DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are both in our 60s and have been married for 38 years. A widow about our age moved into the house across the street last year. My husband began helping her with minor repairs, taking out heavy trash and occasionally driving her to appointments.
I didn’t object because she seemed lonely and I thought he was being neighborly.
Recently, however, I discovered that she has been cooking dinner for him once or twice a week. On those evenings, he tells me he “isn’t hungry” or claims he ate something while running errands. I learned the truth when another neighbor casually mentioned seeing the two of them eating together through her front window.
When I confronted my husband, he insisted nothing romantic is happening. He said our neighbor cooks too much food, appreciates his company and shouldn’t have to eat alone every night. He also accused me of making something innocent sound dirty.
What bothers me most is not that he helps her or even that they share an occasional meal. It is that he deliberately concealed it from me. I suggested inviting her to our house instead, but he said she feels more comfortable in her own home.
Am I being jealous and unreasonable, or has their relationship crossed a line?
—LEFT OFF THE MENU
