"Dads," Frank says, low, "really know how to swing their weight around." God knows he did, probably too much for how often he was gone. When he was back he felt like he had to make up for it. He knew then how hard that was for his family. He knows it now.
Another long sip of coffee; definitely better than his shit. For a minute he just tastes it and lets the question settle between them. Then:
"Yeah. Every second of it."
He looks into his mug then out the window at New York, the breathing sea of lights that never sleep. He used to hate this city, but Red was right. He's right more often than Frank lets him believe. Frank came back, was pulled back. Wanted to be back. He's no better than the stink of this place, he deserves it and it deserves him. Difference is now he understands that.
"If I hadn't joined I know I wouldn't have met Maria. Wouldn't have been sitting under that tree, at that time, with that guitar. I would have never got to hold my babies, see my face in theirs. Even if I had to do it all again knowing where it would end, I would. I would. I would just hold them tighter while I could."
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Another long sip of coffee; definitely better than his shit. For a minute he just tastes it and lets the question settle between them. Then:
"Yeah. Every second of it."
He looks into his mug then out the window at New York, the breathing sea of lights that never sleep. He used to hate this city, but Red was right. He's right more often than Frank lets him believe. Frank came back, was pulled back. Wanted to be back. He's no better than the stink of this place, he deserves it and it deserves him. Difference is now he understands that.
"If I hadn't joined I know I wouldn't have met Maria. Wouldn't have been sitting under that tree, at that time, with that guitar. I would have never got to hold my babies, see my face in theirs. Even if I had to do it all again knowing where it would end, I would. I would. I would just hold them tighter while I could."