The look on Jerome’s face was pure rage, his face red and blotchy.
When the two men left, Jamie leaned over his workbench, his hands resting on the cool metal surface.
“You okay, Jamie?”Joesph asked quietly.
Jamie took a big breath and let it out slowly.“Yeah.Just a flash from the past.”
“Not a good one, I’d say from the look on your face.”
“No.Not at all.”Jamie glanced over at Joesph.“I want a security system with CCTV.”
“Oh.That bad.”Joesph nodded.“Got it.”
“I’m going to finish up with this spinach and then help Sal for a bit.If you need either of us, we’ll be in the garage.”
Jamie refilled his water glass and got one for Salzy.It was close to three o’clock and the sun was blazing down.He could see Salzy in the shade of the garage, his shirt off.It really is a shame the guy isn’t gay.
He presented Salzy with the water.He downed it and handed the glass back to Jamie.“It’s hot,” Salzy said, wiping his face with the discarded T-shirt.He looked around the garage.
“You’ve gotten a lot done already.”
“Yeah.”Salzy pointed to one pile.“Most of that is stuff needing to go to the dump.That other pile I wasn’t sure about.I thought you could have a look at it.”
Jamie poked through the bags and boxes, moving almost all of them to the dump pile.He was directly in the sun and was soon covered in sweat.He also shucked his T-shirt off, tucking it into the back of his jeans.
“Jamie,” Joesph called out, crossing the back parking lot.“I’ve lined up several painters to come and give quotes.Terry Hanson approved of the two I had lined up but gave me the name of another one.The first one will be here this afternoon, and the other two tomorrow.”He looked down at his notebook.
“I knew Terry would know.”Jamie stood up, stretching out his back.
Joesph looked at Jamie.“For the life of me I don’t know why you’re single.Man, you areripped!”
Jamie looked down at himself.“Not really, but thanks.How about a HVAC company?”
“Yep.Got that sorted, too.Terry only gave me two names.One she preferred, but they sometimes can be really backed up.”
“Sounds perfect.You can decide on which one will work best with your timeline.”He looked over his shoulder at Salzy.“Want some more water?”
“How about a Coke.I need some sugar and caffeine.”
Jamie picked up the two empty glasses.“I was serious about the security system,” Jamie said before he walked towards the diner.
“Terry was helpful there as well, too.She said there was only one that she’d recommend.They’ll be here tomorrow,” Joesph said as held the screen door open for Jamie.
“Excellent.”Jamie welcomed the cool of the diner’s kitchen, which wasn’t all that cool but more so than being out in the direct sun or that stuffy garage.
“You may need to take it easy out there in the sun.You’re already turning red.”
Jamie looked at his chest and shoulders.“Yeah, I’ve not been in the sun at all this year.”
“Just be careful.”Joesph looked at his notebook.“I think that’s almost everything on my list and yours.There’s just...Mike coming about four thirty.”Joesph looked up, his head still lowered over his notebook.“You sure that’s not a problem?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”Jamie downed the water and refilled it and then got a Coke for Salzy.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Steak, sauteed mushrooms, and creamed spinach.”Jamie looked at his longtime friend.“I should start making you pay for food.”
A faux look of outrage covered Joesph’s face.“Excuseme?And here I thought we were friends!”
