She peered up.“I’m making more apple pies.I thought I’d have enough, but they are already selling like hotcakes.If I don’t do more now, there won’t be any for dinner.”
“Wow.Okay.Let me know if you need any help.I can come over after I get these biscuits and a batch of corn bread made.”
“I will need some help, if that works.”She rushed her dough into the walk-in.“I’m going to need help with the apples.I just hope I have enough.”
Mike, who had been helping Salzy in the dish pit, called over.“I can do a run to the store if you need me to.”
“Thanks, Mike,” Christine answered.“I may have to take you up on that.”
They all got through the initial rush, which lasted well past the traditional lunch hour.Florence came into the kitchen holding a glass of water.“Whew, that was unbelievable,” she said as she leaned against the bread warmer.“I think that was busier than the last time.Jamie, those new cabinets out there are a lifesaver, and having the cash register out of the way makes such a difference.Oh, and the drink station out there, too.”
“Good.Glad it worked out.That was the plan after all.”He looked around the kitchen.Everyone seemed to be deflating a little after such a rush.“How you doing over there, Walter?”
“Yeah, good.I think we’ll still need to prep some more before dinner, but all in all, it worked out well.”Walter took off his ball cap and wiped his forehead.“I got everything ready for you to do the shrimp and grits.I’ve got the recipe, but I’d like to see you do it once before I try.”
Christine was still busy.It looked like she was making a cake.
Mike opened the back door, his hands full of grocery shopping bags.“Where do you want these?”he asked Christine.
“Just set them down on the end of the bench, if you don’t mind.”She looked up, smiled, then said, “Thank you, Mike.You’re a lifesaver.”
Once he had freed his hands of the bags, he came over to Jamie.“Wow, that was...intense.”
“Yeah, it was.”Jamie looked out towards the dining room.The two new waitresses were refilling drinks, while Hazel was taking an order.Minnie stood at the cash register.He could see that the dining room was still half full.
“Do you think you’ll always be this busy?”
“To be honest, I don’t know.”Jamie looked up at his now fiancé.“I guess we’ll find out.”
“Would you mind if I went up and had a shower before dinner?”Mike asked.
“Of course not.I feel like I need one, but there is no sense in doing it now.”He went and checked the bread warmer and sighed.“I’m going to have to make more biscuits.”
Mike stopped him just before he went into the walk-in and kissed him.“You’re amazing, you know that?”
Chapter Seventy
