DEAR ABBY: "Roger" and I have been married more than 40 years. I feel we have a good marriage.
We have recently retired and moved to the city where Roger grew up. There's a lady here I'll call "Mitzi." Roger dated Mitzi all through high school and was engaged to her for at least three years after that. From what I can put together, they had a very intimate relationship. Mitzi sent Roger a "Dear John" letter while he was in the military, which I assumed he probably deserved. (I was in no way involved.) Mitzi has been married to the same man for more than 40 years.
Over the past four decades, we have attended the same social functions about six times. Each time, she and Roger always seem to visit at least 15 or 20 minutes, and while he's talking to her he completely ignores me. In fact, he turns his back on me as though he's ashamed of me. Do you think there is any unfinished business between them?
I would like to give him a surprise birthday party. Because of the people I will be inviting, it will be necessary to also invite Mitzi and her husband. My question: If there's still some kind of spark, would I be asking for trouble? -- CONCERNED IN FLORIDA
DEAR CONCERNED: If there were still a spark, the fire would have flared up before now. The odds are against Mitzi's stirring up the embers of an old flame she doused 40 years ago.