This is Jerrel. When I tell a story that involves him, I’ll often call him my stepdad to save an explanation of my mom’s living arrangements and romantic life. More accurate wording is “my mom’s boyfriend,” since they’ve both been married a couple of times and aren’t interested in signing up for that particular institution again.
He’s so much more than a boyfriend, though, that I need another word to describe his role in my mom’s life:
- He’s the man who drove my mom across two states when she received word that her father was dying, and then did everything he could to make things easier for her.
- He’s the partner who quickly and calmly called for help when she woke up in the middle of a still-unexplained late-night seizure. He remained at her bedside at the hospital until the worst had passed.
- He’s the brave soul who navigated a path through some 60 miles of storm debris two days after Hurricane Katrina to bring my mom to check on me and my husband. He also detoured to check on my in-laws.
- He’s the homeowner who has added on to make room for my mom and her vast collection of shoes.
- He’s the two-stepper who has danced with my mom countless times.
- He’s the enabler who has helped her maintain her habit of spoiling small, bad dogs.
In short, he’s the guy who keeps her happy. And what more could I want in my mom’s boyfriend?
Entirely Adequate 
He also looks like Santa Claus. Although the picture you’ve posted has him looking kinda gruff…kinda like, “Keep those damn reindeer off the roof, you pesky elves!”