“Southwest omelet with home-fries and extra cheese. And one pancake surprise with everything on it and a Ho-ho-ho shake for you! Is there anything else I can get you two?” I asked the dad and son sitting in the decorated booth near the back of the diner.

Reta had decorated the diner for the holiday, there were Christmas decorations all over the place. The diner was almost exploding with red and green and twinkling Christmas lights. There was a jolly banner calling out shiny holiday greeting slung above the counter in front of Ernie’s kitchen window. All the cheer from the decorations and lights, from Reta herself and every customer that came in through the ringing front door made wearing the Santa Claus hat just that more bearable. I even had a jingle bells on my ankles, courtesy of little anklets with bells attached now circling each of my ankles that Rita bestowed upon me. She didn't make me wear them but after a day or so of people coming in and out wishing me a Merry Christmas and old fashioned carols playing out through the speakers and I had succumbed to it and put them on. I had mistletoe on my name badge, jingle bells on my ankles and a Santa hat precariously perched on the top of my head with my fire hair tucked up underneath.

“Hey Reta!” a loud chorus of male voices called out followed by a gust of freezing cold wind.

“Hey boys!” Reta gleefully called out from behind the counter where she was serving as many dishes as she could carry at once from the window to the counter.

I couldn't help but grin as I poured coffee refills for a couple of tables. I didn't have to look up to see them, I could feel them behind me like a constant pleasant pressure. It was something akin to the comforting heat of a fire in a fireplace on a cold winter’s night, always there and easily detected. I couldn't help but grin, they had become such a pleasant constant in my life that it felt like I had never existed without them in some way.

“Hey Jay, you wanna get the guys this morning? As much as I know they love me I do believe those grins they’re wearing aren't for me. So why don’t you go on over and I’ll take this table,” Reta whispered with a snap of her trademark gum before scooting me out of the table front with an ample hip. Grinning even harder I made it over behind the counter, getting the boys drink orders ready before I even faced them.

“Milk for Bob,” I cheerfully announced as I turned around with as many of the beverages as I could hold at once in my hands before placing the tall glass of milk in front of a grinning Bob.

“Large iced tea for Ray,” I said as I placed down the second tall glass.

“A large OJ for my dearest and loveliest Frankie,” I said as I handed over Frankie’s giant orange juice with an exaggerated wink.

“And then lastly,” I said before pausing to turn around and grab the two pots of coffee sitting behind me that had just finished brewing. “Decaf for Mikey and regular for Gerard,” I finished as I poured both coffees simultaneously.

“Well look at you, pouring two coffees at once. I do believe that is quite a trick!” Mikey exclaimed as he went for creamer and the sugar container between him and his brother.

“Oh yes, an amazing skill this is that I have learned. My time in Jersey has paid off, I can now pour coffee from two pots simultaneously! Praise be the powers of caffeine!” I announced sarcastically.

“Oh I didn't mean it quite like that Jay bird,” Mikey offered softly, his head hung over his decaf coffee.

“She was being sarcastic brother mine,” Gerard scoffed before sending a wink my direction and then stealing the sugar container from his hands.

“Oh,” Mikey exclaimed before lifting his head up and smiling at me.

“Yeah, oh. Ya ding bat!” I chided, flicking him on the nose for good measure.

“So you guys getting the same as usual?” I asked as I got out my order pad. They may order the same thing every time and Ernie may know their orders by heart but it still made the kitchen run smoother if I at least jotted it down.

A chorus of “yeah’s” answered my question and I quickly started jotting down my short hand version of what they wanted to eat but I was interrupted.

“I actually want to try something different,” I heard Gerard’s throaty voice pop up. I caught my head as it snapped up from my order pad.

“Well what can I get you?” I asked, flipping to a new and clean sheet for his order.

“What do you recommend?” Gerard asked as he folded his hands together and leaned across the counter on his elbows closer to me.

“How about the Ho-ho-ho cakes?” I offered cheerfully, feeling at a loss for words as he stared at me intensely with his green brown eyes.

“As long as it comes with a side of we’ll-see-you-at-seven-o’clock-tonight,” Gerard offered cheekily.

“I think I can manage the ho-ho-ho cakes, but I don’t know about tonight,” I offered jokingly.

Apparently it was “nobody gets Jay’s sarcasm day” because my answer was followed by a chorus of broken hearted “Awww’s” across the counter.

“I was kidding! As long as someone can pick me up sometime after seven I’ll be there! I wouldn't miss this quasi weird Christmas Eve whenever party! Jeez guys lighten up a bit!” I joked as I thwacked Frankie on the head with my order pad. Yeah, somehow my life revolved around this awkward group of men.

Notes

Ugh I am horrible person for posting such a short chapter.
BUT it was the only place I could cut my update to make two chapters that made logical sense so tough love all!!!

Onto the next!