“It really threw Jamie for a loop.At first, the guy tried to deny it.Did his best to try and convince Jamie not to dump his lying ass.”Joesph took a deep breath.“Chris, the guy, wasn’t planning on telling Jamie at all, as far as anyone could tell.He’d still be lying had someone not seen him out with his family and taken a few pictures.”
“That really sucks.”Mike looked down at Joesph.“I wish I could convince him I’m not like that.”
“The only way to do that is to spend as much time with him as possible.And make sure your intentions are genuine.”Joesph cocked his head to one side.“And let me tell you something,” Joesph poked his finger hard into Mike’s chest.“You hurt him, and you’ll have me to deal with.And I’m sure the entire staff of this diner.”He poked him even harder, knocking the big man back a step.“You hear me?”
Mike grinned and nodded.He held up a hand.“I swear my intentions are purely honourable, so help me God.”
Joesph considered the Army man.“Better be if you know what’s good for you!”
* * * * *
“Salzy, I think that’sgonna do it.”Jamie looked over at the Hispanic man.“There’s only one thing left I want to do before starting dinner.”
“What’s that?”
“I think I want to move the old table from the apartment down to the kitchen.There’s only that one small table, and it’s not big enough for three much less four.”
Salzy nodded, picking up his T-shirt.“You sure you’re okay with Mike being here?It’s none of my business, but you looked pretty worked up after...you know.”
“Yeah.”Jamie wiped his face on his dirty T-shirt.“I have nothing against the guy.Hazel was right, he is a good customer and sends business our way, and he’s helping Joesph with that beam.I don’t want to mess that up.I just won’t date him, is all.”
“Okay.As long as you’re sure.But if he tries anything, you let me know.”
Jamie laughed.“Yeah, you gonna go beat him up?”Jamie started up the steps to the apartment.
“You know the old saying?The bigger they are, the harder they fall?”Salzy propped the screen door open with his shoes.
“You just keep telling yourself that.”Jamie moved the chairs away from the table.“Let’s get this done.I need a shower before I can start dinner.I feel grimy as hell.”
Salzy and Jamie set up the table in the large space at the rear of the kitchen.Jamie had found a big box fan in the garage and set it up so there was some air moving around.
“I could swear that Mamaw told me there was a leaf that went with this table.”He looked over at Salzy.“You don’t know where it is, do you?”
“Ah, I think I do.When you got all the mattresses replaced, I saw something like that under their bed.I’m sure of it.”
“I’ll get Joesph to pull it out.You need a shower.You really do stink.”
Jamie felt heaps better after a shower.There was a little breeze he noticed as he made his way down to the diner.“Hey, Salzy, where’d ya put the beer?”Jamie yelled across the parking lot.Salzy was coming down the stairs of the garage apartment as Jamie stepped off the last step of his apartment.
“I put it in the walk-in.”Salzy jogged over to the back door of the diner.“I got a case of Bud Light and a case of the Modelo.The Bud Light was on special, too.”
“Perfect.”Jamie held the screen door open for Salzy.“You want a Modelo?”
“Yes, please.”Salzy stopped after he entered the kitchen.“Whoa.”
“What?”Jamie stopped right behind Salzy, then saw the table, which caused Salzy to abruptly stop.
“What do you think?”Joesph and Mike were sitting at the table.
“It’s uh...very nice,” Salzy spoke first.“Is that the same table we brought down?”
“It is.”Joesph looked at Jamie.“Well?”
“It looks good.”Jamie took a step forward.“Where did you find the tablecloth?”
“There are several boxes under my bed, and this was in one of them.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it.”Jamie felt the fabric, and then he looked at Mike.“Hey.”
