“I’m seeing that,” Joesph said as he wrote in his notebook.“I’m liking it.”
“I have a question,” Mike said, raising his hand.“What’s for brunch?”
“Walter, will you get that butter melted and separated for me, please?”Jamie looked up at Mike.“Eggs Benedict, O’Brien potatoes, fresh berries, fresh asparagus, and banana nut muffins.”
Mike closed his eyes and licked his lips.“Another favourite,” he said quietly.“It’s almost like you know all my weak spots.”
Jamie’s mouth went dry again.Salzy laughed from behind Jamie, loudly.
* * * * *
“You gone and done itonce again, Jamie,” Dexter said, leaning back.“That was very good.I’m pleasantly full, but not too full.”
“Amen to that,” Walter said, wiping his mouth.“I wasn’t even sure I could eat today after eating so much last night.”
Mike looked at Jamie, who was sitting next to him, again, Jamie noticed.“That was the best hollandaise I’ve ever had.”
“Thank you.”Jamie looked around.“It looks like you gals have gotten the dining room pretty much done.”
“The only thing that isn’t packed up is what we have on the table,” Hazel said.
“We can pack up all the glasses if you want,” Minnie said.
“Good idea.I’ll get us some plastic cups to see us through.Plates too.”
“The tables, booths, and chairs are being picked up tomorrow,” Joesph announced.“Since Jamie has changed the kitchen set up, there’ll only be room for a few stools for that counter,” he said, pointing towards the kitchen.
“There’s gonna be some upset some old men,” Florence said as she stood, gathering up the dirty dishes.
“How many?”Jamie asked.“We can always move the register over to that corner.We’d lose that small booth, but the counter could be longer that way.No one ever wants to sit there anyway.”
Joesph looked and thought a moment.“Okay.That would give you five, maybe six stools.So only half of what you have now.”
“That’d be plenty.”Florence continued picking up plates and Minnie helped.
“Can you please not pack up all the flatware?”Jamie asked.“I hate trying to use that plastic or wood stuff.”
“Yes...boss.Whatever you say...boss,” Florence said, snickering.
“Oh hell.”Jamie lowered his head into his hands.“I hope this vacation helps that woman.”
Hazel laughed as he went through the swinging door to the kitchen.“Not much, I’d say.”
Dexter and Timmy took care of the dirty dishes, drying and packing them up.Walter cleaned the stove, and Salzy continued to make boxes when needed and moved the full ones.Jamie had decided to put the old shelves that were along the back wall outside, dedicating an area for things to go to the dump.The day seemed to fly by.
“Stack all those boxes up against that back wall, labelling facing out, please,” Jamie directed.
They were almost done for the day when Joesph came up to Jamie, Mike right behind him.“Jamie, may I have a word with you...outside?”
“I’ll help—”
Mike started before Joesph cut him off, “You too.”Joesph crooked his finger as he walked to the back door.
“Okay, what’s up?Is the steel beam not going to work?”It was still a major concern for Jamie.
“No.”Joesph turned to look at the two men in front of him, his hands on his hips.“Would the two of you just go and fuck and get it over with.Watching the two of you moon over each other is not only irritating but distracting toeveryonearound you.”
