Крестный отец

           TheFamilywaspleasedwithhisworkandattitudeforthelasttwoyears.Nobodyblamedhimforwhathadhappened.

           "Thenwhydon’tyouinvitethemoversomeeveningandyoucanreassureyoursister?"Kaysaid."Thepoorthingisalwayssonervousaboutwhatyouthinkofherhusband.Tellher.Andtellhertoputthosesillyworriesoutofherhead."

           "Ican’tdothat,"Michaelsaid."Wedon’ttalkaboutthosethingsinourfamily."

           "Doyouwantmetotellherwhatyou’vetoldme?"Kaysaid.

           Shewaspuzzledbecausehetooksuchalongtimethinkingoverasuggestionthatwasobviouslytheproperthingtodo.Finallyhesaid,"Idon’tthinkyoushould,Kay.Idon’tthinkitwilldoanygood.She’llworryanyway.It’ssomethingnobodycandoanythingabout."

           Kaywasamazed.SherealizedthatMichaelwasalwaysalittlecoldertohissisterConniethanhewastoanyoneelse,despiteConnie’saffection."Surelyyoudon’tblameConnieforSonnybeingkilled?"shesaid.

           Michaelsighed."Ofcoursenot,"hesaid."She’smykidsisterandI’mveryfondofher.Ifeelsorryforher.Carlostraightenedout,buthe’sreallythewrongkindofhusband.It’sjustoneofthosethings.Let’sforgetaboutit."

           ItwasnotinKay’snaturetonag;sheletitdrop.AlsoshehadlearnedthatMichaelwasnotamantopush,thathecouldbecomecoldlydisagreeable.Sheknewshewastheonlypersonintheworldwhocouldbendhiswill,butshealsoknewthattodoittoooftenwouldbetodestroythatpower.