I believed Grant was the one I would spend my life with, so I set aside a chunk of my earnings each month to cover his living expenses and many of his classes.
I thought I was investing in my future husband, and it felt worth it at the time.
But sitting at this celebration dinner, watching him and Keira, I felt a growing sense of alienation.
He was so absorbed in his own success that he didn't notice the awkwardness I was enduring at the table.
Perhaps my silence made the atmosphere tense.
Finally, Grant spoke up, "Mom, that's enough. Let's just enjoy the evening; you don't need to worry about this."
His sudden defense caught Keira off guard, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Grant, I raised you all by myself! And now that you have a girlfriend, you're talking back to your mother? How could you do this to me?"
Grant hurried to comfort her while Keira continued to recount the hardships she faced raising him alone.
I felt like an outsider at the table, stuck in a situation where I couldn't speak up or eat comfortably.
At least Grant had my back when it mattered, which was a small comfort.
But I still overestimated our relationship and my importance in his life.