Chapter Forty-Seven
Salzy had to wait forthe dumpster truck to move before he could pull the old truck into the parking area behind the diner.Jamie had thought he’d be back about that time, but Salzy tooted the horn obviously not having seen Jamie.
“He’s back,” Jamie said, and he started down the stairs.“Back in over near the tables,” Jamie yelled out.
Salzy gave him a thumbs-up.As he backed in, Jamie guided him.“There,” Jamie called out loudly.
Mike was already reaching for the tailgate release.“A new grill, eh?”He smiled, looking at Jamie.
“Yeah.”Jamie reached for the large box on the back of the truck.“I thought it would come in handy with no real kitchen but the small one in the apartment.”He grunted, trying to get the heavy box to move.“And this won’t heat up the whole house.”
Mike got a handle on the box, and they manipulated it off the tailgate.“Whew, that thing weighs a ton.”Jamie lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face.
“It has to be assembled,” Salzy said as he came around the truck, carrying several grocery bags.“I’ll put all this in the walk-in.”
“I’ll get my toolbox.”Mike hesitated a moment, looking at Jamie’s flat, toned stomach before trotting off towards his big Ram truck, but not before Jamie noticed him staring.
“Man...when are you going to...you know?”Salzy whispered in Jamie’s ear as he passed him.“He’s got it bad.”
Jamie turned to look at Salzy, his face deadpan.“Hush.”
It was hotter than blue blazes with not even the hint of a breeze.Even in the shade of the diner, it was almost unbearable.Salzy, Jamie, and Mike unpacked the boxes that held all the components of the grill.Mike sat down on one of the benches, reading the assembly directions.
“Do you have a bottle of gas for this thing?”Mike asked.
“Damn, I knew I’d forget something,” Jamie said, thumping himself on the side of the head.
“Propane?”Salzy asked.
“Yes.”Mike looked at the operating section.“Yes, that would be the preference.”
“Hanson’s is still open.”Salzy grinned at Jamie.“I’ll just go and get some.I still have your card if that’s okay?”
Jamie couldn’t help but laugh.“Of course.I’m sure that Mike and I can get this thing put together.If you want, you can invite Terry over for a cookout.”
“Really?”Salzy’s eyes got big.
“Yep.”Jamie patted Salzy on the shoulder.“Oh, how many or how much of the salads or sides did you get.Is there enough?”
Salzy grinned broadly.“There’s enough to feed three of him,” he said, pointing to Mike.
“Do what?”Mike looked up, his mouth slack.“I don’t eatallthat much!”
“Pfft...I hate to tell you, but you eat way more than Mike does,” Jamie addressed Salzy.“By a long shot.”
