Since Michael left, Kay has received her college degree and is teaching grade school. One day, she takes the train to New York City but does not feel like shopping. She calls Carmella Corleone, who tells her that Michael has been home for six months. Mrs. Corleone tells her to take a taxi to the family house, and Kay decides to go, despite her reservations about talking to Michael. At the house, Mrs. Corleone invites her in for coffee, and they talk while they wait for Michael to come home. When he gets there, they reconcile, and he takes her to his brownstone in the city.

Kay and Michael have sex, and afterwards, she asks him if he killed the men he was accused of killing. He asks her if she needs to know the answer before she marries him, and she says no. He tells her he is serious about marriage, but she must understand that he will not be able to talk business with her; in that sense, they will never be partners. Michael also tells her that, if his plan goes well, the Corleone family’s business will be completely legitimate in five years. He wants to marry Kay because he wants his children to be raised American, outside the family and the Sicilian way of life.