Getting her to hide car a clue something was shady

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This article was published 02/01/2018 (3150 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I really got taken for a ride this Christmas, and we’re not talking about tobogganing. I met a really hot single guy on Christmas Eve at my relatives’ house. It turns out he had just bought a house next door to theirs. He and I talked a lot that evening, then ended up kissing in the hallway.

He whispered for me to come to his place for drinks after and to move my car down the street so relatives wouldn’t get the wind up. I went over, we killed a bottle of wine, and one thing led to another.

The next day after opening presents and having lunch at my parents’ house, I slipped back over to his neighbourhood for some afternoon delight with him. He’s a single guy, or so he said, and he would be lonely. He still wanted me to park out of sight. Then we both had to take off in two directions for Christmas dinners.

On Boxing Day the roof caved in. My aunt called me and mentioned their new next door neighbour’s fiancée flew in that day, and they saw him coming in the house, carrying her suitcases. I was gobsmacked. What was I, a snack before the main meal arrived? The old practice jump? The fool who hid her car so he wouldn’t get caught? I am so upset! I want to tell him off. What should I do?

— Furious Side Dish, Winnipeg

Dear Furious Side Dish: Phone the little sneak and tell him what your aunt told you about his fiancée showing up. Say, “If you had told me you were engaged, I would never have done that. What did you think you were doing?” Then wait for the answer. It may well be a click as he hangs up, he might tell you it was none of your business or he might even apologize.

Either way, you should stop thinking about him. You took part in this fiasco by jumping into sex so fast and allowing him to tell you to hide your car. That was a huge clue. After telling him off, let it go, since he’s a dishonest cheat, is not boyfriend material for you and you weren’t in love. So, it’s goodbye and good riddance!

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: We had a Christmas calamity at our house that lasted for a whole week. My two grown-up daughters had it out as their kids kept on fighting and crying over everything. The mothers sniped at each other about their contrasting parenting styles (”You’re spoiling those kids!” versus “You’re suffocating that poor only child!”).

That left several more days before they went back to Saskatchewan. One mother has three boys and they were little brats, while the other one has one boy and he was a little angel. By the last day, I couldn’t wait for them all to go home. I can’t have this again, and now the sisters are involved in a cold war. What should I do?

— Grandma in the Middle, North Kildonan

Dear Grandma in the Middle: You should have called the big talk after the first sibling squabble and the name calling. You needed to have a frank discussion with your daughters over their different personalities, and their different ways of handling their children. Let things simmer down, but let them know that Christmases will not be held in that fashion again. That could mean you will visit one or the other and Skype for awhile on Christmas Day with the missing family, or they can come to town and stay in a hotel with a pool and waterslides. There are some nice inexpensive ones in town if you look around and book early. Here’s to better Christmases from now on, for everybody’s sake.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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