Chattanooga Times Free Press

Lovers reconnect despite objection

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DEAR ABBY: I had a brief affair with a married man 36 years ago. “Jerry” had left his wife after learning she was sleeping with his best friend. Our affair ended, and we went on with our lives. Jerry stayed with his wife, and I married the man of my dreams.

After 45 years of marriage, Jerry’s wife died. My husband died suddenly two months before she did. A few years ago, a mutual friend put us together. We enjoy each other’s company and spend time together.

Jerry’s two daughters are giving him a hard time about us dating. They told him they will never accept me because they know I was the one he had the affair with. They don’t know about their mother’s affair.

A month before she passed, she told her daughter, for whatever reason, that her father would go back to me. My family has welcomed him with open arms. Jerry’s daughters are married, so he’s alone most of the time.

How should we handle them? His son is OK with us. It hurts Jerry when his daughters tell him he’s not to have me at his house or any gatherings they may have. I would really like your thought on this. — BRIEF AFFAIR

DEAR B.A.: Not knowing Jerry’s late wife, I can only guess why she told her daughter what she did. It’s possible it was to prevent you and her husband from rekindling your relationsh­ip after her death.

The person to handle it might be the mutual friend. Because the “girls” know only half the story, that person could tell them the other side. Whether the

informatio­n alters their view on your relationsh­ip is anybody’s guess.

Jerry should also make clear to his daughters that he is now a single adult, who doesn’t need anyone telling him who to entertain in his home and that he expects the woman in his life to be treated, at the very least, with civility. Unless he is prepared to draw the line, they will run his life for him as long as he’s breathing.

 ??  ?? Dear Abby Written by Jeanne Phillips
Dear Abby Written by Jeanne Phillips

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