Connie's True Love
part two:
"Rubbed the Wrong Way"
1941
The year was 1941. Today was Vito's birthday and a big birthday party was being held for the head of the Corleone family/ the mafia don. The Corleone children, now grown adults and some married, invited their close friends. Sonny had invited his friend Carlo Rizzi and introduced him to Connie. As the two were mingling, Michael announced his plans to go into the military. This caused everyone to stop in their tracks, especially Sonny was shocked and rather upset that he was going to serve his country instead of going into organized crime. An argument ensued between the two Corleone brothers, while Fredo voiced his support, only for it to fall upon deaf ears, as nobody ever listened to or even gave Fredo the time of day. Meanwhile, Connie got up to get herself a beverage, when she accidentally bumped into someone familiar.
"Oh, excuse me. I'm so sorry." Connie said.
"Think nothing of it. Just a pure acci-Connie!" the person turned around, revealing themself to be Jimmy McMurphy.
"J-Jimmy? Jimmy McMurphy? How-How have you been?" Connie's eyes lit up and her heart started to race.
"I've been OK, but, better now that I see you. I request military leave to come and see you. How have you been? I've missed you so much!" Jimmy gave her a big hug and picked her up.
"Oh, Jimmy, put me down. You goofball!" Connie laughed.
"Sorry, I uh I just got a little excited there. Anyways, how have you been?" Jimmy asked the still unanswered question, as he put Connie down.
"I've been good. I'm so glad to see you and I'm glad that you made it to my father's birthday party." Connie held onto Jimmy's hand.
"Hey, I wouldn't miss a birthday party and a chance to see you for anything in the world." Jimmy smiled.
"Oh, there's someone I'd like for you to meet. Come with me." Connie took Jimmy over to where she and Carlo were sitting.
"Connie, who is this?" Jimmy asked.
"Jimmy, this is Carlo. Carlo, this is my friend Jimmy McMurphy." Connie introduced the two men.
"Hi." Jimmy waved at him.
"Nice to meet you." Carlo shook his hand.
"We go back a very long way." Connie couldn't help, but, stare at Jimmy.
"Oh, you do. That's nice." Carlo nodded his head.
He clearly didn't like the fact that Connie was staring at Jimmy the way she was and Jimmy was trying his best to like Carlo, but, there was something about the guy that just rubbed him the wrong way. He didn't want to say anything for fear that he would cause a stink and after all, it was Vito's birthday, so, maybe another time might be good for him to air out his bad feelings about Carlo.
1945: The Day of Connie and Carlo's wedding
The time for Jimmy to vent about his bad vibes from Carlo was too late, because, the latter proposed to Connie and now, they were getting married in a traditional Sicilian wedding. Unbeknownst to Jimmy, Vito didn't like Carlo nor did he approve of his being with Connie due to the fact that he was a northern Italian. However, he arranged their wedding ceremony to be that of their cultural tradition. Likewise to Vito's birthday party, Jimmy took time off to come and support his good friend's union, despite the fact that he does have feelings for her and wasn't real crazy about Carlo. He desperately wanted to be the one marrying Constanzia Corleone, the woman of his dreams, but obviously, that wasn't happening. Michael noticed that Jimmy was down, while trying to put on a happy face and went over to talk to him.
"Hey, what's bugging you, Jimmy?" Michael sat next to Jimmy.
"Nothing." Jimmy shook his head.
"Jim, my brothers and I know you all too well. I know something is bothering you. Now, spill it." Michael wasn't fooled by what Jimmy had said.
"Mike, if I told you, you'd think I was nuts or something. I wouldn't blame you. I mean I'm kicking myself for these feelings. They're feelings that I shouldn't have, but I do have them and I cannot control them. I-I j-" Jimmy was interrupted.
"It's Connie, isn't it?" Michael already knew who was on Jimmy's mind and who Jimmy had feelings for.
"Before you say anything, I just want you to know that I am happy for her and I still want to be her friend." Jimmy quickly covered his own tracks.
"Jim, all I was going to say was that Connie might have feelings for you, too. I don't know. I can't read her mind, but I think she does. Needless to say, she is marrying Carlo and that's that. However, I am glad that you were honest and didn't try to fib your way out of it. Where I come from, lying is not tolerated." Michael sounded a bit firm, despite the fact that he was trying to make Jimmy feel better.
"I know, believe me, I know. However, there's just something about that Carlo fellow that I don't like." Jimmy put his hands together.
"What's this about Carlo that you don't like? Do tell." Sonny, who overheard what Jimmy said, came over to the table and sat down, even taking a moment to look at/ogle all of the women who showed it.
"I don't know. I mean I want your sister to be happy, really I do, but-" Jimmy was cut off.
"But, you want to be with her, is that it?" Sonny started to add all of it up.
"That is neither confirmed nor denied." Jimmy started to turn red in the face due to the fact that he was a little embarrassed that Sonny managed to call his bluff, even if he wouldn't openly admit to it.
"Look, Jimmy, I know you like the back of my own hand. I know you always liked Connie, but, face facts, she is marrying Carlo and that's that. You had the chance, but you blew it, my friend. You done blew it. Now, do yourself a favor and be a good sport and let it go. Don't brood or be the clingy type. Connie doesn't need it and you don't need it. After all, Carlo really likes her and I doubt he would take too kindly to you brooding over her in his presence, because I'm not taking it too kindly in my own and I doubt you are taking too kindly being that way in your own presence." Sonny tried his best to sound gentle, which would be rare for him, but instead, he sounded very cold hearted.
"Sonny, you don't have to be cold. I mean he is feeling down. Don't kick someone when they're down. I recall that, that is your rule." Michael firmly reminded his older brother and in so many words, told him to back off.
"My rule is to not harm someone who can't or won't fight back." Sonny shot back.
"Mike, Sonny's right. I have to let it go. It'll take time, but I'll adjust. However, I just hope that Carlo treats Connie with respect, because for some odd reason, he rubs me the wrong way. I mean behind his smile, there's something else." Jimmy understood where Sonny was coming from, despite not being crazy about Carlo.
"Well, whatever it is, you're going to have to shake the feeling off eventually." Sonny spotted Lucy Mancini at a table and left their table to go "put the moves" on her.
"Off he goes to flirt with another one." Michael snarked.
"Yet, he has a wife, right?" Jimmy looked at him, very puzzled, but not too surprised.
"Oh yes, but she is afraid to have sex with him due to his enormous appendage." Michael looked back at Jimmy.
"So, that's why he was always bulging out of his pants, practically." Jimmy snickered.
Michael burst out with laughter, despite his efforts to suppress it. He honestly could not believe that Jimmy was being as dead pan as he was. He always knew Jimmy had a dry sense of humor, but never to the point of being dead pan. In fact, Michael hadn't laughed like this for a long time, since joining the military. Jimmy hadn't cracked jokes like this since going into the military and it felt good to crack jokes with a childhood friend. It almost made him forget how lonely he was and how he wished he had started a relationship with Connie early on. The feeling almost disappeared completely for a brief moment, only to return when he saw Carlo and Connie dancing. All he could think about was how beautiful Connie looked and how he wished it was him, instead of Carlo.
'Well, there she is. The woman of my dreams. God, she looks so beautiful in that dress. Scratch that. She looks beautiful all the time. I just wish I was the one dancing with her, but you can't have your cake and eat it, too, Jim. You have to be happy for her, despite the fact that Carlo doesn't seem like the guy he portrays himself out to be. No, there's something phony about that guy. I don't know what, but I have a bad feeling about him. However, if I were to say anything, everyone would think that it was due to jealousy, so, I better keep my lips sealed and smile. It's the only way.' Jimmy thought, as he watched Connie and Carlo dance, totally in complete admiration of Connie's beauty. He was in love with her and what was killing him was the fact that he couldn't have her. Well, he could, but he never jumped on the opportunity when it was presented to him. He knew he was going to spend the rest of his life kicking himself for it.
Michael knew that despite his tough nature and his efforts to put on a happy face, this was eating at Jimmy and that it was breaking his heart even more when Connie and Carlo cut the cake and shared a passionate kiss, among other things, but he also knew that Jimmy didn't sense anything good about Carlo. This was what he wanted to find out from the latter.
'What could Jim possibly sense bad about Carlo? He seems like a nice guy to me and plus, Jim barely knows the guy. He is Sonny's friend and Sonny introduced him to Connie. Wouldn't he have known something was up with Carlo, before Jim did? Eh, Jim's just sore that he doesn't have our sister. He better get over it and just deal with it. Also, be supportive like we all are. It's bad enough pop isn't too crazy about Carlo, but he's our father and fathers are supposed to be that way. We don't need a friend being that way. Ah, he'll warm up to Carlo, eventually and probably find a girl for himself. Then again, the girl he'll end up with will probably treat him like shit. He doesn't need that. Nobody needs someone to treat 'em like shit. Wait a minute, maybe that's what Jim is sensing about Carlo, but Sonny would've sensed that at first glance. After all, nothing gets past Sonny.' Michael thought.
Kay Adams, Michael's girlfriend, came over to the table where the two men were seated and started chatting up a storm with the two men. Michael listened attentively, while Jimmy, unintentionally, blocked her out in order to focus on the seemingly happily married couple who were Connie and Carlo. Normally, Jimmy wouldn't mentally block anyone out when they were speaking to him, but he just couldn't help that he was laser focused on Connie and that his bad feeling about Carlo was ever so growing by the mere second. He was hell-bent on finding out Carlo's "true colors" and waiting for the latter to expose them, himself. It'd be better that way rather than to have Jimmy go around shooting his mouth off and looking the fool. Like Michael and Sonny both told him, he wouldn't want that and most importantly, Connie would neither want nor need that, especially from a childhood friend like Jimmy. However, it wouldn't be long until Jimmy snapped out of his trance-like state when he heard Kay calling his name about three times and when Michael tapped on his shoulder.
"Huh?" Jimmy had that same dazed and confused look he did back in '32.
"Son of a bitch! You just made that same lost look you did back in 1932 in that park." Michael laughed.
"I-what? Who was talking?" Jimmy looked completely lost.
"I was. I said how long have you been friends with Michael? He's talked an awful lot about you." Kay said with a smile. Clearly, she found him a little handsome, despite the fact that she was Michael's girlfriend. What a hussy!
"Oh, uh, we've been friends for quite a long time. I knew him since I was in the second grade and he was in the first grade." Jimmy answered.
"We're childhood buddies. He's also friends with Tom, Sonny, and believe it or not, Fredo. Usually, Fredo doesn't have many friends, but he managed to make friends with Jim." Michael smiled, as he started to remember those old days, while sounding a bit cold when he mentioned Fredo. He openly viewed Fredo as a weak link, despite the fact that Fredo was his older brother. Then again, everybody viewed Fredo as the weak one.
"Mike, you can ease up on Fredo just a little bit. After all, he is your brother, too." Kay interjected.
"Ah, he knows that, Kay, but then, who would bear the brunt of our playful insults?" Jimmy asked, before chuckling. He, like the Corleone siblings and Tom, also viewed Fredo to be a little weak and yet, he was still Fredo's friend. A little mixed up to say the least. Then again, he had been in the Marines for quite a while, so, it was safe to say that the military hardened him to a degree.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. As long as it's playful." Kay nodded.
Jimmy also nodded, before turning to Michael and winking at him. Michael started to mouth, "Don't wink!", but he ended up doing it anyways. It was true that Jimmy, Michael, Tom, and Sonny made Fredo to butt of their jokes and insults and that Fredo took it with a grain of salt, as he was too oblivious to realize it. Sure, it was harmless banter and playful, but sometimes, their, mostly Sonny's insults and jokes could be hurtful at times and either Michael, Tom, or Jimmy would have to tell him to simmer down a bit and ease up on his brother a little.
As the day went on, Jimmy would find himself internally brooding on and off over not having Connie in his life. Externally, he showed signs of being supportive and happy, but inside, he was sad, lonely, and starting to even despise Carlo. Michael and Kay would help cheer the latter up, even if they weren't aware of it. While Sonny and Lucy were inside somewhere, having sex, Connie came over to Michael, Kay, and Jimmy's table, leaving Carlo to mingle with the other guests.
"I want to thank you guys again for coming, especially you Jimmy." Connie sat down next to Jimmy.
"Oh, uh, you're welcome. Um Connie, shouldn't your husband be here with us?" Jimmy had a bad taste in his mouth after referring to Carlo as Connie's husband.
"Oh, he's talking with the other guests. I just wanted to come over here. That's all." Connie couldn't help, but gaze into Jimmy's eyes. There was a part of her that still had a crush on Jimmy, despite the fact that she was a married woman and this was her wedding. Don't you dare get cold feet, Connie! You're married!
"Connie, may I just say that you look very beautiful." Jimmy couldn't take his eyes off of Connie. To him, she looked like a princess in her wedding dress. No, scratch that. She looked like a queen in his eyes and he wanted to be her king, but there was a tiny part of him that was coming to terms with the fact that, that was obviously never going to happen.
"Awww! Why thank you, Jimmy. You know, you look very handsome in your uniform. Might I add that you look very tough and strong." Connie made a strong pose with her arm.
"Thanks Connie." Jimmy sheepishly smiled and started to blush. Part of him wanted to lean down and give her a kiss, but he knew that if he dared to make such a move, it'd be the biggest mistake of his life and plus, one didn't do that to someone, especially the bride, at a wedding. He was fighting with himself on the inside, while on the outside he seemed fine.
Before anyone knew it, the wedding was coming to a close and everyone started piling out, little by little. Connie gave Jimmy a hug goodbye and went off with Carlo. As the two newlyweds drove off, everyone waved. Jimmy had tears in his eyes as he watched the girl of his dreams go off with another man and especially another of whom he had a strong disliking to and bad vibes from. After everyone was gone, Jimmy, Michael, Kay, Sonny, and Sandra were the only ones left. They stood around and talked for a while. Sensing that Jimmy was lonely, they tried to reassure him that he'd eventually find a girl and forget about his crush on Connie, which made him feel worse on the inside.
Later on that night
Despite looking like a happy couple at their wedding, Connie and Carlo were having a spat over the fact that Carlo wanted Connie to give away her purse, but she refused to give it away. The argument got physical and fast, because now, Carlo struck his new wife about the face. This shocked the two of them very deeply; Carlo, because he apparently blacked out and Connie, because a man never struck her in the face. As she laid on the floor in complete shock and horror, flashbacks began playing in her head.
*Flashback to 1932 at the playground*
Jimmy McMurphy and Connie Corleone were on the playground talking when a group of rowdy boys approached them. The boys were about to beat Jimmy up when Connie stepped in. One of the brats pushed Connie to the ground, where she laid in shock, because she had never been pushed before. Jimmy tackled the punk to the ground and started beating the ever living hell out of him for hurting Connie. Connie smiled, as she was relieved to see that someone, other than her brothers, came to her rescue.
*Present day 1945 in the Rizzi apartment*
Inside her mind, Connie wished that Jimmy was there to defend her, again, but another part of her figured that maybe, just maybe she and Carlo could work things out. After all, they were newlyweds and he seemed to feel bad about hurting her for the first time. Couples do fight and sometimes they do things they never mean to do. Sure, it could work out.
"Carlo, I-" Connie looked up to find both Carlo and her purse gone from the apartment. She let out a sigh of disbelief, before standing up, going to the bathroom, and cleaning herself up in case anyone wanted to drop by.
As she finished straightening herself up, the phone rang. She walked over to it and answered it.
"Hello?" Connie said into the phone.
"Hi, Connie." Jimmy was on the other line.
"Oh, Jimmy. I didn't expect you to call me." Connie had a smile forming on her face, despite having a freshly split lip.
"I just wanted to talk to you. That's all. Actually, I just wanted to apologize if I didn't seem overly lively at your wedding ceremony." Jimmy tried to sound apologetic, but ended up sounding like he was remorseful for something or something was on his mind and he couldn't quite say what it was. He was trying to cover his tracks and didn't want Connie to know how he really felt about Carlo. Little did he know that he was right to not like Carlo.
"Oh, I didn't even notice. I-I accept your apology, even though, I don't think you need to apologize for anything." Connie tried her best to laugh it off, even though, she was still in shock that Carlo struck her after their first fight. She didn't want Jimmy to detect it, knowing that he was just like Sonny, short tempered and protective. Mainly protective.
"You OK, Connie?" Jimmy could tell that her demeanor was a little off. He had to know something was up and he was fearing about what it might end up being, even though, he knew his instincts were right.
'Damn it! He detects something. He detects something! Connie, you better think of something to say in order to keep him at bay. He's just like Sonny, very protective. Say something.' Connie mentally said to herself.
"Connie?" Jimmy waited for an answer.
"I'm fine, Jim. I just-Carlo and I had our first fight just a few moments ago." Connie paused and took a deep breath. She knew she had to say something. Anything in order to prevent any type of confrontation. "But, it was my fault. I started it."
"Connie, I'm sorry to hear that you and Carlo had an argument. However, I'm going to ask you this only once and I need an answer. Did he get physical with you?" Jimmy had a stricken look in his eye. He clearly didn't believe that Connie started the fight and he was ready to confront Carlo, if he got physical with her. He was also afraid of the answer.
'Shit! How does he know? He must have a Ouija board or something. You better say otherwise. No room for a confrontation.' Connie thought.
"Connie, did he or did he not get physical with you?" Jimmy pressed on. Connie's silence was already telling him the answer he hoped he'd never ever hear from her. He balled up a fist.
'Now, Jim, you don't know if Carlo put his hands on her or not. Don't act upon your gut feeling. Just don't.' Jimmy mentally reminded himself.
"No, Jim. He didn't touch me." Connie finally answered, very reluctantly. Although, it hurt her to lie to anyone who cared about her, she felt that if she took the blame, nothing would happen.
"OK, Connie. I'm glad he hasn't, but if I were you, I wouldn't wait until he does. That being said, if he does, you just let me or Sonny or Michael or Tom or even Fredo know and one of us will come down and deal with him. Got it?" Jimmy firmly told her, before taking a deep breath and scratching the back of his head. It was obvious that he didn't believe that Carlo didn't strike her. No, he didn't believe that for a minute, but he decided to go with her excuse anyway, as much as it pained him.
"Yes, Jim." Connie nodded. She now felt protected and a bit loved, even though, it was by a man who wasn't her husband. She didn't care, though.
"I'll stop by sometime and check in on you. OK?" Jimmy tried to lighten to mood a bit. He wanted to see if she was really alright and just to be there for her. He was hoping that he wouldn't see any marks on her, even if he was preparing to see them anyway.
"OK." Connie smiled. She could hardly wait for that day to come. However, she hoped her split lip and black eye wouldn't be too noticeable or that she'd receive another one.
"Goodnight, Connie." Jimmy said.
"Goodnight, Jimmy." Connie replied.
"Connie?" Jimmy held the phone very tightly to his ear.
"Yes?" Connie asked.
"I'll always be here for you." Jimmy told her.
"Thanks, Jim. I-I appreciate that very much." Connie smiled.
"I love you." Jimmy whispered into the phone.
"What?" Connie was caught off guard, completely. She knew Jimmy whispered something, but she didn't know what it was at first. Within a split second, she knew what it was and started to blush. "I love you, too."
However, there was no answer, as Jimmy hung up the phone right away due to embarassment and being angry with himself for blurting that out. Connie hung up the phone and started to prepare dinner.
Inside Jimmy's apartment
Jimmy was banging his head in the wall repeatedly, as he was both angry with Carlo and angry with himself for blurting out, "I love you" to the newly married Connie.
"You stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, idiotic moron! How can you say that?! How can you frickin' say that?! She's married, you idiot! How can you tell a married woman you love her?! How?! Oh, Connie'll never forgive you now! Never! You stupid fucking idiot!" Jimmy yelled, as he continued to bang his head into the wall.
Suddenly, there was an urgent knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Jimmy barked, as blood started to run down his face.
"It's Sonny. You OK in there, Jim?" Sonny asked. He was concerned by all the ruckus that was going on in Jimmy's room.
"I'm fine, Sonny. Just mad at myself, but fine." Jimmy held the fresh gash that was on his forehead in order to prevent anymore bleeding. He didn't want Sonny to be suspicious of anything.
"May I come in?" Sonny asked.
"Go ahead." Jimmy finished cleaning his gash up and put two band aids on it in the shape of an 'x', only to trip and cut his wrist on a loose floorboard. "Ouch! Not yet. Be back in a sec."
"Well, hurry up, I'm not getting any younger." Sonny said.
"OK. Now you may come in." Jimmy finished cleaning his wrist wound up and wrapping it in gauze, before going to the door and opening it.
"What-What's this little thing up here?" Sonny laughed upon seeing the 'x' on Jimmy's forehead and even went as far as to press two of his fingers on the wound.
"Gah! Cut that out." Jimmy batted Sonny's hand away and sported an annoyed look, as he shut the door. He was annoyed at Sonny's gesture.
"Oh, it's just a little playful gesture. Remember those from when we were kids? Anyways, how you holding up? I hope you're not still in your woes and brooding over my sister." Sonny sat down on a chair and put his feet up on the table. By the looks of it, he was clearly making himself at home, even though, it wasn't his home so to speak.
"I have a fucking gash on my head and my wrist was slit. How do you figure?" Jimmy bit back, as he sat across from Sonny. He was in no mood for jokes or games and plus, he was in pain.
"Hey, you caused that yourself, because by the blood smear on the wall and the droplets on the floor, I can tell something happened and that you harmed yourself or were harmed. Now, if self-inflicted, may I ask why? Also, don't get too frosty with me. That's my job." Sonny rolled his eyes.
"I think you know why." Jimmy gave him a subtle hint.
"I thought you were over Connie." Sonny started to get suspicious and slightly raised his voice.
"Oh part of me is and the other part is doing it gradually, but I was just on the phone with her and..." Jimmy shook his head.
"And what?" Sonny was starting to get a little frosty in his tone. He didn't like the look on Jimmy's face and wanted a straight answer right then and there.
"I don't want to sound like-look, Sonny, I'm not trying to jump to conclusions or anything, but when I spoke to her, she informed me that she and Carlo had their first fight. I asked her if he got physical. She said no, but my gut is telling me otherwise. I don't honestly know why, but it is. You can't fault me for that." Jimmy had a very stricken look on his face. He felt bad and relieved at the same time; Bad for Connie and that she went through her first fight with her new husband and relieved that he finally told someone what was on his mind and what his gut was telling him. If he held it in for much longer, he would've exploded or at least, he thought he would.
"Jimmy, my dear friend, let me give you some advice, OK? I would've never introduced Connie to Carlo if I had known him to be heartless son-of-a-bitch. I wouldn't. I would've killed him." Sonny walked over to where Jimmy was sitting and put his hand on his shoulder. He either couldn't make sense or didn't want to believe that Carlo was possibly capable of hurting a woman. He knew that if he had known Carlo to be a brute, he would've never introduced his little and only sister to him.
"I would've gladly helped you. Actually, I will help you. I mean no man has the right to treat a woman that way or even touch them." Jimmy's stricken look turned to that of determination. He was ready for anything and to do anything to protect Connie.
"However, I think you need to take some time and not assume things. I mean your gut instinct cannot be right all the time and plus, if you assume something, you're just making an ass out of you and me. Just give it some time and eventually, you'll warm up to Carlo. After all, I don't think he would take too kindly to someone who is in love with my sister, his wife, who thinks of him in a certain way. It's bad enough my father doesn't think much of Carlo. Connie doesn't need her childhood friend and crush being that way. You need to be happy for the two and like Sandra and I both said, you'll find a girl in no time and you'll forget all about your crush on Connie." Sonny told him in a very blunt way. He felt bad that his friend was lonely, but he also didn't want his friend to cause Connie and Carlo's marriage to dissolve just, because he was infatuated with her and sore that he didn't have her. Little did he know that Jimmy was right.
"I know, Sonny, believe you, me, I know." Jimmy nodded his head in understanding. He understood where Sonny was coming from and knew that it wasn't in his place to say anything, but that didn't mean that he couldn't care for/about Connie. That he would never ever do. He made a vow to always be there for her.
"Now, my next question is: How in the hell did you get that gash on your head?" Sonny pointed at the bandaged head wound. Clearly he was concerned about his friend and was fearing that someone had gotten to and punched him or something.
"Oh, well, you're probably going to want to gut me like a fish after I tell you." Jimmy scratched the back of his head. He knew Sonny wasn't going to like the fact that he whispered, "I love you" to Connie on the phone or so he thought.
"You told Connie about your feelings towards her?" Sonny asked, slightly raising his voice, again.
"Not exactly." Jimmy shook his head.
"Then, what?" Sonny raised an eyebrow.
"I whispered, 'I love you' on the phone and hung up before she could say anything. I kick myself for saying it and as a punishment to myself, I banged my head repeatedly in the wall until it bled. You know, Sonny, I wouldn't blame you if you killed me right here, right now." Jimmy put his face in his hands.
"Well, to tell you the truth and this may come to a surprise, I actually feel for you. I mean, nobody wants to be lonely. Plus, I don't think you had to practically beat your head in over the fact that you told Connie you loved her. I believe she knows that you do, because I sure as hell know and so does Mama, Pop, Michael, Kay, Sandra, Tom, and even Fredo. Probably Carlo does, too, but in time, like I've said all along, you'll find a woman and forget all about your crush on my sister. You have to. Hell, if you hadn't given yourself that gash, I sure as hell would've, Jim. That's the god's honest truth. Anyways, although, I find it drastic in your part, I'm glad that someone didn't beat you up. Otherwise, I would've 'taken good care' of them." Sonny patted Jimmy on the back.
"You're so thoughtful, Sonny." Jimmy snarked.
"When it comes to those near and dear to me, how else do you want me to be, other than thoughtful?" Sonny retorted.
Jimmy laughed and shook his head. He loved the banter that he and Sonny could have. It was almost as if they were related.
"Well, I've got to get going. I have a private affair to attend to." Sonny patted Jimmy on the back, again and went straight to the door.
"See ya, Sonny." Jimmy waved.
"See ya." Sonny nodded and left, only to turn around and lean in the door. "Oh, hey, Jim?"
"Yes?" Jimmy lifted his head.
"Try not to harm yourself anymore." Sonny joked.
"Oh, screw off!" Jimmy shot back in a light hearted manner.
Sonny chuckled, shut the door, and left.
"If anything were to happen to him or Connie or both, I'd hunt down whoever was responsible and kill them. I love the Corleones' too much." Jimmy said to himself, as he started thinking about Connie and her fight with Carlo.
Back at Connie and Carlo's apartment
Connie found herself thinking about Jimmy off and on. She had to admit it to herself that she loved him and wanted him to be by her side, but she also knew that she was married to Carlo and pretty much sealed her own fate. However, her gut was telling her something she couldn't bear to face: Carlo was the wrong man. She tried to block that out of her head and hoped that their marriage would work out for the better, because all couples, married or not, have their first fight and many more ups and downs after, but still manage to work out their differences.
'Why does my gut keep telling me that Carlo is the wrong man? He isn't. I was wrong for fighting with him. Sonny wouldn't have introduced me to him, if that was the case. My heart tells me that Jimmy is the right man and that I should've dated him to begin with. Yes, that is true. I've always had feelings for him, but Connie, you're married and you know how divorces are. They're ugly and nasty and plus, papa would say, "I told you so!", which he did. No, scratch that! You and Carlo can work this out. It's just a fight.' Connie thought.
Oh, Connie, if only you knew how Jimmy felt about Carlo and how right his instincts were!
To Be Continued...