He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Sopranos.”

Billy laughed. “That’s another reason not to bring you there, kiddo.”

Sopranos? Sterling thought.

Nor Kelly slipped into the chair next to Marissa. “Don’t forget your other grandma is coming to your mom’s house in time for dinner tonight. You were looking forward to seeing her.”

“She’s staying for three days. I can see her tomorrow. I don’t want to miss the chance to hear you two sing.”

Billy’s eyes twinkled. “You’re too young to be a groupie.”

Groupie? So many new words, Sterling thought.

“Daddy, everybody loves your new song. You’re going to be so famous.”

“You bet he is, Rissa,” Nor confirmed.

I can see why Marissa has missed them so much, Sterling thought. She’s in her element with them. Already, he thoroughly liked Nor Kelly and Billy Campbell. You could not mistake that they were mother and son, and that Marissa had inherited those blue eyes, fair skin, and good looks from them. Nor and Billy had the natural charisma of born performers, and Marissa was already showing signs of possessing that same quality.

The restaurant was beginning to empty, and people were stopping by the table to say good- bye. “See you on New Year’s Eve,” a number of them said. “We’d never miss your party, Nor.”

“That party I’m coming to,” Marissa said decisively, pointing her finger for emphasis.

“Until ten o’clock,” Billy agreed, “then you’re out of here.”

“Don’t try last year’s trick of hiding behind the bar when it’s time to go home,” Nor warned, laughing. “And speaking of going home, your mother should be here any minute, and Daddy and I have to get moving. We’re due at our job in an hour.”

Billy stood up. “Here’s Mom, Rissa.”

Denise Ward was crossing the room to them. “Hi, Billy. Hi, Nor. I’m sorry I’m late,” she apologized. “I had to pick up some groceries, and the line at the checkout counter practically went around the store. But I bought what we need to make cookies, Marissa.”

Neither Denise nor Billy could be thirty yet, Sterling thought. They obviously had married young, and although divorced, seemed to have stayed friendly. Just looking at the two of them, she in her somewhat prim winter pantsuit and he in his black jeans and boots, you could tell they weren’t on the same wavelength.

And God knows Billy Campbell hadn’t followed the adage that every man marries his mother. No one would ever accuse Nor Kelly of looking prim. She was wearing a striking white cashmere pantsuit with a colorful print silk scarf, complemented by eye-catching costume jewelry.

“How are the babies?” Nor asked.

“Just starting to walk,” Denise announced proudly. “When Roy Junior took his first step, Roy Senior stayed up half the night, installing gates all over the house.”

Sterling thought he detected a slight roll of Billy’s eyes. She’s letting Billy know how helpful Roy is, Sterling decided. I bet he hears about some new accomplishment of Roy ’s every time he sees her.

Marissa stood up and hugged her father and grandmother. “Have fun with the Sopranos,” she said.

Denise looked surprised. “The Sopranos?”

“She’s joking,” Nor said hastily. “Our job this evening is at the party the Badgett brothers are giving to benefit the senior citizens center.”

“Don’t they live in that big house-?” Denise began.

“Yes, they do,” Marissa blurted, “and I hear they have an indoor pool and a bowling alley.”

“We’ll let you know every sorry detail,” Billy promised. “Come on. Let’s get your jacket.”

As they started walking toward the coat check, Sterling took a moment to look at the framed photos along the walls. Many of them showed Nor posing with diners at the tables. Some were autographed by people who were probably present-day celebrities, he decided. There were pictures of a glamorous Nor onstage, singing with a band; Billy, guitar in hand, performing with a group; Nor and Billy together onstage; Billy and Nor with Marissa.

Sterling could see from the older pictures that Nor once must have been a cabaret singer. He came upon a number of photographs in which she was performing with a partner. The sign on the bandstand read NOR KELLY AND BILL CAMPBELL. Billy’s father, Sterling thought. I wonder what happened to him, and how long has she had the restaurant? Then a poster for a New Year’s Eve celebration at Nor’s Place dating back twenty years made him realize that she had been in this business a long time.

Marissa left after a final kiss from Billy and Nor. Even though Sterling knew that Marissa couldn’t see him, he felt left out that she hadn’t somehow sensed his presence and maybe given him a high five.

You’re being ridiculous, he chided himself. But when he saw Marissa with Billy it made him think of the child he might have had if he and Annie had married.

Agreeing to be ready to leave in fifteen minutes, Billy and Nor rushed to change. To kill time, Sterling wandered over to the bar, where a single patron was chatting with the bartender. He sat on a nearby stool. If I were still alive, I’d order a scotch, he thought. It’s certainly been a long time since I had one. Next year Marissa will ask me if I get hungry or thirsty. Actually, I don’t have any desire to eat or drink, he realized, even though I get cold when I’m outside and feel crowded in cars. As Marissa would say, “Go figure.”

“Christmas was nice, Dennis,” the patron was saying. “I never thought I’d get through it, the first one without Peggy. Honest to God, when I went downstairs that morning I was ready to shoot myself, but then when I came here it was like being with family.”

Well, I’ll be darned, Sterling thought. That’s Chet Armstrong, the sportscaster. He was just starting out on Channel 11 when I got beaned. He was a skinny kid then, but the way he delivered the sports news, you’d think every play was crucial. Now he’s broad shouldered, white haired, and has the craggy face of a man who spent a great deal of time outdoors.

“I felt almost guilty that Christmas Day turned out to be so pleasant,” Armstrong continued, “but I knew Peggy was probably smiling down on me.”

I wonder if Peggy ever did time in the celestial waiting room, Sterling thought. He wished Chet would open his wallet. Maybe he was carrying her picture.

“Peggy was a terrific gal,” Dennis, a beefy redhead with large, agile hands, agreed as he polished beer glasses and filled orders from the slips of paper the waiters dropped in front of him. Sterling noticed that Armstrong’s eyes darted to one of the framed pictures over the bar. He leaned forward to get a good look at it. It was a picture of Nor with Chet, whose arm was around the shoulders of a petite woman who had to be Peggy.

I did see her, Sterling thought. She was a couple of rows behind me in the waiting room. But she didn’t stay there long enough to really settle in.

“Peggy was a lot of fun, but don’t get on her bad side,” Chet reminisced with a chuckle.

Oh, that’s what delayed her, Sterling thought. She had a bit of a temper.

“Listen,” Dennis said in the tone of a father confessor, “I know it seems impossible, but I bet that someday down the line you’ll meet someone. You’ve still got plenty of time.”

Just watch who you play golf with, Sterling reflected.

“Turned seventy last March, Dennis.”

“Today that’s young.”

Sterling shook his head. I’d be ninety-six. No one would accuse me of being a spring chicken.

“How long have you been here anyhow, Dennis?” Chet asked.

Thank you, Chet, Sterling thought, hoping that Dennis’s reply would be a big help in his getting the lay of the land.

“Nor opened this place twenty-three years ago. Bill died just when Billy was starting school.