DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: Nothing could be worse. My ex-wife has come back to Winnipeg from another city, as she got her old job back with the company where I work, plus a fat promotion according to our office gossip.

I was shocked. They didn’t used to do rehires, but I guess she was special. They chased her and got her back because she is “the best in the world at what she does.” At least, that’s what she told me today.

I don’t want her back here, even though it’s a big company, because the truth is I never really got over her. It took a couple of years before I stopped missing her and thinking about her. My family knows how hard the breakup was for me.

But this company doesn’t care. I just have to bite the bullet because she will help the big boys make more money. Any suggestions?

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I opened the door on my birthday and got a big shock. My dad was standing there grinning sheepishly and holding out a big wrapped gift. I invited him in, although it had been several years since I’d seen him. He hesitated on the steps but asked for just a few minutes with me inside.

Twenty minutes later his phone rang and it was his female friend outside wanting to come in from his truck. Who knew she was sitting out there? I didn’t. I said to invite her in, so she came to the door.

Imagine my surprise when I recognized her as the babysitter from when my parents used to take dance lessons together just before they got divorced. I told her I knew who she was and my dad’s face went red.

So now I have a big problem. Do I tell my mom? Does she already know? And what about this possibility: was my dad chasing our babysitter way back when? I’m scared to ask my mom, but who should I talk to?

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m older; I could cash in my house and business and have a lot more than my girlfriend. She thinks she’s going to be rich when her dad kicks the bucket. He hasn’t shown any signs of looking ill, but he has promised her she’ll get an inheritance. It’s gone to her fluffy little head.

She rents a small apartment on her own, but is spending like she’s rich since she’s found out about her future inheritance.

She’s marrying me soon, but wants me to sign papers so she won’t lose any of her daddy’s money if we should ever break up.

Why doesn’t she trust me? I love her so much and could teach her how to invest that money wisely.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m a woman who’s always wanted to fly small airplanes and I’ve finally saved up enough money to take lessons. I’m very excited!

Although my fiancé’s first reaction to my plan was fairly supportive, I felt he looked a bit hesitant.

Now, after he’s slept on it a few nights, he’s become a real worrywart and is constantly bringing up all the possible dangers involved.

How should I deal with him? This is my big dream, and I’m going to learn to fly this spring, whether he likes it or not.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: The only thing keeping my husband and I together right now are the animals we called our forever babies, and we don’t want to lose them or for them to be separated from us and each other.

We live in the country on an acreage close to the city where we creatively built a wonderful world for us and all our animals. We both said we didn’t want to have children because of our own unhappy upbringings.

In the fall it came to light that my husband had another woman in his life. I was horrified, and raised the roof. He apologized all over the place and it seemed the affair was over, but I just found out it didn’t really end.

He comes home to the “ranch” every night at supper, but we don’t make love anymore. I guess he’s saving himself for her, whoever she is, and it’s tearing me apart.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My second wife is a beautiful woman, but she isn’t nearly the hot lover my first wife was. Sometimes when I’m lying awake, I think, “Isn’t it crazy that I cheated on my first love and not this one?” I can only explain it by thinking I was a man with greater needs than most when I was young.

Now I’m feeling restless in my second marriage, and when I see my first wife to pick up and drop off the kids we share, I do really miss her.

When I make little references to my ex about that, she just tells me I blew it and not to talk about it in front of her or the kids. Talk about holding grudges. I get the feeling she stills cares, or is that just my male ego talking again?

— Feeling Restless, southwestern Manitoba

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I met an exciting woman at a conference in Winnipeg and took her everywhere to show her the sights. But since she has gone home to her own province, she has virtually disappeared.

She took a lot of photos of me, but she didn’t want photos taken of her. Only a dummy like me wouldn’t have noticed that she wasn’t leaving her footprint. She also took phone calls away from our dinner or bar tables. I thought they were business calls, but now I know better.

I realize now she was able to fool me because she seemed so interested in me and my life, and I was answering all her questions. I felt very important. What a fool I was!

I just found out about her other life with the help of a friend. It helps to know the truth, but it doesn’t erase the pain of falling head-over-heels only to find out you were used for fun by an out-of-towner just here for some laughs.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: On Valentine’s Day, I got a beautiful silver chain from my boyfriend. The problem is I feel it’s too much of a statement to everyone since we are so new to each other as a couple.

Also, the truth is I’m not super serious about him.

Should I just give the necklace back? This guy has a strong personality and will tell me to get lost if I do.

I don’t really want to break up yet, as he’s so sexy and funny. I just want to wait for when the time is right for me.