Meet the Thomas Family

Ellen, her husband Will, and their two kids: Russell and Clint. Russell's the oldest, graduating in the coming year.(we're currently set in November)-- Will named Clint after the actor and Clint is without a doubt Will's Boy. Will clearly favors Clint- They share a lot of interests: Hunting, old westerns, fishing, oh and model building.(mental note to go back and add this to the chapter about the Thomas'.) They build car and plane models together.
ANYway... Russell's the artist. He faces the classic dillema: sure, you've got a talent, but will it bring you a paycheck you can count on? Ellen's 100% behind him. She thinks he's wonderfully gifted, etc. etc.
Ellen runs Ellen's Boutique (Guess where she got the idea for the name?) It's a flower shop on main street. She's had a love of plants for as long as she could remember. When she was just a kid, she'd even go so far as to transplant dandelions into pots and bring them inside. Her friends joke about how Ellen deals with a house full of boys. And she always answers: "That's what my greenhouse is for". And it has become a sort of sanctuary for her. Russell's the only other person who's ever been inside the greenhouse for tete-a-tete's with his mom.
What does Will do for a living? A basic day-job of some sort.

We'll see more of the Thomas' later as the book progresses.