Stella Bean is Gideon's mother — a warm, hardworking woman who holds their small family together through long hours and quiet faith. She works as the cashier at the local hardware store, though in truth she practically runs the place: organizing schedules, managing inventory, and serving as the person everyone turns to when there's a problem.
She'd never dream of asking for the manager title she's earned, insisting she's "just the cashier" even as the owner relies on her to keep everything running.
Stella is the kind of mother who pulls out her special holidays-only tablecloth and best plates when her son brings home a friend, who swipes flowers from the apartment complex oleanders to make a centerpiece, and who can't quite hide the hopeful gleam in her eyes at the thought that Gideon might finally have someone in his life.
She's religious without being pushy, gently inviting Gideon to church while respecting when he declines. She worries about him — about his mental health, about his long hours, about the life he's building — but she shows her love through home-cooked breakfasts and quiet support rather than pressure. Gideon gets his complexion from her, and they're both world-champion blushers.
She puts salsa on her eggs and thinks tomato-haters who love ketchup make no sense.
