“I see.”Mike scratched his head.“That is a lot and in a very short period of time.That would do just about anyone in.And then taking on this massive renovation on top of all that?Yeah, I can see why he’d lose it.”
“Sal says he thinks Jamie needs a good stiff drink, good food, and sleep.”
“Do you know what he likes to eat?”
Joesph thought for a moment and smiled.“Yeah.Do you know of a good barbecue place?”
Mike grinned.“Indeed, I do.Leave it to me.”He placed his big hands on the top of the table and pushed himself up.“What time do you think they’ll get here?”
“Sal said they were about an hour out.”
Mike nodded.“Okay.I’ll organize a big lunch.What does Jamie like to drink, other than beer and margaritas?”
Joesph laughed.“Jamie’s weakness is good tequila.”
“That’s easy.”Mike raised his eyebrows.“I’d never have taken him for a tequila drinker.”
“The stories I could tell,” Joesph smiled as he stood up.
“I’m all ears.”Mike grinned broadly, a sly look on his face, hands on his hips.
“Oh no.There are some things a bestienevertells.”
Mike put on his best pouty face.“Never?”
Joesph signed a zipper across his lips.
“I’ll keep trying to dig it out of you.”Mike puffed up his chest, spreading his shoulders.
“Oh lord,” Joesph said, stepping around the big man, while shaking his head.“How are they going to get that big beam in?”
Mike followed Joesph into the kitchen, not sure if he had shaken his head at the idea or if he was rattled by the show of his big chest and muscles.“That’s what I was coming out to tell you.They’re going to take out the front glass door and two of the big windows.”
Joesph stopped and turned on Mike.“Do what?”
“Don’t worry, they’ll put them back.”Mike pushed through to the dining room.“If all goes well, you’ll never be able to tell they were taken out at all.”
“Okay.”Joesph took a long deep breath.“If you say so.I’ll trust you.Now how about that lunch?”
Mike pulled out his phone, smiling.
* * * * *
“Need to stop anywherebefore we get home?”Salzy asked.
Jamie shook his head.“No.I just want to go home.To be honest, I feel like I need to get drunk and sleep for a week.”
“Um...there’s nothing at home except some beer, and not a whole lot of that.Why don’t I stop by the liquor store?”
“Yeah.Good idea.”
Salzy took the exit before the diner.He navigated to a large liquor store.
“When did this open?”Jamie asked as he opened the door of the truck.“I don’t remember this being here.”
“Just before Christmas,” Salzy answered, leading the way to the double glass doors.“They have a great beer selection.”
“Cool.”Jamie followed Salzy inside.“Wow.This place is huge.”He wandered over to one of the rows of wine.“They have some decent wine.”
