Крестный отец

           Andlivingwithhimthelasttwoyearshadmadeherlovehimmore.

           Shelovedhimbecausehewasalwaysfair.Anoddthing.Buthealwayswasfairtoeverybodyaroundhim,neverarbitraryeveninlittlethings.Shehadobservedthathewasnowaverypowerfulman,peoplecametothehousetoconferwithhimandaskfavors,treatinghimwithdeferenceandrespectbutonethinghadendearedhimtoheraboveeverythingelse.

           EversinceMichaelhadcomebackfromSicilywithhisbrokenface,everybodyintheFamilyhadtriedtogethimtoundergocorrectivesurgery.Michael’smotherwasafterhimconstantly;oneSundaydinnerwithalltheCorleonesgatheredonthemallsheshoutedatMichael,"Youlooklikeagangsterinthemovies,getyourfacefixedforthesakeofJesusChristandyourpoorwife.AndsoyournosewillstoprunninglikeadrunkenIrish."

           TheDon,attheheadofthetable,watchingeverything,saidtoKay,"Doesitbotheryou?"

           Kayshookherhead.TheDonsaidtohiswife."He’soutofyourhands,it’snoconcernofyours."Theoldwomanimmediatelyheldherpeace.Notthatshefearedherhusbandbutbecauseitwouldhavebeendisrespectfultodisputehiminsuchamatterbeforetheothers.

           ButConnie,theDon’sfavorite,cameinfromthekitchen,whereshewascookingtheSundaydinner,herfaceflushedfromthestove,andsaid,"Ithinkheshouldgethisfacefixed.Hewasthemosthandsomeoneinthefamilybeforehegothurt.Comeon,Mike,sayyou’lldoit."

           Michaellookedatherinanabsentmindedfashion.