Chapter Sixty-Eight
Jamie took a momentto watch what was going on.The staff were working like a well-oiled machine.It never ceased to amaze him how well they meshed together.I hope to hell these new hires will fit in.
“Hi, Jamie,” Christine said, coming in the back door, holding her baby in a portable car seat, who was sleeping like...well, a baby.
“Hey, Christine,” he greeted his new pastry chef.“By the way, I have the name of a babysitter for you.”
“Oh, excellent.”She adjusted the little blanket on the infant.“I brought him with me because I didn’t have anyone to watch him.He’ll probably just sleep.He had a big morning.”She smiled.
Jamie hugged her.“You can set him over behind your bench, if you’d like.I don’t think you’ll be baking today.I’d just like you to get your station set up and ready to go.If you find you don’t have something, let me know and I’ll order it for you.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she responded.
Jamie gave her the slip of paper with Minnie’s cousin’s name on it.
“Perfect.I’ll call her right now, then I’ll get started.”
“Do what you need to do.”Jamie smiled.“I’m really happy you’re here.”
Chistina beamed.“I’m happy too.I love the house.I’m still unpacking, but I’ve gotten it to where I can manage day to day for now.”
“That’s great.”Jamie leaned over the sleeping baby.“He is beautiful.”
“Hey, boss?”Dexter said, holding a large box.“I think you might want to have a look at this.”
“What is it?”Jamie asked as he approached Dexter.
“Salzy found it shoved up under Mr.Solan’s worktable, covered under a paint tarp.It’s a bunch of photographs.Goes back a fair bit, I’d say, just from the quick glance I had.”
“Let me have a look,” Joesph said behind Dexter, having just come in.
“Why don’t you hand it over to Joesph, and I’ll have a look in a few minutes.”
“I’ve got that one big wall that needs something on it,” Joesph said as he followed Dexter outside.
“Hey, Walter, is there something that can be whipped up for lunch?”Jamie asked.
“There isn’t a whole lot here,” he answered, scratching his head, looking at the clipboard in his hands.“There’s a lot we need to order.It’s going to be a whopper of an order, too.”
A couple of hours later, Jamie ended up ordering pizza for lunch.They were all sitting, everyone catching up on what had been going on for the last three weeks and more.“And Joesph is going to be moving to Columbus,” Jamie announced.
“That’s wonderful,” Hazel said, sitting next to Joesph.“I’m glad.”
“Thank you.”Joesph hugged her.“It’s Jamie who pushed me over the edge in deciding.I’m looking forward to a new adventure.”
“And you,” Florence said, pinching Jamie’s cheek.“You’re a fast worker.Gettin’ yourself all hitched.”
“We are nothitched,” Jamie said.“Only...engaged.”
“Might as well be.Close enough for me.”She smiled.“I’m pleased as punch.And he’s so good-looking, too.I need to find me one of them.”
“As if,” Walter belted out before laughing.“You’ve been around the track more times than a Kentucky Derby horse!”
“Kiss my grits, you old fart.You’re still older than me!”Florence shook her fist at Walter, who only laughed harder.Soon, everyone was laughing.Not so much as to what Walter had said, but how Florence reacted.
