It takes weeks to get an appointment, but Rina and Tony finally sit in the waiting room of another specialist recommended by Dr. Alito.
“Rina,” Tony says, in hushed tones, “Carmine sent word for me to see him. I’m going tomorrow.”
Rina’s eyes well with tears. She folds her arms across her chest and leans forward.
“Are you in pain?”
“No, I’m just worried,” she replies. “Please be patient with him, I beg you. He’ll want to see Paulie.”
Tony takes out his handkerchief, wipes his forehead, and nods.
“I know, but when he learns what Paulie has become…” Papa Tony’s voice falters, “he may not want to. To my knowledge, no one has said a word to him. They’ve followed orders. I don’t think he knows yet, but we will see. I am going to see Marco first.”
The nurse calls, and Rina goes into the examination room. Tony looks on with concern and worry.
The next day, Tony calls ahead, and then leaves for Cicero. Marco is waiting for him in the restaurant.
“Hey, Tony. You look troubled.”
“Carmine sent word that he wants to see me,” Tony answers, “and I thought that I better talk to you first.”
Marco frowns.
“You know we have stayed out of all this because you asked, and Carmine seemed to go along. He did his time and is out now, so I’m not surprised.”
“The agreement we made was that he would let me take custody of Paulie during those hard times,” Tony says. “He and Rina agreed that it would be best for his son to have as normal a life as possible. I don’t see how that’s changed. But now he may want to meet his son, and that might be a problem.”
“So, to your knowledge, Carmine has learned nothing about Paulie all this time? Nothing?”
“No, he has not interfered. But he is going to be very angry at me for keeping some particulars from him, I have no doubt.”
“What do want from us?” Marco asks. “Paulie is his son, even though his name is not on the birth certificate, right?”
“Correct. It says ‘father unknown’. Look I don’t want you to interfere, but I wanted the family to know. I will go see Carmine and tell him everything. I hope he will be reasonable, but we shall see. I knew I would have to face this someday.”