My Dad Asked, “Is Your Allowance Sufficient?” I Replied, “What Allowance?”

Familiar Strangers

As I watched from my discreet spot, my stepmother and the man exchanged easy laughs and shared smiles.

It was unsettling to see how at ease they were together. My mind buzzed with questions about their relationship.

Were they old friends or something more? Their meeting didn’t seem like a casual encounter, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was onto something significant.