After Frank let her cry it out for a few moments, Carrie sat up embarrassed, rolling her eyes.
"Shit, Dad. I'm so-"
"Hey..that's what dad's are for, right?", Frank smiled.
"If you want to talk I'm all ears.", he offered, checking his watch.
"My fucking curfew's not for another half hour."
"Dad, Maggie's just."
"Yeah, I saw you two exchanging some words. Must've been harsh to send her home this early."
"We had a sisterly disagreement. Happens sometimes."
"Sometimes? You forget I raised the two of you.", he chuckled, barely getting a smile in return.
"I crossed a line though, Dad. She wouldn't even let me apologize before she walked out."
"Hey, just give her some time to calm down. Cool off. You want me to talk to her?"
"No..that's okay.", Carrie shrugged.
"So, I may be a little fucked in the head but my hearings never been better. This disagreement of yours started when that Congressman's name was tossed around?"
Sighing, she rolled her eyes.
"Dad, I don't-"
"Look you won't get any judgment from me. Remember I was at that infamous dinner your sister was talking about. Forget 20, you had a 100 watt smile from the minute you walked in the door, and I took it to mean one thing."
"He's gone though, Dad.", she choked out as he held her a bit tighter.
"I know. But take it from me, it won't hurt if you hold onto him awhile longer. At least until you're ready to let go."
"But Maggie, and Saul, fuck, even the postcards Brody sent. All of them are screaming at me to-"
"Fuck what everyone and everything else says or screams at you. I know you have no problem with that. You take after me that way." Frank said proudly.
"It's okay if you still love him. So long as he loved you just as much, right?"
"Somehow, in spite of everything."
"Hey that's good. You gave him hell, kept him on his toes, in his place. I wouldn't expect anything different."
"So what, we put each other through hell but we're a match made in heaven?", Carrie smirked before her face went solemn again.
"Jesus, I'm talking about him like he's still here."
"You're allowed.", Frank said as Carrie looked up skeptically.
"If I told you you couldn't do otherwise I'd be the biggest fucking hypocrite on the planet. You know how long I did the same thing with your mother?", he asked rhetorically, looking pained over the words.
"If you love them, you don't have much choice. Especially mental superiors like ourselves."
Weakly Carrie chuckled before her face fell again.
"Well Maggie doesn't see me as mentally superior. Neither do half my colleagues right now. I handed them proof on a silver platter that Brody is innocent and nobody fucking believes me."
"Well see that's your own fault. You did too good a job proving Brody was a turned suicidal wingnut a few years back. Now, you just have to prove the opposite. But you've dealt with worse challenges."
"Yeah, like her?", Carrie smiled, nodding to Farrah who was attempting tricky moves with the soccer ball.
"As foster granddaughters go she's top drawer."
"Frank! Frank look what I do!", Farrah giggled, throwing the soccer ball in the air. Then jumped to bump it with her forehead. Unfortunately it traveled through the open sliding door, and rolled through the living room where Virgil bent to retrieve it.
"Nice! New present for me?", he laughed. Getting a look from Farrah that prompted him to toss the ball back.
"I thought you left with Danny.", Carrie asked.
"I figured the guy could use some space. Broken hearts need time to heal."
Virgil shrugged sitting on the lawn. Catching the look on Carrie's face he figured it was best to change the subject and turned to Farrah.
"So kid, what were you trying to talk me about in the kitchen earlier? By the way, Frank. I'm gonna be duplicating that sandwich recipe for the next month. My wife will be thrilled I can make my own lunch."
"Hey, that's the idea.", Frank grinned.
"Virg I ask if you go to the parade tomorrow."
"Parade? What parade?", Carrie frowned.
"I thought I saw a flier about a street fair or something near the new community center this weekend.", Virgil shrugged.
"Yes! I see flier. And Tina and Zahira talk about it. We go?!", Farrah asked excitedly, dribbling the soccer ball closer to the adults.
"I hear it's gonna be a scorcher tomorrow. Wear sunscreen.", Frank instructed, getting a smirk from Carrie.
"Well that's if we decide to go."
"Please!"
"I can take her if you want, Carrie.", Virgil offered.
"No, Carrie come too.", Farrah pouted.
"Well, fine then. I'm not offended or anything.", he grumped.
"Farrah I'll think about it, okay?", Carrie said.
"Can Dan come too?", the girl asked curiously.
"Eh I think Dan's busy tomorrow kid. But, my offer still stands."
"Look, we'll figure it out tomorrow alright? For now though it's way past someones bedtime."
"Hey I still have ten minutes!", Frank said, pointing to his watch.
"C'mon Farrah, say goodnight."
"Okay.", Farrah grumbled, giving Frank and Virgil hugs before dribbling her soccer ball inside the house.
"Farrah not in the house, Farrah! Shit.", Carrie groaned as Virgil got to his feet.
"Listen though, my offer still stands to take Farrah tomorrow. I remember you not being crazy about crowds and excessive heat. Not that anyone ever is."
"It's fine Virgil. I'm past that. Have been for awhile now.", Carrie said a little defensively.
"Besides Farrah has her heart set on my going, no way am I going to tell her no."
"Hey be careful with that.", Frank laughed. "I never said no to you and what color is my hair?"
Laughing Carrie hugged him, a little longer than usual.
"Get some sleep, sweetheart. It'll be fine.", he assured.
"So long as you remember to-"
"Wear sunscreen, got it.", Carrie said as Frank said goodnight to Virgil, then made his way to the front.
"So I'll try and meet up with the two of you tomorrow. Keep your phone on."
"Don't I always?", Carrie smirked.
"And hey, just so you know. I kinda pushed Danny to tell you how he-"
"It's okay, Virgil. I'm glad he just, admitted it. Hopefully he can move the fuck on to someone better for him."
"He'd have been damn lucky to have gotten you.", Virgil said, getting a hug before he too headed out.
"Okay Farrah, that soccer ball better be stashed in a closet or something by now.", Carrie warned, stepping back in the house and shutting the door. Locking it behind her, she hit the lights then made her way upstairs. Frowning seeing Farrah's door shut, she knocked.
"Farrah? Can I come in?"
"Y..Yes! One second.", Farrah jumped, folding her painting of Khaliq back up and putting it under her bed as Carrie came in the room.
"Okay bed's unmade, pjs are on. Teeth brushed?"
"Yes.", Farrah smiled, flashing both rows as Carrie frowned, noticing paper sticking out from under the bed.
"What's that, another mystery drawing?"
"No! It..surprise.", Farrah covered, getting a curious look.
"A surprise?"
"Yes. It..not ready yet."
"Ah, I see. Well will it be ready soon? I'm dying to see it."
"Yes, soon."
"Okay then. Looking forward to it."
Kneeling to Farrah's level she pulled her into a hug.
"Get some sleep okay? If we're going to this thing tomorrow we'll have to leave early."
"You coming too, not just Virg?"
"You bet."
"We get popcorn? Ice cream? Cot-cotton.."
"Cotton candy? Farrah that's a lot of food."
"I share!"
"Well, as long as you share. I guess we'll have to see. Now, under the covers..go on."
Nodding, Farrah climbed into bed as Carrie flipped on the nightlight, then turned to leave.
"Carrie?"
"Yeah?"
"Will Maggie come to parade too?"
"I don't know, Farrah."
"You still mad?"
"Honey I just said some things I shouldn't have. We had a fight, but we'll make up. I promise. Now, go to sleep okay?"
Nodding, Farrah pulled the blanket over her, waiting for Carrie to close the door before pushing the drawing more under the bed. Not wanting anyone to see it aside from one person, though she was worried she might not see him again.