So, the plan.
The plan! Hey Cara, Dad's about to reveal the plan!
I'll pack up the car and pick you up after school, and then we'll drive straight through.
Sounds good.
What now?
Well, wasn't like, the whole point to go to school? And now you're forcing us to miss school when we should like, be in school. Right, I mean what about my studies? Why are you smiling?
I just never thought I'd hear you say "what about my studies?" It makes me, like, smile.
I think your sisters aren't very happy with me.
Duh.
Why do you think?
You're a good father, but sometimes bad dad.
Who told you to say that?
no one.
Was it Jane or Cara? You can tell me.
I made it up myself.
No, you didn't. Jane or Cara?
I made it up myself. I'm in the 4th grade. I can make things up for myself.
Jane or Cara?
I made it up myself! I can think for myself!
Jane or Cara?
Jane, Cara: She's in the 4th grade!
No no no. This was the place with all of the shells, and the paper-mache shark!
[outside the closed water park] Don't you remember you used to love the salt-water taffy?
When I was 4.
Yeah, but...okay. Stick with me guys. Oh, I have an idea! Let's go bowling!
Yeah!
Alright! Sounds good! [outside the closed bowling alley] Life is full of disappointment. Big, and sometimes even bigger. So, what's it going to be? The lighthouse or the whaling museum? Your pick.
you know why we have lighthouses?
Because they're neat?
That's right, yes. And also because they help when it's dark out. They uh, help keep boats safe, and they help us from crashing into rocks. Because, when you're out there, and you're being tossed back and forth by those big dark waves, and you think that you'll never feel land again, and that you could just split into a million pieces, and just sink down all the way down into the deep, it's the light that keeps us on course. It's the light.
Dad, are you okay?
Of course I'm okay...Honey.
I know I messed up.
Yup.
Yes you did.
Now, your mom...I miss your mom. All the time.
Mom's gone.
Oh, honey. I see her every day. I see in your goodness, Jane. And Cara, your passion. And Lily, you have her eyes. And her smile. So here is what I'm going to do. I am grounding myself for life. And so I will be with you--
You're with us every day.
I'm not going anywhere. See, I got a little confused with Marie. That is over, okay? I kind of lost my head. I got a little stupid, because I love her. No, that's not...I don't love her. and that's not what I meant. I mean, how could I love her? I've only known her..
Three days.
Yeah. And how can you know in three days? Well, no. Yes I do. I love her. I love her, I love her, I love her. I love her.
Then go get her.
We so prefer her to you.
Go. [hugs Dan and whispers] Now.
