DEAR ABBY: My husband's mother and sister died within the past two years. My husband of 26 years suffered a great loss. Nine months ago, he walked out on me and our children. He said he was no longer in love with me and hasn't been for five years. He said he was confused and needed time away to think. He told me he was moving in with a guy from his office.
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I learned that was a lie. He's been living in New Jersey with a woman he'd been seeing for months. He had treated me like dirt for years, but I loved him anyway, so I accepted it.
He called last night to say he wants to come home. Since he's been gone, I have turned my life around, and I've never been happier. I think I deserve to be with a person who values me -- and he deserves everything that's coming to him. My family and friends think I should take him back. Am I doing the right thing? -- DOUBTING IN DELAWARE
DEAR DOUBTING: Your family isn't going to have to live with him -- you are. He treated you like dirt for years and damaged your self-esteem. Only in his absence have you been able to rebuild it. Don't take him back unless you still want to after many months of marriage counseling.