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1 Michael Corleone had lied to Hagen. He was already in New York, and he had

called from a room in the Hotel Pennsylvania less than ten blocks away. When he

hung up the phone, Kay Adams put out her cigarette and said, "Mike, what a good

fibber you are."

2 Michael sat down beside her on the bed. "All for you, honey; if I told my family

we were in town we'd have to go there right away. Then we couldn't go out to

dinner, we couldn't go to the theater, and we couldn't sleep together tonight. Not

In my father's house, not when we're not married." He put his arms around her

and kissed her gently on the lips. Her mouth was sweet and he gently pulled her

down on the bed. She closed her eyes, waiting for him to make love to her and

Michael felt an enormous happiness. He had spent the war years fighting in the

Pacific, and on those bloody islands he had dreamed of a girl like Kay Adams. Of

a beauty like hers. A fair and fragile body, milky-skinned and electrified by

passion. She opened her eyes and then pulled his head down to kiss him. They

made love until it was time for dinner and the theater.

3 After dinner they walked past the brightly lit department stores full of holiday

shoppers and Michael said to her, "What shall I get you for Christmas?"

4 She pressed against him. "Just you," she said. "Do you think your father will

approve of me?"

5 Michael said gently, "That's not really the question. Will your parents approve

of me?"

6 Kay shrugged. "I don't care," she said.

7 Michael said, "I even thought of changing my name, legally, but if something

happened, that wouldn't really help. You sure you want to be a Corleone?" He

said it only half-jokingly.

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8 "Yes," she said without smiling. They pressed against each other. They had

164

decided to get married during Christmas week, a quiet civil ceremony at City Hall

with just two friends as witnesses. But Michael had insisted he must tell his

father. He had explained that his father would not object in any way as long as it

was not done in secrecy. Kay was doubtful. She said she could not tell her

parents until after the marriage. "Of course they'll think I'm pregnant," she said.

Michael grinned. "So will my parents," he said.

9 What neither of them mentioned was the fact that Michael would have to cut

his close ties with his family. They both understood that Michael had already

done so to some extent and yet they both felt guilty about this fact.

10 They planned to finish college, seeing each other weekends and living

together during summer vacations. It seemed like a happy life.

11 The play was a musical called Carousel and its sentimental story of a

braggart thief made them smile at each other with amusement. When they came

out of the theater it had turned cold. Kay snuggled up to him and said, "After

we're married, will you beat me and then steal a star for a present?"

12 Michael laughed. "I'm going to be a mathematics professor," he said. Then he

asked, "Do you want something to eat before we go to the hotel?"

13 Kay shook her head. She looked up at him meaningfully. As always he was

touched by her eagerness to make love. He smiled down at her, and they kissed

in the cold street. Michael felt hungry, and he decided to order sandwiches sent

up to the room.

14 In the hotel lobby Michael pushed Kay toward the newsstand and said, "Get

the papers while I get the key." He had to wait in a small line; the hotel was still

short of help despite the end of the war. Michael got his room key and looked

around impatiently for Kay. She was standing by the newsstand, staring down at

a newspaper she held in her hand. He walked toward her. She looked up at him.

Her eyes were filled with tears. "Oh, Mike," she said, "oh, Mike." He took the

paper from her hands. The first thing he saw was a photo of his father lying in the

street, his head in a pool of blood. A man was sitting on the curb weeping like a

child. It was his brother Freddie. Michael Corleone felt his body turning to ice.

There was no grief, no fear, just cold rage. He said to Kay, "Go up to the room."

But he had to take her by the arm and lead her into the elevator. They rode up

together in silence. In their room, Michael sat down on the bed and opened the

paper. The headlines said, VITO CORLEONE SHOT. ALLEGED RACKET CHIEF

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CRITICALLY WOUNDED. OPERATED ON UNDER HEAVY POLICE GUARD.

BLOODY MOB WAR FEARED.

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