Крестный отец

           Ifhewashomenow,openly,thatmeanthewasnolongerintrouble,hecouldlivenormally.Shejumpedoffthebedandstartedtogetreadytoseehim.Shetookagreatdealofcarewithhermakeupanddress.Whenshewasreadytoleaveshestaredatherreflectioninthemirror.Wasshebetter-lookingthanwhenMichaelhaddisappeared?Orwouldhefindherunattractivelyolder?Herfigurehadbecomemorewomanly,herhipsrounder,herbreastsfuller.Italianslikedthatsupposedly,thoughMichaelhadalwayssaidhelovedherbeingsothin.Itdidn’tmatterreally,Michaelobviouslydidn’twantanythingtodowithheranymore,otherwisehemostcertainlywouldhavecalledinthesixmonthshehadbeenhome.

           ThetaxishehailedrefusedtotakehertoLongBeachuntilshegavehimaprettysmileandtoldhimshewouldpaydoublethemeter.Itwasnearlyanhour’srideandthemallinLongBeachhadchangedsinceshelastsawit.Therewereironfencesarounditandanirongatebarredthemallentrance.Amanwearingslacksandawhitejacketoveraredshirtopenedthegate,pokedhisheadintothecabtoreadthemeterandgavethecabdriversomebills.ThenwhenKaysawthedriverwasnotprotestingandwashappywiththemoneypaid,shegotoutandwalkedacrossthemalltothecentralhouse.

           Mrs.CorleoneherselfopenedthedoorandgreetedKaywithawarmembracethatsurprisedher.ThenshesurveyedKaywithanappraisingeye."Youabeautifulgirl,"shesaidflatly."Ihavestupidsons."