Friendship is casualty of party quarrel

Dear Abby: My best friend of nine years, “Sierra,” andmy boyfriend of two years, “Jaden,” strongly dislike each other. They were both at a cookout I had formy birthday, and Sierra keptmaking passiveaggressive comments to and about him. At one point, she criticized something controversial that he said, and when he tried to engage her in conversation about it, she ignored him and pretended he didn’t exist. Jaden then launched into a series of verbal attacks against her, and although I attempted to get him to drop it, I was unsuccessful.

Sierra ended up leaving, telling me she needed to take a break from our friendship. She has since unfollowedme on social media, leavingme with the impression that our friendship is over because of the argument between her and my boyfriend.

DEAR ABBY

I know Jaden was more at fault, and we have discussed the situation at length, but Sierra isn’t willing to talk tome about it. They’ve never had an interaction like this, ever. She’s never liked him, and I know she will never move past this. If Jaden and I were to break up, I don’t know if I could bringmyself to resolve things with Sierra. Should I accept her reaction and behavior and move past this?

BetrayedAnd Confused

Dear Betrayed: You have no choice but to accept Sierra’s reaction. If she preferred not to engage with him further, it was her privilege.

Dear Abby: How do I confrontmy daughter, who I amcertain “kept” my wedding ring, which I had removed to care for my dying husband? This daughter has a history of “borrowing” siblings’ jewelry, then returning it in secrecy.

I have other reasons to believe she has taken the ring, but knowing this daughter, she’ll shut down our relationship if I ask. I was thinking of saying something like, “When I was at your house, could I have left it there?” She knows I am looking for it. I suspect she thought the ring was her father’s as it is a wide gold band. Advice?

Keeping the Peace?

Dear Keeping the Peace?: I hope you get that precious memento back. IF this daughter took the ring, you have more problems than losing amaterial object.

By allmeans ask if your wedding bandmight have been inadvertently left at her house. You have nothing to lose by doing so.