Is it weird for an 8 year old boy to snuggle up with his mum to go to sleep?

We're studying a book atm, and there is this man who grows up to be a rapist. We look at his childhood, and because his dad is not a nice man, him and his mum often are away. Sometimes they have to sleep overnight in the car, and when they do, the 8 year old boy curls up into his mum and they both sleep together (just sleep). Is this inappropriate? There are differing opinions in the cl whether it's a normal mother/son relationship or whether it's a bit not right. Thank you.