Connie's True Love
part three:
"Hungry Eyes"
Vito had since recovered from the two assassination attempts on his life. However, Connie, who was now pregnant with her second child, continued to suffer abuse at the hands of Carlo, only this time, it got worse. Plus, it was shown to her family and they, especially brothers Tom, Michael, Fredo, and Sonny have now grown to hate Carlo for this and wanted to do something, but were told by Carmela to not intervene, because the Italian tradition forbade a father like Vito and relatives like Tom, Michael, Fredo, Carmela, and Sonny from intervening in her marriage. Boy, was Jimmy's instinct on par or what?! Well, now, Jimmy planned on visting Connie just on a platonic visit and to see if he could help her in any way. After all, Jimmy did promise that he would be by her side no matter what and Carlo was being no help to her. What will happen next? Will Jimmy finally come clean to Connie? Will she come clean to him? Find out!
While Jimmy was driving, all he could think about was Connie and how much he still wanted to tell her his feelings towards her, but he knew that he had to keep it to himself and not do anything stupid. However, unbeknownst to him, Carlo wasn't being much of a husband to her and was rarely home anymore. Plus, the bastard was cheating on her and doing drugs. What kind of husband does that?! Not a good one, that's for sure! Anyways, Jimmy finally arrived to the apartment, parked his car, and went up to the door. He stood around for a while until he knocked on the door. Inside, Connie, who had just been beaten up, again, staggered to the door, answered it, and quickly turned around.
"C-Connie? What's the matter? Huh? Aren't you at all glad to see me?" Jimmy had a sad and confused look on his face. He felt like he did something wrong, because Connie never had her back turned to him, especially if he came over.
Connie, knowing what his reaction might or would be, still had her back to him. She couldn't bear showing him the bruises and her bleeding lip.
"Did I do something wrong? If so, I'm-" Jimmy closed the door, walked over to Connie, and gently turned her in his direction. Much to his horror, Connie had bruises all over her face, a bleeding lip, and two black eyes. In a Sonny-like fashion, he bit down on his fist in order to prevent himself from losing his cool, screaming, and using profanity. Seeing this, Connie had to react immediately.
"It was my fault!" Connie said in a very loud and shaky voice, as she grabbed his arms.
"Where's the bastard?! I'll fu-" Jimmy cut himself off, very quickly.
"Jimmy, please! It was my fault! Jimmy, it was my fault! I started the fight! I hit him! I pushed him! I screamed and threw a tantrum! I acted like a brat! It was my fault! I made him mad! Jimmy, I hit him! It was my fault!" Connie was very hysterical and started to sob a little. She knew otherwise, but she figured if she took the blame, nothing would happen.
Jimmy shushed her in a very comforting way, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her on the head. It shook him to his core to see his one and only love this way and it made his blood boil that her so-called husband was treating her this way. He wanted to pummel and kill the bastard by any means. He didn't care anymore.
"Oh, Jimmy. Don't do anything." Connie had tears coming down her face.
"Connie, what am I going to do? Huh? You honestly think I'm going to make that baby an orphan before it's born? Huh?" Jimmy held her in his arms very tightly. He didn't want to let go.
Connie let out a little chuckle, despite being in total shock. She also held Jimmy in a tight hug, clearly indicating that she didn't want to let go, either. For the first time, she felt protected and even loved by someone who was not her husband or even a relative.
"Look, why don't I get a doctor to look at you and make sure that you aren't going to lose the baby. How does that sound?" Jimmy suggested.
"Oh no. Please." Connie shook her head.
"OK. Well, what do you want to do?" Jimmy asked.
Connie didn't answer and just looked up into his eyes.
"Do you want me to ummm stay the night? Platonically, of course. It'd be like old times when we hung out. What say you?" Jimmy still had his arms around her.
"I think...I'd like that." Connie nodded.
"Carlo ain't coming back anytime soon, is he?" Jimmy looked around for a moment.
"No. Sometimes, he's gone for nights on end after our fights." Connie shook her head.
"Well, I know it isn't in my place to say anything, but I don't like the way Carlo has been treating you. You can say that it was your fault in order to not start anything, but Constanzia, I know a mistreated woman when I see her and I know a brute when I see him and let me tell you, you're the mistreated woman and Carlo is the brute, whether you like it or not." Jimmy had the courage to say part of what he wanted to say all along. He couldn't hold back anymore and didn't care whether Connie wanted to face it or not.
"I know, Jimmy." Connie said.
"You deserve so much better than Carlo. Now, why don't we get those small gashes cleaned up, huh?" Jimmy released her from the hug, went over to the kitchen sink, grabbed a towel, and dampened it.
"I really appreciate you coming over during my time of need." Connie walked over to a chair and sat down.
"Where's Victor?" Jimmy looked around for the young boy, as he approached Connie. He wanted to comfort the child and show him what a father was supposed to be compared to the father he had. The little boy started to like him better than his own father, because he treated his mother with respect and he didn't even know him personally.
"I sent him to my parent's house. I didn't want him to see me get-I mean my fight with Carlo." Connie brushed hair away from her face.
"Connie, he has seen the abuse you endure from Carlo. I mean your brothers have seen it, your parents have, and now, I have. We all have. However, a little child shouldn't have to witness his or her mother get beat around by a brute." Jimmy gently dabbed the gashes on Connie's cheeks and forehead, defense wounds on her arms, and her split lip.
"I know." Connie held her belly.
"I'm sorry." Jimmy finished cleaning Connie's wounds and looked at the ground.
"What're you sorry for?" Connie got a quizzical look on her face.
Jimmy looked at her, sighed, and turned away from her.
"Jimmy? What's wrong?" Connie looked at him with concern. She was dumfounded that he apologized when clearly he didn't do anything wrong and soon felt that there was something on his mind that was bothering him.
'Come on, McMurphy, just tell her the truth! Tell her your feelings! The worst she can do is reject you. Go for it!' Jimmy mentally told himself.
"Jim?" Connie persisted.
"Look, Connie, I think I have something that I have been wanting to say for a long time, but as you could see, the moment has never been right." Jimmy started, after taking a long deep breath. This helped him boost his confidence. He had wanted to tell her for a long time, but procrastinated on it, so, now, he felt he had to do it. He had to get it off his chest.
Connie's eyes lit up and her heart began to race, as she, too, felt she needed to clear the air of something, as well.
"For starters, what I am about to tell you is something I wouldn't just tell some ordinary girl. This is something from my heart and soul." Jimmy took another deep breath, before grabbing a metal spoon and looking at his own reflection, "I can do this. I am...a...man!".
"Jimmy, before you say anything, there's something I have been wanting to tell you as well. It's something that I wouldn't tell any man. I never even told Carlo this." Connie said.
"I'll let you go first." Jimmy told her.
"No, you go first." Connie shook her head.
"Connie, I have had these feelings for a long time. I just wish I could've told you long ago, but due to my insecurity and fears, I just couldn't, because I didn't want to sound like a weirdo or something. What I am about to-Look, Coonie, I have been wanting to...tell you...that...I l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-" Jimmy started to stutter and stammer.
"Jimmy, please tell me whatever it is. I won't freak out or anything." Connie rubbed his arm.
"Connie, I l-like you and I don't mean only friendship wise. I mean I like you in a romantic way. I always have. I've always had eyes for you. Hungry eyes to be exact. You've been my dream girl. I have always had a special place within my heart for you. I'm just sorry that I never told you before." Jimmy's eyes started to glaze over.
"Oh, Jimmy, why didn't you ever tell me beforehand?" Connie had a smile forming. She was flattered to hear Jimmy confess his feelings to her. This is what she had wanted to hear all along. She just couldn't understand why he never said so before.
"Because, I figured that you'd think I was weird and plus, I also thought I wasn't good enough for you or for your family. I mean I am not Italian or Sicilian. I'm Irish. Most importantly, I never thought I was good enough for you. You know, I'm sorry I said anything. You probably hate me by now." Jimmy walked over to the couch, sat down, and put his face in his hands.
"Jimmy..." Connie stood up from her chair, walked over to Jimmy, sat down next to him, lifted his head, and turn it in her direction, "I don't hate you at all. In fact, I am flattered and honored that you feel that way towards me. You are good enough for my family and for me. To be honest, they thought we would end up together."
"What are you saying, Connie?" Jimmy asked.
"What I'm saying is that I, too, have felt the same exact way. I have feelings for you, too and they aren't only friendship feelings, they are also romantic. Ever since our meeting at that park when you defended me from those idiot boys, I always had felt protected and even loved when I am around you. I know my brothers love me and my parents do too, but their love and the love I feel for and from you are two different kinds. One is family and one is romantic and intimate. I never got this way around Carlo or any other guy. I mean the moment I saw you at my father's birthday party, got your letter, and saw you at my wedding, my heart started beating out of my chest and I got that warm bubbly fuzzy feeling. Again, that feeling never comes on when I am around Carlo or any other man, just you. I'm sorry I never told you sooner." Connie sounded as if she was going to cry. She truly felt bad that she never had the courage to confess her feelings to Jimmy. She loved him and he loved her, but the two never got into a relationship and she married a brute.
"Wow, Connie, that-that makes two of us. I mean we both feel the same way, but in a way, it's too late. I mean you're married and all and-" Jimmy paused mid-sentence as he stared into Connie's beautiful eyes. He felt relieved that he finally got it off his chest and confessed to the woman of his dreams. His heart started to beat out of his chest and he could feel himself beginning to blush.
Connie looked into his eyes for a moment and went into a trance-like state. Jimmy, mesmerized by her beauty, put his hand on her shoulder and she put her hands on his shoulders.
"I...love you, Connie." Jimmy swallowed hard.
"Aww! I love you too, Jimmy." Connie smirked.
"But, words...are just not enough." Jimmy said, as he leaned in.
Connie leaned in and pretty soon, Jimmy embraced and kissed her. As much as she tried to get out of the kiss due to the fact that she is a married woman, Connie found herself wrapping her arms around Jimmy and embracing him like she never embraced anyone before. She never got this from any other guy. Not even her own husband Carlo showed her this much affection, so, to her, this was long yearned for and brand new. Jimmy held Connie tightly and gently at the same time, as she was pregnant. He never got this from any other woman, so, to him, this was brand new and something he'd only do with the woman of his dreams. Connie, with one hand, rubbed the back of Jimmy's head and ran her fingers through his hair. Jimmy, in return, ran his fingers through her hair.
Outside
Sonny, Tom, Fredo, and Michael all showed up at the same time in order to check up on their sister. Sonny walked up to the porch and looked through the window. After he spotted Jimmy and Connie kissing, he turned away from the window with a stunned, yet happy expression on his face. Noticing this, Michael walked up to him.
"What is it, Sonny?" Michael asked. He never thought nor did he expect that he'd see his older brother have that look on his face.
"Well?" Tom said.
"What did ya see?" Fredo chimed in, though nobody paid any attention to him.
Sonny didn't say anything and slowly walked down the stairs towards Michael, still sporting that look on his face.
"Sonny, what did you see?" Michael persisted.
"Just see for yourself, little brother." Sonny patted him on the shoulder.
"OK?" Michael raised an eyebrow, before walking up the porch and looking into the window. After looking into the window, he turned around and had the same expression Sonny did.
"Well, Mike, whaddya see?" Tom sounded a bit impatient.
"Come here and take a good look, Tom." Michael motioned for Tom to come up to the window.
"I wanna see, too!" Fredo whined.
"You wanna see?" Sonny turned to Fredo.
"Yes." Fredo insisted.
"Follow me." Sonny walked up to the window, Fredo following.
"Take a good look, Tom." Michael said.
Tom looked inside then looked back real fast.
"Did you see it?" Michael looked at him.
"Oh yes." Tom nodded.
"How bad is it?" Fredo asked.
"How bad is-Just take a look, Fredo!" Sonny pushed him towards the window.
"Careful! You don't want to startle them, do you?!" Michael slapped Sonny on the shoulder.
"All I see is a couple kissing." Fredo looked in the window and looked back at his brothers.
"A couple kis-Look again, pea brain!" Sonny slapped him on the back of the head.
"Wait! That's Connie and...Jimmy. They're kissing." Fredo nonchalantly said and even shrugged.
"Yeah, she's kissing our best friend who isn't her husband. In a way, it's kind of nice to see." Michael told him.
"Isn't that cheating?" Tom got a quizzical look on his face.
"Under normal circumstances, I'd say yes, but considering the fact that Connie has been mistreated by Carlo, I'd say that she is kissing the right man." Michael replied.
"What do you mean?" Tom was a bit thrown off.
"She is in the arms of the right man. She deserves him and he deserves her." Sonny added.
"What are you both trying to say?" Tom raised an eyebrow.
"Jimmy is lonely and Connie is with someone who treats her like garbage. However, right at this moment, she is with someone who'll treat her right, if she leaves Carlo. I mean that bastard mistreats her and I wanna kill him for it." Sonny put his hands on his hips.
"Uh, Sonny, didn't you introduce Connie and Carlo to each other?" Fredo asked.
"Don't remind me." Sonny shot him a glare.
"No, Sonny, you are the one who introduced Carlo to Connie and vice versa. So, if anything, you created your own version of the Frankenstein Monster." Michael added.
"Yeah, but if I knew Carlo was that way, I would've never introduced him to our sister. Now, with Jimmy and Connie, we all could see it happening sooner or later down the road." Sonny slightly raised his voice.
Meanwhile, back inside
Connie and Jimmy stopped embracing and just looked at each other for a really long time. Everything that just happened was slowly starting its way to sink in and process in their minds. Despite not believing that they shared an embrace and kissed, Connie and Jimmy felt a sense of relief that they had finally done what they needed to do for a long long time. It was a moment until one of them decided to speak.
"Connie, I feel happier now than I have been in a long time. Thank you." Jimmy still held Connie in his arms, refusing to let go.
"What becomes of us, Jimmy?" Connie asked.
"Well, under normal circumstances, I would never suggest such a thing, but I'd say that we take things very slowly and keep it between us in secrecy. You know just until you divorce Carlo." Jimmy merely suggested.
"I'll go to the divorce court tomorrow and file the papers. I might even do it to-" Connie was cut off.
"No, no, Connie, we can't make sudden movements. We have to keep it in the shadows for now atleast. Carlo might suspect something and possibly hurt you pretty badly. Plus, I don't want your brothers catching wind of this from Carlo." Jimmy whispered.
Outside
"Catch wind of it from Carlo? We don't want her with Carlo. She belongs with you, McMurphy. That's most stupidest-" Sonny raised his voice a little.
Michael, Tom, and Fredo all shush him at the same time.
"What? It is the most stupidest thing-" Sonny was interrupted.
Michael, Tom, and Fredo all shushed him, again.
"It's the most stupidest thing I have ever heard! Why would Carlo tell us? We'd deny it, if he did." Sonny reluctantly whispered.
Back inside
"My brothers wouldn't believe Carlo. None of them would. Not even my parents would." Connie said.
"I just don't want it to be a scandal. You know, I just don't want you to be disgraced or anything. I'd never forgive myself for it." Jimmy sounded pessimistic.
Back outside
"Why would it be scandalous?! We'd definitely root for you two on being together. It was bound to happen." Michael said a bit loudly.
Sonny shushed him and hit him on the back of the head.
"What?! You talked loudly before and none of us thumped you on the head!" Michael whispered.
"That wasn't a thump, you imbecile! That was a slap! Now, this is a thump." Sonny thumped Michael on the back of the head.
"Shhh! Have some respect. Some of us are trying to listen." Fredo chimed in.
Back inside
"I get where you're coming from, Jimmy, but it won't be "scandalous" once I divorce Carlo and plus, we wouldn't be seen anywhere with each other. You'd just come here when Carlo leaves. I'd call you on the phone." Connie rested her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I never thought of that. Well, in the end, it'll all be worth it when you are away from that pathetic husband of yours." Jimmy kissed her on the head.
"Knowing that I am a mother, would you marry me?" Connie asked.
"Connie, I'd marry you no matter what. I love you and to be honest, I should've popped you the question a long time ago." Jimmy rubbed her shoulder with his thumb.
Connie smiled and embraced Jimmy, again. This turned into another kiss session. Jimmy slowly moved his hand down and touched her belly.
"I'd gladly raise this one, Victor, and many children, if we decide to have more of our own productivity." Jimmy looked into her eyes, very lovingly.
"I'd gladly give you children of your own besides the ones I have and am having with Carlo." Connie looked back into his eyes, before slowly pushing him down on the couch, laying on top of him, and planting another kiss to his lips.
Jimmy wrapped his arms completely around her and moved his hands up and down her back in a repeated cycle. Connie cupped his face with her hands and just took a moment to admire his handsome looks. She was glad that she finally had this handsome man to herself, as Jimmy was glad that he finally had the beautiful Corleone daughter to himself. Nothing else in the world mattered at this moment. Love was in the air and these two were riding high on cloud nine. Nothing would spoil this moment.
Back outside
"That's it?!" Fredo sounded like a child who wasn't pleased with anything.
Michael, Sonny, and Tom shushed him.
"Don't 'Shhh!' me! I want to see more." Fredo whined.
"Fredo, Fredo, Fredo, Fredo...there isn't going to be anymore!" Sonny sounded very annoyed with his younger whiny brother.
"But...but-" Fredo was cut off.
"Fredo, it isn't in our place to be here. Jim and Connie need their privacy." Michael said in a parental way.
"So, let's get while the going is good." Tom added, as he and Fredo stepped off the porch.
"Well, it looks like my work here is done." Sonny straightened his tie and had a smug grin on his face.
"Oh, get over yourself!" Michael shook his head and followed Fredo and Tom.
"Ah, piss off!" Sonny dismissed him with a hand gesture, as he, too, followed Tom and Fredo.
They got into their cars and drove off into the night. One by one, they were relieved to see Connie and Jimmy together. After all, it was bound to happen and now, they must keep it on a down low.
To Be Continued...
Happy Birthday to my favorite actor, Jack Nicholson born April 22, 1937!