Mark Winegardner: The Godfather returns

“How often do you get to see them?”

“Who?”

“Your family,” he said. “Tony and Mary.”

For a moment, Michael had thought Roger meant his theoretically former business associates. “I’m seeing them tomorrow.”

The rooms were big for Manhattan, small compared to what they’d had in Tahoe. “They’ll like this, I think.”

“What about you?” Cole asked. “Do you like it? Because if you don’t I’ve got a couple other places that could work. If you have time.”

“Who’s the seller?” Michael said.

Cole smiled. “King Properties, every square foot.”

Which meant that as Cole’s silent partner Michael already had a piece of it. “And the whole building’s for sale?”

“Not officially. Just the apartments. But for you, of course.”

He could draw his family closer to him than ever. Kathy had gotten a teaching job at City College; she and Francesca would live together and raise little Sonny. Connie and her kids would move into the other big suite on that floor. Tom and Theresa could have the whole floor under that. Anyone who moved here, he could make room for them and keep them safe.

They discussed terms.

“This is perfect, Roger.”

Francesca applauded. The men kissed each other on the cheeks. They all headed for the elevator.

“Once a New Yorker, huh?” Cole said. “I knew you’d come back. Welcome home, my friend!”

“It’s good to be back,” Michael said, louder than he’d meant to say it. As the elevator doors closed, his hollow words still echoed in the stone hallway of his empty new home.

Hearty, heartfelt thanks to the following people for their help during the writing of this book: Dottie Ames, Lynn Anderson, Ignazio Apolloni, Rachel Bernstein, Thomas Bligh, Kate Blum, Christine Cabello, Felice Cavallaro, Gina Centrello, Roger Cole, Anthony Corleone, Sanyu Dillon, Deanna Dunn, Magee Finn, Francesca Fontane, Rino Francaviglia, Buzz Fratello, Father Andrew Hagen, Theresa Hagen, Cesare Indelicato, Jr., Jonathan Jao, Jonny “the Pencil” Karp, Barbara (Geraci) Kennedy, J. A. Kriausky, Mike Lauer, Carole Lowenstein, Congresswoman Winifred “Annie” McGowan, Elizabeth McGuire, Daniel Menaker, Kay Michaelson, Hal Mitchell, Moonflower® (née Beverly Geraci), Gene Mydlowski, Tom Nevins, Neil Olson, Leoluca Orlando, Phil Ornstein, Allyson Pearl, Beth Pearson, Thomas Perry, Dr. Katherine (Corleone) Pietralunga, Anthony Puzo, Jillian Quint, Kelle Ruden, Donald “Donnie Bags” Serio, Sir Oliver Smith-Christmas, Willie “the Journeyman” Tonelli, Governor George Van Arsdale, Harriet Wasserman, Don Weisberg, Anthony Ziccardi, and Andy Warhol.

In addition, the following organizations provided richly appreciated support during the writing of this book: the Corporation of Yaddo, the Hambidge Center for the Arts, the Ragdale Foundation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the World War II Instititute at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Thank you one and all.

MARK WINEGARDNER received a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing from George Mason University and published his first book at age twenty-six, while still in graduate school. His books have been chosen as among the best of the year by The New York Times Book Review, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, USA Today, and the New York Public Library. His work has appeared in various publications including GQ, Playboy, Family Circle, American Short Fiction, Ladies’ Home Journal, Parents, and The New York Times Magazine. Several of his stories have been chosen as Distinguished Stories of the Year in The Best American Short Stories. He has also served as a board member of the Associated Writing Programs. He is now a professor and director of the creative writing program at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.