Крестный отец

           Michaelaskedcuriously,"IsLucathattough,liketheysay?Ishethatgood?"

           Sonnynodded."He’sinaclassbyhimself.I’mgoingtosendhimafterthethreeTattaglias.I’llgetSollozzomyself."

           Michaelshifteduneasilyinhischair.Helookedathisolderbrother.HerememberedSonnyasbeingsometimescasuallybrutalbutessentiallywarmhearted.Aniceguy.Itseemedunnaturaltohearhimtalkingthisway,itwaschillingtoseethelistofnameshehadscribbleddown,mentobeexecuted,asifheweresomenewlycrownedRomanEmperor.Hewasgladthathewasnottrulypartofallthis,thatnowhisfatherlivedhedidnothavetoinvolvehimselfinvengeance.He’dhelpout,answeringthephone,runningerrandsandmessages.Sonnyandtheoldmancouldtakecareofthemselves,especiallywithLucabehindthem.

           Atthatmomenttheyheardawomanscreaminthelivingroom.Oh,Christ,Michaelthought,itsoundedlikeTom’swife.Herushedtothedoorandopenedit.Everybodyinthelivingroomwasstanding.AndbythesofaTomHagenwasholdingTheresaclosetohim,hisfaceembarrassed.Theresawasweepingandsobbing,andMichaelrealizedthatthescreamhehadheardhadbeenhercallingoutherhusband’snamewithjoy.Ashewatched,TomHagendisentangledhimselffromhiswife’sarmsandloweredherbackontothesofa.HesmiledatMichaelgrimly."Gladtoseeyou,Mike,reallyglad."Hestrodeintotheofficewithoutanotherlookathisstill-sobbingwife