Epilogue
“Happy anniversary,”Mike said, kissing Jamie, who had been sitting on the bed, pulling his shoes on.
He leaned back onto the bed, kissing his husband.“It’s hard to believe it’s been five years already.”
Mike let out a long breath.“I know.The years have flown by.”
“It’s been fun, though.”Jamie kissed Mike again.
“It has been that” Mike said, laughing.“I didn’t know I’d be marrying an empire builder.”
“Pfft, I’m not that.”
“Okay.What’s your plan for the day?”Mike rolled over onto his side to watch Jamie getting ready for work.
“I’m going over to the bakery first to check on Christine and Ian.They’ve got a big wedding cake due in a few days.I need to make sure it will be travel-ready to make the trip to Atlanta.Then I need to go to the Bistro and see if Robbie has everything he needs and to check on the new line cook he has.”
“That’s all?”Mike asked.
“Not quite.”Jamie stood up and pulled on his freshly laundered chef’s coat.“I have a meeting with Salzy, Timmy, and Mandy at the diner.I want to go over the menu and see if anything needs to change.I may need to bring Ian and Robbie into it.Not sure yet.”
“And Mandy is working out as the lead waitress?I know that Hazel is only doing breakfast, and Minnie...didn’t want the position, but...Flo is still working two days a week, as is Walter.”
“Yeah, she’s really picked it up quickly.”Jamie looked at himself in the full-length mirrored door of the closet in their bedroom.
“What about the Roof Top?Everything to your liking there?”Mike asked, having gotten out of bed, standing there naked.
Jamie felt his mouth water.“Um...yeah.You know that.You’re the contractor for it.Makes me happy you were able to retire.I’m not sure I’d trust anyone else with this.”He looked at the clock on the mahogany bedside table.“I could...”Jamie started to unbutton his chef coat.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Mike said, throwing a pillow at him.“I have to get a move on myself.I have all that tinted glass being installed today in the new restaurant, which you are in charge of, I might remind you.It was your idea.”
Jamie frowned.“Why did you have to remind me?”
“It was you who said that Columbus was big enough to support a fine dining restaurant.And it was you who decided to build it.”Mike pulled on a pair of black briefs.“Now, tell me you’re not an empire-building maniac.You have Mattie’s Diner, Puckett’s Bakery, The Bistro, and now the Roof Top, on the top floor of the new skyscraper bank building.”
Jamie frowned.“You don’t play fair.”
“All’s fair in love and war.”Mike kissed Jamie hard.“And I love you for it.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with having a little party tonight in the diner?”Jamie asked, letting his forefinger make a trail down the hair on Mike’s chest.
“I told you I was.”Mike opened a drawer of the big mahogany dresser.He pulled out an undershirt.“Robbie said he had a surprise for us.”
Jamie frowned.“Funny, Ian told me the same thing.”
