Disclaimer: I don't own TCD.
"You know Tom," Grace said to me once when I had fallen asleep, "There is a saying"
"Really," I smiled, "What is that saying honey"
I loved it when my wife visited me in my dreams.
"You can put a wolf in a sheep skin but he's still a wolf."
"Yes," I replied, "and the lesson I'm supposed to learn from that is?"
"Honey," Grace said, "You are not the tough one. You're the soft one. You're the loving one."
"Oh please," I said, "You were just as loving as me."
"Yes," she replied, "But you were tender love. I was tough love."
"Tough and tender," I said.
"Honey Carrie is dealing with a lot right now," she told me, "She may have made some mistakes but going all commando on her isn't the way to change this. She needs you to be her father and her friend."
"Isn't the job of a friend sometimes to be honest," I asked, "Weren't you being a mother and a friend when you used to get mad?"
"Okay first of all I NEVER got mad," Grace said, "and secondly you need to be yourself."
"You never got mad," I asked.
She shook her head.
"I wish I had the answers," I said with a sigh.
"Tom," she said, "You do have the answers. Look in your heart."
I woke up. I was now more confused then ever. I decided to knock on Carrie's door.
"Come in," Carrie said.
"You know," I told her as I entered her room, "You used to be so little and so helpless. I remember when you were sick. I used to hold your hand as you threw up and wished I could have been the one to be throwing up."
"Yeah but dad I'm not your little girl anymore," she said, "I'm not 4 and a half"
"That's the problem," I said softly, "You're growing up and I can't protect you. I love you Carrie and it hurts that I can't always keep you my baby."
A tear rolled down my eye.
"Dad I will always need you," she said, "I just am not the same person I used to be."
"I can accept that," I said
