I had been married to Owen for eight years, and during that time I had grown used to his close relationship with his mother, Valerie. After her husband died, Valerie became increasingly withdrawn. She stopped traveling, avoided social events, and often said she had already experienced the love of her life.
That was why Owen and I invited her on our beach vacation. For the first two days, she stayed quietly by the pool. Then she met Russell at the hotel bar. They talked for hours, and the next morning Valerie appeared at breakfast wearing lipstick. She was laughing again, and for the first time in years, she seemed genuinely happy.
Over the next few days, Valerie and Russell spent more time together. Owen was worried because they barely knew each other. His concern increased when Russell invited Valerie to stay at his coastal cottage for another month. Valerie decided to stay, telling Owen that she was an adult capable of making her own decisions.
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