My mother disowned me for marrying a single mom — she laughed at my life, then broke down when she saw it three years later. My father left when I was five. After that, my mother raised me alone. She came from a wealthy family and poured everything into my upbringing — not out of warmth, but expectation. I was alw...

What's she like?" she asked, smiling widely, sharp with interest.

"Anna is a nurse. She works nights at a clinic near the hospital."

"Is this a real life update, Jonathan, or are we just catching up?"

I saw the spark of approval flicker across her face. "Smart, brave, I like that in a woman for you, Jonathan. Parents?"

"She has both parents. Mom's a teacher and her dad is a doctor, but they live in another state."

"Wonderful!" my mother exclaimed, clapping her hands once.

I saw the spark of approval flicker across her face.

"She's also a single mom. Her son, Aaron, is seven."

The pause was nearly invisible. She lifted her wine glass with perfect posture and took a small sip, as if recalibrating. Her voice, when it came, was polite and cool.

"That's a lot of responsibility for someone your age."

"She's also a single mom."

"I guess, but she's incredible. Anna is a wonderful mother. And Aaron... he's a great kid. He told me I was his favorite grown-up last week."

"I'm sure she appreciates the help, Jonathan," my mother replied, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with her napkin. "A good man is hard to find."

There was no warmth in her voice, and no invitation for more.

"A good man is hard to find."

We talked about other things after that: work, the weather, and a new art exhibit downtown, but she never said Anna's name. And I didn't force it.

Not yet.

***

A few weeks later, I brought them to meet her anyway. We met at a small coffee shop near my apartment. Anna was ten minutes late, and I could see that as every minute passed, my mother grew more annoyed.