When Stuart arrived at her home, thinking she’d be gifting him her estate, she shocked us both — not only did she not give it to him, she gave it to me. “After what you did to your mother, you don’t deserve it,” she said.

Stuart exploded, stormed out, and left me reeling with a mix of gratitude and grief. I’d lost a piece of my son, but gained the reminder that love — the real kind — never trashes your trust.