
Jamie only nodded, still covering his face.
“Drink some water.”Salzy pushed the hand holding the plastic bottle.“It’ll help.”
There was a long sigh from Jamie.He wiped his eyes and blew his nose.He unscrewed the cap and took a long drink of water.“I’m okay.”
Salzy tightened his hug for a moment before righting himself behind the steering wheel.“Okay, then.Let’s get you home.”
* * * * *
