“Hi,” Mike answered.His voice was low and soft, almost tentative.
“It’s never been out of the original packaging,” Joesph said.“There are also six matching napkins.”
“Mamaw wasn’t much into being fancy enough to use tablecloths.Neither of them was.”Jamie took the beer that Salzy had brought him.“Looks good.I see you found the other two chairs.”
Joesph nodded.“Did you know about the china?”
“What china?”Jamie took a long drink of his beer.“I’ve never seen any china.”
“Well, there’s a full setting for six.A complete set, actually, including serving bowls and a platter.”
“Nope.Never saw it.Not even for Christmas.”Jamie sat down next to Joesph, directly across from Mike.
“I didn’t think so.”Joesph scowled at Salzy.“Didn’t even ask ifwewanted anything to drink, now did ya?”He looked at Mike.“May I be so kind as to offer you a beverage?”He returned to scowling at Salzy.
“Hey, I thought you were the drink server,” Salzy said, grinning ear to ear.“I could have just askedyouto get the beer.”
“See what you’ve done?”Joesph popped Jamie on the back of the head as he passed him.“Now everyone is going to expect me to be responsible for all the drinks.Iwon’tbe a server when this diner opens up!”
“Why not?”Jamie smirked at Salzy.“We could get you one of those cute little frilly aprons.Like what those French girls wear at the South of France restaurant at Cheshire Bridge.”
Joesph returned with a beer for himself and a glass of water for Mike.“I will not even dignifythatwith a comment.”
“Maybe get him one of those feather dusters while you’re at it,” Salzy said, chuckling.
Joesph rolled his eyes.“See what I have to put up with,” he indicated Jamie and Salzy with his beer bottle.“I don’t know how I’mevergoing to survive this job.”
Jamie cracked up.“It’s either me or that other woman you dumped to come here.”
“Oh lordy, don’t remind me of her.”Joesph did a little shiver.“Justthinkingof her makes my beer taste bad.”They all laughed, even Mike.
“Do you have any idea of what the schedule is going to be?”Jamie asked, having moved over close to the stove and started chopping an onion.
“Mike has given me the name of someone to do the beam.That has to happen first.”Joesph started getting cutlery for the table.
“I’ve called and told them this was a time-sensitive job and needs to happen ASAP,” Mike added, refilling his own water.
“I heard back from the guy who’s doing the tables and chairs.”Joesph flipped through his notebook.“He was absolutelythrilledto see the old stuff.He’s knocking a grand off for those six barstools, too.The expected delivery is in twenty-eight days.”
“That’s pretty exact.”Jamie looked over his shoulder as he stirred his bechamel.
“Everything else is on hold until the beam is installed.”Joesph flipped his notebook again.“I did get the new cabinetry ordered for the dining room.”
“That’s great.”Jamie dumped the onion and spinach into the pan, flipping it a bit.“It’s white?”
“Correct.However, the countertop will be the same as what is going on the tabletops.The same green.The guy who’s doing those will do the countertop when he delivers the tables and chairs.”
“You’ve been busy,” Mike said.“That’s a lot in just twenty-four hours.”
Joesph levelled a gaze at the man in khaki.“Iama professional!”
Mike laughed.“I can see that.I wish the Army would move that quickly.It would make my job much easier.”
“The signage people said they could get the new signs in place in about a month.It will depend on when they get their next aluminium shipment in, though.”
“Oh.I didn’t know we decided on that,” Jamie said as he put the creamed spinach into the oven.“I’ve not seen a drawing of it.”
“I, being theprofessionalthat I am, took the initiative after you said to just get things done.”
