Page 12 of Dodge

That please-buy-this tone sounded in Cathy's voice again. I wondered how long this place had been on the market and how far the brothers would negotiate. My mind ran through budget numbers, costs for redoing the dining area, taking out the soda counter and putting in a bar, repairing and painting the walls, new booths, tables, chairs, stools, linens, a podium and counter for front of house, basic supplies for the kitchen, hiring servers, and a million other things that it would take to make this work. Overwhelming was an understatement to the list of tasks that applied to a project of this magnitude. At least the kitchen only needed a good scrubbing and not updating.

“How much is the asking price?” I turned to Cathy and noted her pained expression. She told me, and I nearly had an aneurysm. “Seriously? Do those men think this place is plated in twenty-four-karat gold?”

Cathy bit her pink lower lip. “I know it’s high; however, I’m sure I can talk them down to something more reasonable. That is if you’re interested.”

I looked at the soda counter and imagined a shining brass and wood bar with classic stools. Shelves of matching dark wood with backing mirrors that displayed top-shelf liquors, local wines, local beer on tap, and a big flat-screen TV on the wall. I’d need a bartender as well. My mental investment estimate went up and my offer went down.

“There’s a huge amount of work that needs to be done to get this place functional. I’ll have to think about it.”

I already knew what I was going to do. If the owners played ball with me, Smoky Mountain Bistro was about to be born.

CHAPTER7

Dodge closedthe hood of the Buick and wiped his hands on a shop rag. The job was a simple tune-up and replacement of the timing belt. Not his favorite work to do, but two of the regular mechanics called in sick today, and Brick didn’t want the everyday repairs to fall behind. His main role at the shop was custom work and paint jobs, but he filled in from time to time. Dodge left the GTO restoration he had going and spent the morning in the main bays, doing oil changes and tire rotations. Dirty and repetitive work, but the money was good, and Brick needed his help. After what the old man had done for him in his life, a few hours of grunt labor wasn’t much to ask.

As if on cue, Brick came into the bay carrying a plastic grocery bag. “Dodge, what the hell is kale?”

“Some kind of lettuce, I think. Why?”

Brick pulled out a plastic container and popped off the lid. “Betsey’s been on this health kick for a while. She’s got a whole mess of green shit in the fridge up at the Lair. Supposed to make me more regular. Don’t know why she thinks I need it. This shit gives me the runs.”

Bright green leaves, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes filled the bowl. Brick grimaced. “Only way I can eat this shit is to dump half a bottle of ranch dressing on it.”

“Kinda defeats the healthy part of it, right?”

Brick contemplated the salad. “I gotta choke down more of this mess tonight for dinner. Least there’ll be chicken or somethin’. God help me if she gets a wild hair and goes vegetarian.” He upended the container and dumped the greens into an open trash can. “Come on. Let’s go get a burger down at Jimmy Mac’s, and don’t you breathe a word to Betsey ’bout this.”

Dodge grinned and walked to the shop sink to wash his hands. He squirted orange Go-Jo into his palms and worked the gritty lather between his fingers. “That’s some pretty strong blackmail material you just handed me.”

“I’ll lie like a dog and tell her it was your idea.”

Dodge laughed out loud. The paper towel roll was empty, so he shook his hands dry and wiped them on the cleanest spot of his work pants. “You told me once you ain’t never lied to that woman since you met her.”

“I ain’t never had to eat no damn kale either.”

The two men left the garage bay with a wave to another mechanic and mounted their bikes. The ride to the popular restaurant was only a few minutes. They parked on the street and went inside. Summer tourists filled the place with noise. Harried parents in shorts and sunscreen desperately tried to corral their excited children. Two waitresses lifted huge round trays above their heads to avoid the pinballing bodies.

“Might have been a mistake coming here. It’s gonna take forever for a table to open up.”

Brick grunted at Dodge’s comment. “Tourists. Pain in the ass, but gotta have ’em.”

A miracle occurred, and a small table for two cleared in the far back corner of the crowded dining room. The two men sat, but neither of them picked up the menu. They already knew the offerings of the burger joint.

A tired-looking waitress came over to them. “Good afternoon, y’all. What can I get for you?”

Dodge grinned. “Hey, Katie Grace. My friend here wants your biggest kale salad.”

The cute blonde wrinkled her nose at Brick. “Kale? We use that stuff as garnish on the plates.”

Brick made a growling noise in his throat. “Burger with the works, onion rings, and a sweet tea.” He pointed a thick index finger at Dodge. “You mention kale again, I’m takin’ your patch.”

Dodge didn’t attempt to hide his amusement as he grinned at his boss. “I’ll have the same.”

The perky waitress sauntered off to put in the order.

Brick leaned back and the plastic chair creaked under him. “How’s the Goat comin’?”

Dodge sighed. “Slow. Tom’s got the engine torn down but told me he’s having trouble finding parts. Probably have to use some after-markets. Bill and I started the frame off. I’m thinking candy-apple red.”

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