Крестный отец

           Hehadaskedherifshewaspregnant,asifthatwerethereasonforhertakingthepillsandshehadtoldhimno.HeaskedherifSonnyhadcometoseeherthatfatalnightorhadcalledthathewouldcometoseeherandshetoldhimno,thatSonnyhadnotcalled.Thatshewasalwayshomewaitingforhimwhenshefinishedworking.AndshehadtoldHagenthetruth.‘He’stheonlymanIcouldeverlove,"shesaid."Ican’tloveanybodyelse."Shesawhimsmilealittlebuthealsolookedsurprised."Doyoufindthatsounbelievable?"sheasked."Wasn’thetheonewhobroughtyouhomewhenyouwereakid?"

           "Hewasadifferentperson,"Hagensaid,"hegrewuptobeadifferentkindofman."

           "Nottome,"Lucysaid."Maybetoeverybodyelse,butnottome."ShewasstilltooweaktoexplainhowSonnyhadneverbeenanythingbutgentlewithher.He’dneverbeenangrywithher,neverevenirritableornervous.

           HagenmadeallthearrangementsforhertomovetoLasVegas.Arentedapartmentwaswaiting,hetookhertotheairporthimselfandhemadeherpromisethatifsheeverfeltlonelyorifthingsdidn’tgoright,shewouldcallhimandhewouldhelpherinanywayhecould.

           Beforeshegotontheplanesheaskedhimhesitantly,"DoesSonny’sfatherknowwhatyou’redoing?"

           Hagensmiled,"I’mactingforhimaswellasmyself.He’sold-fashionedinthesethingsandhewouldnevergoagainstthelegalwifeofhisson.ButhefeelsthatyouwerejustayounggirlandSonnyshouldhaveknownbetter.