Chapter Twenty-Five
“We’ve got a thirty-minute wait for a table,” Florence announced as she barrelled into the kitchen, grabbing two breadbaskets.“Dang it.We’re gonna need more biscuits for lunch, Jamie.”
“Got it.”Jamie stirred the extra-large pan on the stove, making more sausage gravy.The last batch had run completely out, even though Walter had made extra and tried to stretch it as far as he could.
“Minnie, do you have a second to make more coffee.We’re totally out.”
“I can’t.”Minnie was scrambling as she cut more lemons for iced tea.
Salzy and Joesph came in the back door.Jamie looked up.“Can one of you make coffee.Might need two pots?”
“Holy cow,” Salzy looked at the pile of dirty dishes stacked up, some even on the floor.
“How do I make coffee?”Joesph asked, hurrying over to the drink station.
“Open one of those dark brown packets in the box on the lower shelf.Pour it into the basket over the burner.Make sure there is a pot under it and then hit that red start button.Then do the other pot beside it,” Florence said as she hefted up a large tray, stacked with food.
Joesph was already opening the packet.“Don’t I have to put water in it?”
“No, it’s plumbed in,” Jamie answered.
“I’ll jump on these dishes,” Salzy said as he put on a plastic apron.
“Can I get two stainless-steel bowls cleaned and at the ready?”Jamie asked, still stirring the gravy, shaking black pepper over it.
“On it,” Salzy answered, the sprayer already in hand.
“What else can I do?”Joesph asked.
“Cut lemon wedges,” Hazel said as she filled a pitcher of tea for refills.“Oh, and then make some more tea.”
Jamie watched as Timmy and Dexter were working together as fast as they could, helping each other in getting orders out.I’m going to have to hire more kitchen staff than I first thought.This is crazy busy.
“Uh, how do I make tea?”Joesph asked, looking into the large empty urn that usually held the finished tea.
“Okay, Walter, this should see you through to the end of breakfast.”Jamie held a large spoon over the skillet.“You need anything else?”
“I can handle this for a few minutes.”Walter glanced up at Jamie.“Doesn’t mean I can’t use your help in a bit, though.”
“Yell if you need me.”Jamie turned to Joesph.“I’m coming.”
“Are you always this busy?”Joesph asked.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it so busy,” Jamie answered as he moved one of the freshly brewed pots of coffee to a side warmer.“I’ll give you a quick walk-through on the tea.Thanks for jumping in.I really appreciate it.”
“It’s all good.I don’t mind.It gives me a lot of information on how things work, which makes for better designs.”
Jamie nodded as he continued the tea-making education.
“This is the last of the strawberry pie,” Minnie called out.
“86, the strawberry pie,” Jamie yelled out, then wrote it on the chalkboard by the swinging doors.
“86 the country fried steak,” Dexter hollered.“I’ll pull some out of the freezer for lunch, but that will be the end of it.”
“Jamie, we’re close to running out of eggs,” Walter said as he hustled out of the walk-in.“This is just nuts.”
