But you can’t be her son. [Which has to be a heavy weight for him. She’d seen all the ways Howard’s presence got to him, before and after he’d found out the truth. It isn’t exactly the same; Billy’s relationship with his mother is much better than Tony’s with Howard. But maybe that makes it harder in some ways.]

I think it’s important to remember what you do have. Get to know her. That may help you figure out what to do too.