Aren't too different

Clint manages a soft laugh, but lowers his gaze again. No, the other person didn't have a black eye to match. Clint was upset, but he was not ready to strike his father.

"I've missed our talks too..." Tossing his rag aside, he folds his arms and sighs, finally looking back to his uncle. "Things could be better," he admits. "Business hasn't been great - went downhill after you left. Not your fault, but I don't think people trust me like they trusted you. I've blamed the lack of business on gas prices and people not wanting to drive this far but I think probably the truth is I'm still too young to run a successful business like this. Thought I might have to find work at a shop in town, but... now that your back, maybe things will change again."

He shrugs. "Aside from that... just keeping up with Wendy and Chase, and getting ready for the baby." He shifts his weight nervously before his eyes find something on the floor to focus on. Wes would find out sooner or later about the family stress going on. "Trying to help Rosalyn too... She's got a new boyfriend and dad doesn't approve." He pauses. "Well, that's an understatement. Dad's furious about the whole thing."

He glances up at Wes out of the corner of his eye. "Chad's older and been divorced, which apparently makes him undesirable. Personally, I like him. Seems like a fine godly man, and Rosalyn is head over heels for him. It's just, um... with Dad being stubborn, it's... stressful. I do what I can, but... I've, um... gotten on Dad's bad side now too for helping Rosalyn see Chad."

Clint swallows hard and turns back around to look in the engine again, even though he wasn't trying to fix anything more tonight. The emotional wound of Jim lashing out at him was still fresh. Would Wes put two and two together and figure out it was Jim that had struck him? Clint wasn't sure, but he knew his uncle wasn't a dumb guy.

"Otherwise... things aren't too different from when you left," he concludes lamely. 

Looking up quickly and seeing Grace, for just a moment, Jared wonders if she'd been told he wanted another therapist. She seemed her happy self though. Apart from being dressed more casually than ever - which, he found quite cute - things seemed normal. 

Smiling just a little, he shrugs with one shoulder. "I guess so. Kinda tired, but supposedly that's normal." 

Turning off the television, he rests his head back in his pillow again, while his eyes remain on Grace, just studying her for several seconds. This might be one of the last times he'd ever see her after the decision he'd made. "Looks like you're off duty today." 

Hunter grins at Katie, just making her wait for him. "Well... I mighta been waiting for somebody, but... since you're so irresistible, I'll let you steal me away, how's that?" 

Sliding off the hood of his car, he wraps his arms around Katie and pulls her close for a kiss. "Mm... I've been waiting all day for that." Still grinning, he slings an arm over her shoulders to walk her to the door. 

Getting inside and finding a table, Hunter was glad to end the day with Katie, even if it was late. Besides, he was dying to tell her about the race he'd won, how someone had said he couldn't do it again, and how he'd ended up accepting a bet he usually didn't...which resulted in him winning the other guy's car, then selling it back to him and ending up with a hefty sum of money. 

"...You know the best part though?" Hunter grins as he slips his hand across the table to take Katie's. "The looks on all them girls' faces when they wanted my attention but I told them I was taken." A little laugh slips out. "One of these nights, I'm gonna get you to go with me so I can show them I got the better end of the deal."