Chapter 6

Still the place had always been a part of his life in some form or another. As a kid, he’d spent many afternoons doing his homework at one of the booths. As a teenager he’d waited tables. Now, here he was the owner.

He went through the swinging door to the kitchen where Johnny, dressed in his usual chef’s coat, got ready. The man had told Adam once he’d actually gone to chef’s school back some forty years ago. Not that working the grill at Vic’s required such lofty skills.

“How’s it going, Johnny?”

“Okay, boss. You?” Johnny was a big beefy guy who looked like maybe once upon a time he’d been in the Marines. He’d never said he was and Adam had never asked.

“Tired.”

“Me, too.”

They seemed to have this discussion every day of the five days they worked. Talk about a rut.

“Say, Johnny?”

The older man looked surprised. “Yeah?”

Adam shrugged. “What would you say if maybe I sold this place?”

“Sold it?”