My father left thirteen years ago. My mom had dated a few men the first couple of years, but no one for any length of time. None of them seemed special to her or even special at all, as I remembered. I was sure there had been nothing since. But, five years ago she became pregnant with Luke.
People give titles based on the wrong things.
My mother held few traditional rules in the house, but there were these more deep-seated rules. Luke was calm and well behaved for his age. Mom would let him be with her when she painted. His fingerprints were in sienna oil paint in the corner of the living room, and mom had never washed them off. He seemed almost like a novelty.