the family moved to portland from tacoma when the boys were in their teens. dad too is a cop and mom an art teacher. it wasn't exactly a loveless marriage, but they did remain together "for the sake of the kids" for a while (nothing set in stone here but i was thinking the boys had already gone off to college or otherwise moved out when the parents made the separation/divorce official). dad has since remarried, which comes with a brand new stepsister, while mom has a new boyfriend.