Flo ordered another round for them all, even Minnie who swore she was only going to have the one.
“I propose a toast to the Puckett’s, and Idomean all of them,” she said looking at Jamie.“To the best people in the world to work for.It has, by far, been the best job I’ve ever had.”
Before anyone ordered another round, poor Minnie was completely drunk, Hazel and Timmy weren’t that far behind her.Flo, of course, seemed to be tipsy, but not drunk.Dexter volunteered to get them all home safely.He said he’d call his cousin who ran a taxi service in town.
Jamie and Salzy meandered down the dark street, with only the streetlights showing the way back to the diner.The streets were quiet even though it wasn’t eight thirty yet.
“That was a good time,” Jamie said.
“Yeah, it was.”Salzy reached out to steady Jamie as he stumbled.“That’s a great group of people you got working for you.”
“Ha!They don’t work for me.They work for...”It hit Jamie like a fist to the face.“I can’t believe they’re gone.”He’d stopped moving.
Salzy hugged Jamie from the side.“Yeah.It’s going to take some getting used to not seeing them every day.”He nudged Jamie into moving again.
Jamie stopped walking again.“What am I supposed to do now?”
Salzy turned Jamie by the shoulders to face him.“You do whatever you want or need to do,Pierre.”
“I’d slug you for that if I weren’t drunk.”
“Okay.I won’t call you Pierre if you don’t call me Sally.”
Jamie stuck out his hand.Salzy took it as they shook on the deal.
When they got to the diner, Jamie said, “Come on, I’ll make us a couple of fried egg and bologna sandwiches, so we don’t wake up with a hangover.”He looked at his watch.“Well, that’s crap.”He shook his head.“I have to be up by four thirty.Gotta make the doughnuts.”He laughed at his own joke, referring to the old TV commercial.
“You do mean biscuits I hope,” Salzy said as he took the keys away from Jamie and got the back door open.“I don’t know what you did to those biscuits today, but they were the best I’ve ever had.Even better than Ms.Mattie made.”
Jamie stopped and looked at Salzy.“Nowthatis the best compliment I’ve ever had.”
He didn’t know what made him do it, but he reached up with both hands, held Salzy’s head on either side and kissed him.It wasn’t a passionate kiss, just a good long kiss.When he pulled away, he was shocked he’d done it.
Salzy reached up and covered Jamie’s hands.“That was nice.Thank you.But...I think you may have gotten some wires crossed or something.I’m—”
Jamie jerked his hands away.“What?Because I’m white and not Hispanic?”
Salzy laughed and laughed hard.“No, you silly goose.I’m not gay.If I were gay, I’d happily kiss you back.”
“Oh, holy shit.”Jamie covered his burning face with his hands.“What was I even thinking?”
“I don’t think you were thinking.Don’t sweat it.I’m not pissed or anything, but you do owe me a fried egg and bologna sandwich.Maybe two.I’m really hungry.Oh, and milk!”
