Крестный отец

           Hecouldbeaking.Johnnysmiled.Hell.HecouldevenbeaDon.

           ItwouldbenicelivingwithGinnyagainforafewweeks,maybelonger.He’dtakethekidsouteveryday,maybehaveafewfriendsover.He’dstopdrinkingandsmoking,reallytakecareofhimself.Maybehisvoicewouldgetstrongagain.IfthathappenedandwiththeDon’smoney,he’dbeunbeatable.He’dreallybeasclosetoanoldtimekingoremperorasitwaspossibletobeinAmerica.Anditwouldn’tdependonhisvoiceholdinguporhowlongthepubliccaredabouthimasanactor.Itwouldbeanempirerootedinmoneyandthemostspecial,themostcovetedkindofpower.

           Ginnyhadtheguestbedroommadeupforhim.Itwasunderstoodthathewouldnotshareherroom,thattheywouldnotliveasmanandwife.Theycouldneverhavethatrelationshipagain.Andthoughtheoutsideworldofgossipcolumnistsandmoviefansgavetheblameforthefailureoftheirmarriagesolelytohim,yetinacuriousway,betweenthetwoofthem,theybothknewthatshewasevenmoretoblamefortheirdivorce.

           WhenJohnnyFontanebecausethemostpopularsingerandmoviemusicalcomedystarinmotionpictures,ithadneveroccurredtohimtodeserthiswifeandchildren.HewastooItalian,stilltooold-style.Naturallyhehadbeenunfaithful.Thathadbeenimpossibletoavoidinhisbusinessandthetemptationstowhichhewascontinuallyexposed.Anddespitebeingaskinny,delicate-lookingguy,hehadthewiryhorninessofmanysmall-bonedLatintypes.Andwomendelightedhimintheirsurprises.