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Johnny said reassuringly； 〃Sure； Nino； I believe you。〃
Lucy and Jules looked at each other。 From everything they had heard and knew about Johnny Fontane it seemed impossible that he would take a girl away from a close friend like Nino。 And why was Nino saying he wasn't jealous a year after it happened？ The same thought crossed both their minds； that Nino was drinking himself to death romantically because a girl had left him to go with Johnny Fontane。
Jules checked Nino again。 〃I'll get a nurse to be in the room with you tonight；〃 Jules said。 〃You really have to stay in bed for a couple of days。 No kidding。〃
Nino smiled。 〃OK； Doc； just don't make the nurse too pretty。〃
Jules made a call for the nurse and then he and Lucy left。 Johnny sat in a chair near the bed to wait for the nurse。 Nino was falling asleep again； an exhausted took on his face。 Johnny thought about what he had said； about not being jealous about what had happened over a year ago with those two broads down in Palm Springs。 The thought had never entered his head that Nino might be jealous。
**********
A year ago Johnny Fontane had sat in his plush office； the office of the movie pany he headed； and felt as lousy as he had ever felt in his life。 Which was surprising because the first movie he had produced； with himself as star and Nino in a featured part； was making tons of money。 Everything had worked。 Everybody had done their job。 The picture was brought in under budget。 Everybody was going to make a fortune out of it and Jack Woltz was losing ten years of his life。 Now Johnny had two more pictures in production； one starring himself； one starring Nino。 Nino was great on the screen as one of those charming； dopey lover…boys that women loved to shove between their tits。 Little boy lost。 Everything he touched made money； it was rolling in。 The Godfather was getting his percentage through the bank； and that made Johnny feel really good。 He had justified his Godfather's faith。 But today that wasn't helping much。
And now that he was a successful independent movie producer he had as much power； maybe more； than he had ever had as a singer。 Beautiful broads felt all over him just like before； though for a more mercial reason。 He had his own plane； he lived more lavishly even； with the special tax benefits a businessman had that artists didn't get。 Then what the hell was bothering him？
He knew what it was。 The front of his head hurt； his nasal passages hurt； his throat itched。 The only way he could scratch and relieve that itch was by singing and he was afraid to even try。 He had called Jules Segal about it； when it would be safe to try to sing and Jules had said anytime he felt like it。 So he'd tried and sounded so hoarse and lousy he'd given up。 And his throat would hurt like hell the next day； hurt in a different way than before the warts had been taken off。 Hurt worse； burning。 He was afraid to keep singing； afraid that he'd lose his voice forever； or ruin it。
And if he couldn't sing； what the hell was the use of everything else？ Everything else was just bullshit。 Sing was the only thing he really knew。 Maybe he knew more about singing and his kind of music than anybody else in the world。 He was that good； he realized now。 All those years had made him a real pro。 Nobody could tell him； the right and the wrong； he didn't have to ask anybody。 He knew。 What a waste； what a damn waste。
It was Friday and he decided to spend the weekend with Virginia and the kids。 He called her up as he always did to tell her he was ing。 Really to give her a chance to say no。 She never said no。 Not in all the years they had been divorced。 Because she would never say no to a meeting of her daughters and their father。 What a broad； Johnny thought。 He'd been lucky with Virginia。 And though he knew he cared more about her than any other woman he knew it was impossible for them to live together sexually。 Maybe when they were sixty…five； like when you retire； they'd retire together； retire from everything。
But reality shattered these tests when he arrived there and found Virginia was feeling a little grouchy herself and the two girls not that crazy to see him because they had been promised a weekend visit with some girl friends on a California ranch where they could ride horses。
He told Virginia to send the girls off to the ranch and kissed them good…bye with an amused smile。 He understood them so well。 What kid wouldn't rather go riding horses on a ranch than hang around with a grouchy father who picked his own spots as a father。 He said to Virginia； 〃I'll have a few drinks and then I'll shove off too。〃
〃All right；〃 she said。 She was having one of her bad days； rare； but recognizable。 It wasn't too easy for her leading this kind of life。
She saw him taking an extra large drink。 〃What are you cheering yourself up for？〃 Virginia asked。 〃Everything is going so beautifully for you。 I never dreamed you had it in you to be such a good businessman。〃
Johnny smiled at her。 〃It's not so hard；〃 he said。 At the same time he was thinking； so that's what was wrong。 He understood women and he understood now that Virginia was down because she thought he was having everything his own way。 Women really hated seeing their men doing too well。 It irritated them。 It made them less sure of the hold they exerted over them through affection； sexual custom or marriage ties。 So more to cheer her up than voice his own plaints； Johnny said； 〃What the hell difference does it make if I can't sing。〃
Virginia's voice was annoyed。 〃Oh； Johnny； you're not a kid anymore。 You're over thirty…five。 Why do you keep worrying about that silly singing stuff？ You make more money as a producer anyhow。〃
Johnny looked at her curiously and said； 〃I'm a singer。 I love to sing。 What's being old got to do with that？〃
Virginia was impatient。 〃I never liked your singing anyway。 Now that you've shown you can make movies； I'm glad you can't sing anymore。〃
They were both surprised when Johnny said with fury； 〃That's a fucking lousy thing to say。〃 He was shaken。 How could Virginia feel like that； how could she dislike him so much？
Virginia smiled at his being hurt and because it was so outrageous that he should be angry at her she said； 〃How do you think I felt when all those girls came running after you because of the way you sang？ How would you feel if I went ass…naked down the street to get men running after me？ That's what your singing was and I used to wish you'd lose your voice and could never sing again。 But that was before we got divorced。〃
Johnny finished his drink。 〃You don't understand a thing。 Not a damn thing。〃 He went into the kitchen and dialed Nino's number。 He quickly arranged for them both to go down to Palm Springs for the weekend and gave Nino the number of a girl to call； a real fresh young beauty he'd been meaning to get around to。 〃She'll have a friend for you；〃 Johnny said。 〃I'll be at your place in an hour。〃
Virginia gave him a cool good…bye when he left。 He didn't give a damn； it was one of the few times he was angry with her。 The hell with it； he'd just tear loose for th