Every day we feature the beloved “
Strawberry Letter” franchise that is so popular on “
The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” heard nationwide. Send in your letters and Shirley Strawberry will dish out the necessary advice.
Today’s topic: Hypocritical cheater Hi Steve, Shirley and morning crew, Here is my issue — my mother, who is in her mid 70s is having a relationship with a much younger man who is married. Here is some background: my parents were married for 45 years and during the last 10 years my father suffered a debilitating disease that required my mom to be total caregiver for him. During this time, this younger man came to our family as a handyman who could and would fix anything around the house. During the past ten years he has been invaluable. The problem started when I saw a suggestive romantic card that he gave my mother for Valentines Day. I confronted her about it and she defended him and said, “That’s the only kind that the store had.” Of course it sounded ridiculous to me and to the two people I confided in about this. This man’s actions have escalated into moderately manipulative actions, for example — having keys to the house, always getting her car washed and then keeping it to go do jobs elsewhere, etc. I don’t like this at all, but she is a grown up. I do not want to see my mother get hurt, but I know that’s going to happen. Steve and Shirley, I need your advice on what to do if anything. I don’t want to just wait until the other shoe drops. What is the likely payoff that this man is seeking? And what should I do, if anything, to protect my mother’s assets (like this paid-for house that she and I co-own)? I am hoping you can shed some light on this train wreck of a situation. Signed, A concerned daughter
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