“No.I’ve been trying to find a sander in that garage.Took me ages, and then I had to go and get sandpaper.”Salzy scowled.“The paper that was with that sander was so old it fell apart.We got to clean that garage out.I can’t find anything.”
Jamie nodded.“One thing at a time, one day at a time.”
“Think I can get something to eat?”Salzy asked, leaning against the stainless-steel table.“I’m starving.”
“Yeah, ask Walter to cook you up something.”
“What time do you want me in here to help?”
Jamie glanced over at the clock that hung between the walk-in refrigerator and the freezer.“I’d say somewhere between four thirty and five o’clock.That’ll give you time to get some progress done on those steps.”Jamie got a stainless-steel bowl from the shelf under the table.He sprayed some oil in it and placed his dough inside.“Start on your steps first.Won’t be as noisy in here.”
Salzy stood up straight and saluted.“Yes sir, Sir.”
Jamie rolled his eyes.“Go eat and leave me alone.”
Chapter Sixteen
As soon as lunch wasover, the kitchen cleaned, Jamie set to work on his shrimp and grits dish.He peeled and deveined the shrimp and put them back in the walk-in.He prepped the vegetables and got his fish stock going.He had just washed his hands when Salzy entered, covered in dust.
“Don’t you come in here messing up my kitchen,” Jamie almost shouted, both hands outstretched to stop the golden-skinned man.
Salzy stopped.“Then can you get me some ice water?I feel like I’ve swallowed half a two-by-four.”
Jamie sighed heavily.“Do I have to do everything around here?”
Salzy laughed, leaning against the back door doorframe.
Jamie returned, holding out a large glass of ice water.“You get far?”
“Yeah.”Salzy held up a hand as he guzzled the water, draining the glass.He held it out to Jamie.“More, please.I got all the steps to my apartment done.It’s ready for painting.”
“That’s great,” Jamie called over his shoulder as he went towards the drink station.“Think you can get mine done tomorrow?”
“I don’t see why not.”Salzy took the second glass of water and took a drink, not draining it this time.“I might be able to get them both painted on Saturday, but I’ll have to get paint and painting supplies.I think it’d take me half a day to try and find anything in that garage, and even then, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be usable.”
Jamie nodded.“Just run down to Hanson’s and get what you need.No sense in wasting time on the garage for now.Maybe we can tackle that next week.”
