DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a man for four years. I told him I am ready to end our relationship if he isn't ready to get married within the next year.
Two months ago, he gave me a beautiful 2 1/2-carat diamond ring and announced to family and friends that we are engaged. He has not discussed any wedding plans, but he says the wedding will be within the time frame I am asking for.
I went to a jeweler today to have the band on my ring enlarged a bit and was told that my stone is not a real diamond. Abby, this man owns his own business and is wealthy! He spends thousands on golf trips every year and just spent a great deal of money on high-end house furnishings.
My head is spinning. I am embarrassed to tell anyone of this fraud. What is your take on this? Do I confront him? Am I fooling myself thinking that this man truly wants to marry me? -- DUMBFOUNDED OR JUST DUMB? IN FLORIDA
DEAR DUMBFOUNDED: My "take" on this is that your fiance was trying to pull a fast one. If he would behave this way about your engagement ring, what else would he be less than honest about in the future?
Whether you "confront" him or not depends upon how you define the word. If it were me, I'd remain calm, tell him what I'd learned and how, listen to what he had to say and take my cue from that.