“Done.”Salzy stood in front of the counter.“Time for these?”he indicated the bowls sitting on plates.
“Yep.Take two, and I’ll follow with the rest.Serve Flo and Hazel.”
“Yes sir, Sir.”Salzy gave another salute before picking up the food.
Salzy had given the two older women their food and was in the process of sitting down when Jamie brought out the rest on a tray.
“Hope y’all enjoy.”Jamie served the remaining dishes.“It’s one of my favourites.”
“It sure smells good,” Dexter said, leaning over the steaming bowl in front of him.
Jamie was just about to sit down when there was a knock at the glass door.
“That’ll be Mike,” Florence said as she started to get up.
“Just sit down, Flo.I’ll get it.”Jamie turned towards the door, and there was a big man, no...ahugeman, standing on the other side.“Y’all dig in before it gets cold.”
He unlocked the door.“You must be Mike.Come on in.”
Mike walked in and looked at the group around the two tables pushed together.“Is this a staff party?”He looked back at Jamie.“I can always go...”
“No, no.”Jamie had to look up at the man.When he did, he couldn’t help but notice that his shoulders were nearly as wide as the doorway, and that door wasn’t small either.“I was told in advance that you’d be here.Take a seat anywhere and I’ll cook up your porkchops.”Jamie stopped for a moment.“That’s what I was told you’d want.”
Mike nodded.“I have them every Thursday.It’s the special.”
Jamie nodded.“What would you like to drink?”
Mike walked over to a two-top and pulled out a chair.That man doesn’t walk, he...like glides.
Mike sat down.“Iced tea, please.”
“Be right back.”
Jamie walked back to the kitchen and stood by the drink station.Oh my God, is that man hot.
Walter walked through the door.“I’ll cook it up.”
“No, you won’t either.”Jamie handed him a glass of water and a glass of iced tea, complete with a wedge of lemon.“But you can take these out and then sit and eat before it gets cold.”
Walter frowned but did as he was told.
Jamie had already prepped the chops and had the flattop grill on.It wouldn’t take him but five minutes to cook everything up.While the chops cooked, he got the beans in the steamer and the mashed potatoes and gravy stirred in the bain-marie.He plated up the food and took it out to Mike.
“Here ya go.Enjoy.Save room for dessert.I made bread pudding this afternoon.”
Mike nodded and turned his attention to a book he’d brought with him.He picked up his fork and knife, not even looking at the plate.
When he sat down, Hazel was telling a story about Papaw and Mamaw having what she called a tiff.It was all about a bag of flour.
“He was trying to tell Ms.Mattie that there was a cheaper bag of flour, and she was telling him that when he could make biscuits, he could choose the flour.It was when she stomped her foot that he shut his mouth.That man knew when to quit.”
They all laughed.Then it got really quiet while they were eating.Always a good sign in Jamie’s opinion.
“I think this is about the best dinner I’ve ever had,” Dexter said.“It’s amazing.”
Walter looked up.“This for sure should go on the menu.You’ve outdone yourself, Jamie.”
“Thanks, Walter.That means a lot coming from you.”
