Tension eased from his shoulders as soon as Elliott spoke. Leave it to the son to know his mother best.

Clarence nodded. "I can't say that's a bad way to live. You seem pretty happy about it, anyway."

Whatever worked for them. Clarence couldn't even imagine what his own relationship would have been with his parents now. He hoped it would have been nice, still the same sweet stuff he remembered with bitter fondness.

Waving away those thoughts, Clarence refocused on the job literally at hand. He didn't need to break down into sobs in front of Elliott twice in one day.