The Forbidden Love

vi. seen again

I enter my father's office. The lights were dimmed and he had just finished handling business, judging from the shaken man that had just exited the room.

"Why didn't you return home?"

"Oh Pa, I already-"

"Shut it Gio, you're not the father here so stop trying to act like one." He held his hand up but never broke eye contact with me.

"Pa, I went to the wedding with Dianne and just got a little bubbly. That's all." I fidgeted with my hands, nervous and expecting a tantrum.

"Next time, make sure you get home. You know we aren't supposed to have a presence with the Corleone family." He takes off his metal-rimmed glasses and places them on the many papers that engulfed his desk.

That was my signal to leave and attend to any business I had left unattended before the wedding. I still needed to go and buy a new cocktail dress for a benefit that my father was putting on at the local community center.

"Ma, I'm going to the ball shop to find a new dress for the benefit."

"Take Gio with you." Ma cut tomatoes as she commanded and I turned around to find Gio waiting for me.

(Play Love Theme from the Godfather as background music)

Gio has already had a car pulled around for me and I get in. He follows behind me, shutting the crisp cool air out of the car.

"Now listen, I'm having them drop you off at the ball. I want to go have a few drinks with the guys. If you say absolutely anything to Pa about this, you're dead to me." Gio points his finger at me and firmly makes his point.

"Yeah yeah. I get it." I wave my hand and stare out the fogged window. Watching as we pass by figures of building and people of the town.

The rest of the 5-minute ride was quiet, except for the occasional Italian American on the street yelling and waving his arm at the vehicle as it passes by. Eventually, we reach the destination. 

"I'll be back in an hour and a half-"

"You seriously think I need an hour and a half to decide on a dress?"

"You're a woman, of course, you do." 

I roll my eyes at Gio, he always makes comments such as these. 

The vehicle slips away and I'm left outside JC Penny, a newer store with some popularity. The wind begins to blow, so I make my way inside. 

Angie, one of the workers, greeted me as I walked in. 

"Hey, Maria! How ya been?" She comes over to meet me at the door, Angie usually helped me when I went shopping. 

"Everything's okay I guess. I'm here to find a cocktail dress for Pa's benefit tomorrow night. You know, typical business." I take off my heavy coat and hang it on a rack near the door. 

"Well perhaps I can help you, it's been very busy as you can see." She gestures towards the store, which was nearly empty. We begin to walk around and look at the dresses. Some dressier than others, some not fitting for the occasion. 

The upfront bell rings and Angie makes a beeline for the door. I begin sorting through some dresses. So many different colors. Creamy white, night black, navy blue, summer yellow, and other such colors. Angie and the customer began talking, I kept sorting through. Throwing some aside because of how ugly they were while laying some in a pile that caught my eye.

"I need a suit. I have a benefit that I'll be attending tomorrow night." A familiar male voice rang out, describing what he needed exactly. Black tie formalities. Could this man be attending my father's benefit tomorrow?

I walk around some racks, keeping myself hidden. I wanted to get a peek of the man in case we knew each other since his silky voice was so familiar. I walk around and see the man. 

It was the man at the wedding who had a ferocious lady friend. Michael Corleone.