Ten minutes was more like twenty-five and Mary didn’t really sleep but she rested. Bill and Henry Lee went about their work trying their best not to disturb her, so Bill stayed only a few moments before he went up to check on what Mary had left working. He found Bea sorting her washed lettuce and beginning to set up the first salads.
He went immediately to Mary’s prep area and checked the stove tops. The big pot of au jus was just coming to a boil. The soup Mary had started was also coming to a boil so Bill lowered the heat and gave it a good stirring. Then he checked all the ovens, making sure everything inside was okay and moving along as it should.
“I want me some,” Bea said. “Don’t forget.”
“You won’t let me, I’m sure.”
She came around from her station and looked into the pots on the stove. “Where’s Mary?”
“In the meat room.”
“What’s she doing?”
“Resting. We were up all night.”
“Damn, boy. You have fun?”
“We had a nice time.”
“That’s good for her. She needs it.”
“What should I say?”
“Ain’t nothing to be said.” Bea smiled at Bill somewhat uncharacteristically. “I’m happy for her, even if it can’t be forever.”
“What about you?”
“What about me? I got mine at home. You just some fun at work, like I am for you. I get a itch, you scratch it. I know I’m teaching you things be good for you in your marriage.”
“Not shy about this stuff are you?”
“Boy, when you been married long as I have and you get a certain age, ain’t too much to be shy about. I ain’t like them little waitresses, maybe not Lorraine. The others, they get all pretty and they want a hot time with a little bit of theater, like they see it in the movies. They make their lips all red and they wear that fancy underwear and the stilettos just so you could take it off them. I ain’t knocking it. Been there when I was a kid. Well, sort of. Now, I know what I want and I know how to get it. You give me what I want, I give you what you want. You don’t like that, don’t waste my time.”
“Well that’s a good speech, Miss Bea.”
“Thank you, boy. When we go downstairs I’ll tell you what I want.”
“I wouldn’t expect otherwise,” Bill said.
Bea watched as Bill gave everything another stirring then she walked back to her station. She continued setting up salads for the service. She didn’t need anything from downstairs, but after Bill went down and Mary came up, she went down anyway. She popped her head into the meat room to find Bill and asked if he could help her with something. Bill wasn’t really into it, but he went off after her.
“Duty calls, huh?” Henry Lee looked at Bill.
“What should I say”
“Ain’t got to say nothing. Go do your duty.”
Bill took a long drink of bourbon first. He wanted to get high again, but Bea was waiting. He stopped in the men’s room before he met her in the storeroom.
She was sitting on a stack of stewed tomatoes cases. Bill shut the door behind him and walked up to her. They didn’t kiss. They rarely kissed, although sometimes they did. They didn’t speak. Bill went to reach up her dress, but she stopped him.
“Mary’s sweet on you, isn’t she?”
“You have to ask her.”
“I’m asking you.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Say what you think.”
“I don’t think anything.”
“Sure you do,” Bea said.
