“Yes, loudly.”
“Morning.”Salzy entered the diner, his hair as messy as Jamie’s.He went directly to the coffee station.“How is everyone?”
“So far so good,” Joesph answered as he typed something on his computer.“Sleepyhead just got up too.I think the two of you have been burning the candle at both ends.”
“What’s the time?”Salzy asked as he sat down.
Jamie looked over at the wall clock.“Eight fifteen.”
“Okay.Wow.That is late for you and me.”
There was a knock on the back door.When Jamie looked up, he saw Mike.“Come on in.”
“Good morning.”Mike stood there, once again in his khaki shorts, which looked amazing on him and a khaki tank top withArmyprinted on it.The shirt looked like it could have been painted on, and of course, his muscled arms were on full display.
“Morning, handsome.”Joesph smiled.“There’s coffee over there,” he pointed to the drink station.“The beverage server hasn’t come on duty yet.”
Mike chuckled as he poured a mug of coffee.“How is everyone this morning?”
“Just hunky-dory,” Salzy replied, slurping his coffee loudly.
“Not that I’m not glad to see you, but what are you doing here?”Jamie asked.
“Oh.Mind if I sit down?”
Jamie motioned for Mike to have a seat.
“I have a lot of leave to use up, so I figured I might be helpful here.You know, when the construction guy shows up, about putting in the beam.”
Joesph closed his computer.“I, for one, am very glad you’re here.I have some limited experience in taking out load-bearing walls in houses, but not for a business and nothing this big.Makes me a little nervous.”
“What time are they supposed to be here?”Mike asked.
“They said around nine.”
“Alrighty then.”Jamie stood.“I’ll rustle up some breakfast.Nothing fancy this morning.Sorry.I didn’t realize this was happening so quickly!”
“What do you want me to do?”Salzy asked.
“Would you get the bacon and eggs out of the walk-in for me?”
Salzy moved towards the walk-in.“Anything else?”
“You can pour Mike and me some more coffee,” Joesph smirked.
Jamie laughed as Salzy glared at Joesph.
“Mike, how long do you think it will take to get the beam done?”Jamie took the bacon from Salzy.
“It’s straightforward as long as there are no other issues.I’d say two or three days.That won’t take in the time for Gyprock and finishing.”Mike paused.“If we could clear everything away from that wall, that would help matters.”
Jamie placed a sheet pan covered in bacon into the oven.He looked at all the equipment along the wall.“Well, crap.”
“What?”Mike asked as he approached him.
“That’s a lot of work.”Jamie blew out a breath.“And this stuff weighs a ton.”
“What have you got on today?”Mike answered.
