This winter I found true love! (A 'The Santa Clause' Story)

chapter 3= A clatter!

Julia's POV

We started to drive around town, trying to find a place to eat to replace our traditional (burnt) Christmas dinner.

"You like osso buco, kids?" Dad asks.

Of course, thanks to our luck, Osso Buco was closed.

"It's closed." My dad sighed.

"You know, Niel's a really good cook." Charlie stated.

"Yeah, you should see him walk on water!" I scoffed.

Dad chuckled.

"You don't like him very much, do you, dad?" Charlie asked.

"Charlie, yeah. Your sister was joking, okay?" My dad looked at me through the rear-view mirror.

"I'm sorry, bud. I was just kidding around!" I reassured with a smile.

"I like him a lot. Yeah, sure I like him. You know, there's... Just something about him that makes me wanna-!"

Charlie interrupted dad, "Lash out irrationally?"

My eyes went wide with surprise.

"Where did you hear that?" Dad asked.

"From Niel. I learn a lot from him. He listens to me!" Charlie sighed.

"Yeah. Then he charges you for it." I muttered.

We then pulled into the parking lot of Denny's, a diner that always open.

"Alright. Denny's. It's always open!" Dad chuckled.

"I don't wanna eat here." Charlie huffed.

"Don't worry, bud. This place has good food!" I reassured.

"Oh, yeah! You came here with your friend for your birthday!" My dad said.

I got out of the car.

Then, I saw him.

The same boy I saw on the pavement opposite my house.

He was sat by the window in Denny's.

We locked eyes for a moment until my dad spoke up, "everybody likes Denny's. It's an American institution!"

I looked back at where the boy sat.

He was gone!

We entered Denny's to three tables filled with angry Japanese men yelling at each other.

My eyes went wide.

Then, a tired-looking waitress came up to us.

"Are you with Hatsutashi?" She asked.

"No." My dad replied.

"Dad burnt the turkey." Charlie exclaimed.

"Oh yeah, this way. Come on." She led us to a table near the back as if we weren't the only families whose dad burnt a turkey.

We all sat down at a three-seater.

My dad looked over and saw a man with two children sitting at a table.

"Burn a turkey?" He asked.

The man chuckled lightly, and held up a bandaged hand.

A look of sympathy spread across my dad's face.

"Coffee?" The waitress asked.

"No, thank you, Judy," Dad chuckled, reading her name tag. "What do you say we start out with cold glasses of a delicious seasonal favourite, eggnog?" My dad asked.