"I'm very proud of him." Maria smiled. "Of course before I came here I had no idea he'd turn out the way he has. He was still a little boy." One whom Howard had just shipped off to military school over her vociferous objections. The thought caused her to frown ever so slightly as she tried to shake it off and return to the mood.
"But that was then and this is now. You're here! I was beginning to think I'd never see you again and now you're here and we're practically the same age!"