“Twelve, please.Come on over and I’ll teach you how to do the corn bread.”
“Morning,” Walter said as he came in.He stopped with he saw Ian.“Early bird, I see.”He got his cook’s shirt on and an apron.Pulling on his ball cap, as he approached the two men.“If you teach this young’un here how to make your biscuits, you and I are going to have a problem.”
Jamie laughed.“No, just the corn bread for now.”
“Um...I think I could make those biscuits.”Ian said.
“What?”Walter asked, clearly shocked.
“Yeah, well...I did watch him do it.”
Jamie frowned.“You got all that in one go?”
“I think so.”
Jamie looked from Ian to Walter.“Okay, then...next batch I want to see.”
“Well, here we go again.”Walter turned to get himself a cup of coffee.“I ain’t never going to get that recipe.”
When the corn bread was in the oven and Jamie cleaned off his biscuit bench, he looked at Ian.“Okay, show me what you got.”
By this time, Ian had put on a cook’s shirt and apron.He had an Atlanta Braves cap on since there wasn’t a diner hat for him yet, something else on Jamie’s to-do list.Ian went into the walk-in with a tray, came out with the exact amount of butter, lard, and buttermilk.
“Okay, then,” Jamie said, standing in front of Ian as he worked.
Ian went through the process of making the biscuits, with Jamie only correcting him once about the amount of salt.Ian got the batch of biscuits on the baking tray and looked at Jamie.“Did I get it right?”
Jamie shook his head, then looked at Ian.“I swear, if you ever give out that recipe, I’ll personally blister your backside.”He scratched his head.“I can’t believe you got that from watching just the one time.”
Ian shrugged.“I paid attention, is all.”
“Morning, all.It’s another beautiful day, isn’t it?”Dexter came in, a happy smile plastered to his face.“How is everyone today?”
“That one there”—Walter pointed with his elbow as he stirred the sausage gravy—“he’s another Jamie personified.”
“Huh?”Dexter asked, pulling on his ball cap.The kitchen was heating up, the smell of the gravy wafting over towards Jamie.
“He can make the biscuits.Ian watched Jamie do it one time and nailed it.”
Dexter looked at Ian.“Good for you,” he said.“Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Ian said, shyly.
“Howdy,” Florence said as she came in, followed by Timmy, and the rest of the staff, Robbie being last.
“Robbie, you’re with Dexter,” Jamie said.“Make him write down a checklist.”Jamie turned to Ian.“You’re with Walter, same thing.”
Christine came in, smiling.“Good morning, everyone.”
“No baby, I see,” Jamie said.
“Nope.”Christine put her handbag under the bench table along the back wall.“Thanks to you and Minnie.Her cousin is a jewel.It was a perfect fit.”
“Glad to hear it.”Jamie walked towards her.“I’m expecting a delivery at any minute now.That should stock you up enough to get some of the other desserts made up, I hope.Is there a way you can stay a little longer if needed?”
“I think so.I’ll have to call the sitter first to make sure.”
“Can you do that, please?I’d like to get a little bit ahead if possible.I’m not sure what it’s going to be like today.Yesterday just about killed all of us, I think.Not sure what to expect from here on in, to be honest.”
