About a year after your dad left, she got really serious about a guy for a while. You weren't crazy about him, but he wasn't terrible or anything. You just didn't see him fitting in the picture without messing it up. Your mom sensed that, and though she tried to reassure you, you never became comfortable with the idea.
They talked about getting married and had even set a date, but he wanted to move to Michigan for a job. That was out of the question for her. The diner was here, after all, as were all your friends. So he left and you two stayed here. She was sad about it for a long time, and it was hard to see her like that, but now it's almost like it never happened.
Even though she's done her best to raise and take care of you for seventeen years, these past few months have been hard on both of you.
She never once questioned your innocence though. When Sheriff Berlin implied that you could be responsible for Rex's death, your mom was furious.