tell my mother in law that i love her

I have a wonderful,supportive mother in law. I tell her I love her everytime we are together.

she used to never understand it when I told her in the past that i loved her. One day I called her on Valentine’s Day and told her I loved her – her reply was that she’s not GAY? neither am I? Hello?!
I took it to heart and cried yet she just doesn’t know how to take it when someone shows affection or speaks from the heart. I kept telling her anyway, now she at least tells me she cares about me, too. I can live with that.