DEAR ABBY: My husband has been divorced from his ex-wife since 1992. They did not have children.
Abby, he still has the key to her condo. He says it's because he does work for her. He is a painting contractor. I think he should return the key and get it only when he has work to do there.
She calls him for everything -- from picking her up after a dentist's appointment to starting her car a couple of times a month while she's out of town. I think she should call some of her other friends. She has to call him only once for him to do whatever it is she wants. I have been after him for three years to change the showerhead in our shower. (I purchased it three years ago.) He says I "nag" him. I think three years is a long time to wait. When she calls him, he leaves work and does whatever it is she needs.
Am I being unreasonable by asking him to return her key? If the situation were reversed, I wouldn't be allowed to keep an ex-boyfriend's key and go to his place to do errands for him. Please answer. This is becoming a big problem for me now. -- HURTING IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.
DEAR HURTING: Your husband's first marriage may be over, but his emotional bond to his first wife hasn't been severed. I don't blame you for being upset. Most wives wouldn't tolerate what you have.
Tell your handy husband you feel threatened by his maintaining such a close tie to his former wife. You two are overdue for some marriage counseling. Pick up the phone and schedule an appointment. And while you're at it, call a plumber. Three years is too long to wait for your husband to install the showerhead.