“What’s wrong, Minnie?”Jamie asked softly.
She glanced up, then back to her hands.“It feels funny you waitin’ on us when you’re the boss now.”Again, she glanced up.“It’s like you’re Ms.Mattie.”
Jamie squatted down in front of Minnie.“Were all the same here, Minnie.We’ve always been like family, and I’d like it to stay that way.”
Minnie nodded.
“Now...”Jamie started.“Coke, with ice,” he pointed to Flo.“Same for Hazel and Dexter.Walter a black coffee, and an ice water for Minnie.I’m on it.”
“Look at you,” Flo snickered.“Next thing you know, you’ll be out working in the dining room.”
Jamie looked at her.“What?You don’t think I could?”
Flo snorted.“I know you could, but you best not start cutting into my tips!”
Jamie went off to fetch the beverages when there was a tapping on the glass door.It was Salzy.Jamie stopped to let him in.
“Thanks,” Salzy said, giving Jamie a brief hug.“Think I could get some ice?I think my fridge may be on the fritz, and it’s hotter than hades out there today.You can tell summer is coming.”
“Of course.”Jamie motioned him back towards the counter.“You’re gonna have to do a bit of work for it.”
“As long as I don’t break a nail.”Salzy snorted.
Jamie turned around and rolled his eyes.“Are you that precious?”
The entire room erupted in laughter.
“Just hold this tray and take it over to that table, after I get their drinks,” he pointed towards Flo and the other staff.“And if you drop and break it, it’ll come out of your pay check!”
“But I don’t even get a pay check!”Salzy whined.
“I suggest you don’t drop it then.”
Jamie filled the tray with the cold drinks, then poured himself and Walter a coffee.
Once he sat down, Salzy was just idly standing by when Jamie started.“What do you guys want to do?”
They all glanced around, looking confused at first.
“Oh, I get it,” Flo crossed her arms, clearly agitated.“You want to know if we want to be let go, and you and Marlene sell this place.Is that the plan now?”
Jamie threw his hands up, palms towards them.“No!I’m looking for solutions to keep this place going and competing with everyone else that’s openin’ up shop around us.I’ve not really studied the books, but from a quick glance, it isn’t looking all that good.”
“So...you’re gonna stick around?”Walter leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table, his coffee mug between his hands.“You’ll move back down here?”
Jamie looked at them all.“I don’t know what I want to be honest.”He looked out the window of the diner.He returned his attention to the staff.“What I do know is I don’t want to close this place.It’s my Mamaw and Papaw’s legacy.I guess, I’m looking to you to help me.”
Salzy raised his hand slowly.“Uh, I know I really don’t have a say in any of this, but this place could really do with a makeover.”
“You know, I was thinking that very same thing this morning.Things here are looking...tired, if you know what I mean.”
Flo looked flustered and then burst into tears.
Jamie jumped up and went to her, leaning over.“What’s wrong, Flo?”
She pulled a tissue from her apron pocket.“I didn’t know what to expect when...well, when first Solan died, and then Mattie so quickly.I...I don’t want another job.I’ve been here almost twenty-five years.I don’t know anything else and...it’s like my home away from home.”
“I think we all think that way,” Dexter said quietly.
