“Mike got it hauled off.He, well,youdonated it to a women’s shelter, who were really happy to have it.Andyou’re gonna get a big ol’ tax deduction too.”Joesph looked very pleased with himself in imparting that tidbit of information.“That was all Mike’s doing, by the way.”
“Holy moly,” Salzy said, shouting over the noise.“That’s...well, that’s something else.”
Jamie looked around Mike.Salzy was holding the case of beer.Jamie closed his eyes, taking in Mike’s scent, and felt himself calm.
“I’ll stick this in the walk-in,” he said quickly, watching Jamie closely.“We can unload the truck after.”
Chapter Forty-One
Jamie was sitting atone of the new tables behind the diner, a cold German beer in his hand and a heaping plate of BBQ.Everything seemed surreal to him.He was having a hard time reconciling that this was his life.He looked up at Mike, and then Joesph.
“Seems you two have been busy.”
“Have some of that pulled pork,” Mike urged.“I think it’s some of the best I’ve ever had.”He had a piece of white bread in one hand and a forkful of pork barbecue in the other.“And the pickles go perfectly with it.”
Jamie got a bite into his mouth, and his eyes went wide.“Da-ummn,” he said, speaking around a mouthful of food.
“Right?”Joesph managed to say around a spoonful of baked beans.“This is someseriousbarbecue.”
Salzy grunted, his mouth full.He looked like he’d just died and gone to heaven.
Jamie hadn’t realized he was even hungry as he devoured the food on his plate.Jamie took a long draw from his beer and proceeded to belch loudly.“Excuse me!”He felt embarrassed having done that so crudely.“This is some really good BBQ.”
Mike laughed.“Yep, that’s some good eatin’.”
“So...whatcha think?”Joesph asked, picking up his iced tea, his head nodding towards the diner.“Pretty cool, huh?”
“I don’t know what to think.”Jamie could hear men inside, the snap and clap of the welding machine making a lot of noise.“I mean, I knew, theoretically, what was going to happen, but it’s something else to see it.”
“I’ve got a rendering of what the finished look will be upstairs,” Joesph said.He put his hand on Jamie’s forearm.“I think you’re going to like the finished product.”
Jamie nodded.“I trust you.”
“I did get some pecan pie,” Mike said.“But I’m afraid it won’t be anything as good as what you could make.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”Jamie smiled.“It’ll have to wait a while, though.I’m too full to even think about it right now.”
