Stories of secretkeeping from vault

Dear Readers: I hope you enjoy these “Best Of ” Q&A from 10 years ago. Today’s topic is: “keeping secrets.”

Dear Amy: My husband has a sister who was born when he was in junior high school.

His parents allowed him to name the baby. He had a crush on a classmate and named her after the classmate. “Caroline” has never met her.

My husband’s 50th high school reunion is this summer, and they will both be there.

I think my husband should tell his classmate of her namesake, but he is against it

I think anyone would be honored to have a namesake. — Caroline’s Admirer

Dear Admirer: This is a charming story, but it is not yours to tell. Furthermore, pushing your husband toward this disclosure isn’t useful.

Your husband may choose to share his story, but it should not be through you.

Dear Amy: I took a vacation, and I stayed at the home of my girlfriend’s mother. My girlfriend was not there.

The mother told me she had developed a romantic relationship, after the death of her husband of 40 years.

She asked me not to tell my girlfriend, since she didn’t want her to hear it secondhand. I obliged.

When my girlfriend returned she was furious at me for not divulging her secret.

I was stunned. — Keeping Secrets

Dear Secrets: Just because someone asks you to keep something a secret, doesn’t mean you must agree to do so.

Vexing is the idea that her mother would confide in you. This put you in a terrible spot.

The best response would have been for you to say, “I’m not comfortable with this. It would be best if you gave her a call. I’m sure she’d like to talk to you about it.”