Palm

Misty's hand on Jason's cheek brings heat to his face, but he doesn't pull away. Her touch was so soft...gentle. He'd always seen her as so rough and tumble - a kick butt chick. But right now in this short moment, he knew he was gazing on a tenderhearted woman. What was happening between them? Was this just something in the heat of the moment that would be gone in the morning? Was this how they truly felt about each other? 

For a mere second Jason recalls the one kiss he had shared with Misty oh so long ago. There had been no doubt that they liked each other. Been attracted to each other. Some might call it chemistry. But they had known that they had different paths to take - and so they had parted to remain only as friends. And it was a friendship that had stayed as such - respectful of each other, and never daring to approach any lines, much less cross any.

But what about now? What about now when Jason had been left on his own, dealt a broken, lonely heart? What about now when Misty's husband had left her and she was going through a divorce to finalize the break and be her own woman again? They had no one else. They had no other paths that would dictate their actions. But... did that mean they were really free enough to show each other affection? Jason's heart skips a beat. 

Having some marshmallow wiped from his face, he grins and finishes his mouthful, licking some chocolate off his lips. It only takes another bite or two to finish the s'more, but even as he swallows the last bit, his eyes still search Misty's. Why did he feel as though he were standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall?

"Thank you..." His voice was quiet... almost a whisper. A gentle breeze blew through the park and he reaches over to tuck a wisp of hair behind Misty's ear. His hand trails down her arm until finding her hand, where his fingers run slowly through her palm. Looking down and studying her hand, he spreads his fingers, laying his palm to hers.

Without lifting his eyes, he speaks softly. "Did you say you wanted some more music?" 

Dani nods, shifting her hand under Dalton's to feel his warm comfort. "I want to forgive him... maybe I already do, I don't know." 

She sighs deeply. "He's just... I guess he's just not the kind of person anymore that I want anything to do with, ya know?" She looks up again, tears hiding behind her eyes. "I know how important family is. Carson meant the world to me. But I guess I can't let blood override how I feel about his decisions and his lifestyle. It's not that I'm just mad at him or hold a grudge... I just don't want to have a relationship with somebody I can't trust." 

Pulling back her hand, she picks up her fork again to return to her meal, although suddenly it didn't taste quite as good. "Just because I forgive doesn't mean I have to talk to him," she states quietly. "I can't risk my heart again." 

"Yeah." Jeff nods. "The doctor is still saying tomorrow afternoon. As long as everything stays stable 'til then, that is. He said he wants to try some new heart medication on me that should allow me to do normal stuff I want, just no heavy working... like usual." 

Hunter can see the depression in Jeff's eyes and he felt badly. He couldn't imagine not being able to do the things he wanted. Hard physical labor felt good. Kept him in shape. Kept him motivated. To have to find something else... that would be hard. "Ya know, one time I took apart a pocket watch my uncle had."

Jeff quirks an eyebrow, having no idea where Hunter was going with this random thought. "Okay..."

Hunter grins. "Well, see, I wasn't very old and I wanted to see how it worked. And... I was doing it at the kitchen table while he was outside - figured I'd have a looksee before he came back in. But when I got the back off..." He throws his fingers apart like a little explosion. "Kaplooey. Parts went everywhere. Needless to say, I didn't get it put back together before my uncle came inside. I didn't even get all the parts picked up." 

His expression grows sheepish. "When he came back in, he didn't get mad, but he did have to hunt down all the parts on the floor with me. Then when he finally got everything put back together, it didn't work. Well... took him several hours but he finally realized there was one itty-bitty spring missing.  I remember thinking he had to be wrong - that nothing could fit into that tiny space. We scoured the kitchen floor until it was way past my bedtime." 

Jeff cocks his head, still not sure what the point was, and beginning to wonder if Hunter had a cog loose himself. "Ever find it?"

"Nope." Hunter rolls his eyes. "And... the watch never worked again either. With all those other parts in there... the big springs and the shiny gears and all that... no matter how hard they worked together and tried to run... it just wasn't successful anymore, even when that missing part was so small. The watch needed it to run. It was that simple." 

A sudden silence takes over the room as Jeff is hit with Hunter's point. Hard. Sinking back a little, he studies the younger man's face, finding it difficult to be offended at that calm, honest expression. No, all he could do was acknowledge that the point was valid and aimed directly at his attitude. 

A small smile spreads on his lips and he shakes his head. Glancing over to Katie, he points at Hunter. "You better look out for this guy. He's a slick one." 

"Naw." Hunter didn't want this conversation to turn back around to him, and quickly moves on. "So are we having lunch or what? I, for one, am starving."