Крестный отец

           Thenextmorningshehadtakenthechildrenawaywithhertoherparents’houseinNewHampshire.Withoutawordtoanyone,withoutreallyknowingwhatactionshemeanttotake.Michaelhadimmediatelyunderstood.Hehadcalledherthefirstdayandthenleftheralone.ItwasaweekbeforethelimousinefromNewYorkpulledupinfrontofherhousewithTomHagen.

           ShehadspentalongterribleafternoonwithTomHagen,themostterribleafternoonofherlife.TheyhadgoneforawalkinthewoodsoutsideherlittletownandHagenhadnotbeengentle.

           Kayhadmadethemistakeoftryingtobecruellyflippant,aroletowhichshewasnotsuited."DidMikesendyouupheretothreatenme?"sheasked."Iexpectedtoseesomeofthe‘boys’getoutofthecarwiththeirmachinegunstomakemegoback."

           Forthefirsttimesinceshehadknownhim,shesawHagenangry.Hesaidharshly,"That’stheworstkindofjuvenilecrapI’veeverheard.Ineverexpectedthatfromawomanlikeyou.Comeon,Kay."

           "Allright,"shesaid.

           Theywalkedalongthegreencountryroad.Hagenaskedquietly,"Whydidyourunaway?"

           Kaysaid,"BecauseMichaelliedtome.BecausehemadeafoolofmewhenhestoodGodfathertoConnie’sboy.Hebetrayedme.Ican’tloveamanlikethat.Ican’tlivewithit.Ican’tlethimbefathertomychildren."

           "Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout,"Hagensaid.

           Sheturnedonhimwithnow-justifiedrage."Imeanthathekilledhissister’shusband.Doyouunderstandthat?"Shepausedforamoment.