“I’m sorry, Jamie.I’d never have said anything had I known.”
He looked up at his longtime friend.“I know.”
Chapter Thirty
Jamie slept fitfullyand still felt tired when he got up.I need a day off.I just need a day in bed.He pulled on his jeans and looked for a T-shirt.He could hear Joesph stirring around in the kitchen.
“Why is there not a coffee maker?”Joesph all but growled at Jamie when he walked in.
“Because we always went down to the diner.”Jamie rubbed the heels of his hands against his eyes.“I’ll go down and make some.”
Joesph sighed heavily.“Okay.Hurry your white butt up.I need my morning coffee before I can function.”
“Racist,” Jamie called over his shoulder as he pushed the screen door open.
“Only before coffee,” Joesph replied, right behind Jamie.“Whatareyou wearing?”
“Just an old T-shirt.”
“Okay, for one thing, it’s got a big hole in the back shoulder seam.For another, it’s so tight, I don’t see how you can breathe.”
“I know, I know.”Jamie entered the diner’s kitchen.“I didn’t bring many clothes with me and this,” he pulled at the T-shirt’s neckline, “is stuff I had when I lived here.And besides, all we’re doing is manual labour, so it doesn’t matter.It’ll go into the trash when I’m done.”
“How long ago was that?”Joesph stood as Jamie made coffee.“When you lived here, I mean.”
“Years,” was the answer.“I’ve been meaning to go and do some shopping, but I’ve not had a spare minute since I got here.”
Joesph pulled some mugs from the built-in shelves beside the drink station.“Maybe you can go this afternoon.I don’t think I’ll need you after we get that counter out.”
Jamie poured them both some coffee.“I could use some downtime.I may do it, if you don’t need me.”
“I don’t think so.”Joesph looked over the rim of his mug.“You look like shit.”
“Thanks.”Jamie breathed in the dark roast coffee.“I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”
“Morning.”Salzy came in.“May I have some of that coffee, please?”
