you'd like to meet him again."
There was something enormously disturbing about seeing his girl, his
little girl, standing with her hand in the hand of a boy who was nearly
a man. "Again?"
"Don't you remember? His father brought him to a rehearsal. His
father, the policeman."
"Kesselring." The muscles in Brian's stomach clenched. "You're Michael
Kesseiring?"
"Yes, sir." He wasn't sure if it was proper to extend his hand for a
shake with a music giant, so stood, rubbing his palms on his sandy
trunks. "I was like eleven when I met you before. It was great."
He was too used to being on stage, under the lights, to let the ache
show. He looked at Michael, tall, dark, sturdy, and saw not Lou
Kesselring's son, but the potential of his own lost little boy. But he
smiled as he stood up from the piano.
"It's nice to see you again. You remember Michael, Johnno?"
"Sure. Ever talk your old man into that electric guitar?"
"Yeah." Michael grinned, flattered to be remembered. "I took It'ssons
awhile, but they gave me up as hopeless. I play the harmonica some,
though."
"Why don't you get Michael a Coke, Emma?" Brian dropped to the
arm of a chair, gesturing to the couch. The glint of his wedding ring
caught a sliver of light. "Have a seat."
"I don't want to interrupt your work."
"We live to be interrupted," Johnno told him, mellowing the sarcasm with
a smile. "What'd you think of the song?"
"It was great. Everything you do is great."
Johnno's brow lifted not so much in sarcasm now as amusement. "Here's a
smart boy, Bri. Maybe we should keep him."
Michael grinned, unsure if he should be embarrassed. "No, really. I
like all your stuff."
"Not into disco?"
"Disdo sucks."
"A very smart boy," Johnno decided. "So how'd you come to meet our Emma
on the beach?" He continued talking, knowing Brian needed another moment
to adjust.
"She had a little trouble with a wave and I helped her out." He breezed
over the incident with the skill of a teenager used to outwitting
adults. "She's got pretty good form, Mr. McAvoy. Just needs more
practice."
Brian managed another smile and toyed with his warm lemonade. "You surf
a lot?"
"Every chance I get."
"How's your father?"
"He's cool. He's a captain now."
"I'd heard. You must be out of high school by now."
"Yes, sir. I graduated in June."
"Going on?"
"Well, yeah. I thought I'd give college a shot. My father's counting
on it."