Крестный отец

           Sheleanedbackonthepillowsandsaidquietly,"You’retellingmeyou’reagangster,isn’tthatit?You’retellingmethatyou’reresponsibleforpeoplebeingkilledandothersundrycrimesrelatedtomurder.AndthatI’mnotevertoaskaboutthatpartofyourlife,noteventothinkaboutit.Justlikeinthehorrormovieswhenthemonsterasksthebeautifulgirltomarryhim."Michaelgrinned,thecrackedpartofhisfaceturnedtowardher,andKaysaidincontrition,"Oh,Mike,Idon’tevennoticethatstupidthing,IswearIdon’t."

           "Iknow,"Michaelsaidlaughing."Ilikehavingitnowexceptthatitmakesthesnotdripoutofmynose."

           "Yousaidbeserious,"Kaywenton."IfwegetmarriedwhatkindofalifeamIsupposedtolead?Likeyourmother,likeanItalianhousewifewithjustthekidsandhometotakecareof?Andwhataboutifsomethinghappens?Isupposeyoucouldwindupinjailsomeday."

           "No,that’snotpossible,"Michaelsaid."Killed,yes;jail,no."

           Kaylaughedatthisconfidence,itwasalaughthathadafunnymixtureofpridewithitsamusement."Buthowcanyousaythat?"shesaid."Really."

           Michaelsighed."TheseareallthethingsIcan’ttalktoyouabout,Idon’twanttotalktoyouabout."

           Kaywassilentforalongtime."Whydoyouwantmetomarryyouafternevercallingmeallthesemonths?AmIsogoodinbed?"

           Michaelnoddedgravely."Sure,"hesaid."ButI’mgettingitfornothingsowhyshouldImarryyouforthat?Look,Idon’twantananswernow.