2 weeks Ago
DEAR ABBY: I am one of your male readers. My best friend, “Will,” and his family have been close friends of mine for nine years. I regard them as extended family, and we do almost everything together.
Two years ago, they bought a house and converted the garage into a room for Will’s brother-in-law. A year ago, the brother-in-law met a woman I’ll call “Anika,” who stays with them several days each week. She has made her place in the family, doing everything with Will’s wife and their kid.
Will and his wife have now started including her on trips and things they would have normally invited me to do with them — but without me. I recently discovered that Anika was disgusted to hear that I was going on a recent trip with them, but she gave in to Will to let me go. I feel like I’m being pushed out of the family I know and love by this new girlfriend.
How do I handle this? — PUSHED ASIDE IN THE EAST DEAR PUSHED: Tell Will that over the nine years you have been close friends with him and his family, you have grown to regard them as your extended family. Then tell him it has come to your attention that Anika did not want you included on that last outing and ask if he knows why. Had you offended her in some way? She may be jealous of the relationship you have had for so long with Will and his brother-in-law and be unwilling to share her boyfriend — or his family.
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