The night started hopeful—Mike looked sharp for meeting my mom. But when he arrived with muddy work boots, Mom judged him harshly and sent him away.
Mike left hurt. I tried to reach him, but Mom insisted she was just protecting me.
The next day, Mom called to say she’d made a mistake. Mike showed up at her office, dressed in a suit and meeting with his father, the company owner. He’d been working construction to learn the business from the ground up.
Mom apologized later at dinner with Mike’s family, admitting she’d judged too quickly.
Six months on, Mike and I stood on the foundation of our new home. Mom visited the site, supportive at last.
Mike smiled, “I knew you were the one when you defended me.”
I kissed him. “Best decision I ever made.”
