After a false accusation, aunt now wants to move on
I'm ready to drop the whole incident and forget it ever happened, and see no need in continuing to refer back to it. -- Older but Not Wiser
Dear Older: You didn't hesitate to press charges and then spread this falsehood through social media and the community. So I guess your, "Let's forget this whole thing happened" philosophy only kicked in when you were at risk of embarrassing yourself.
Yes, you should apologize publicly.
What you shouldn't do is to repeat the false accusation when you make your apology. [I am often surprised at how often political candidates (for example) repeat alleged falsehoods before refuting them.]
So yes, you should apologize to your niece personally and privately, and while you are doing so, ask her how she would like you to word your public apology.
Then -- if you're lucky -- everyone involved might be able to forget the whole thing happened, but I doubt it.
Dear Amy: I'm in love with my best friend. We've been besties for years, and over that time my feelings of friendship have developed into something deeper.
We're both single, adult women, both attracted to other women. Despite us living on opposite sides of the country, we are constantly in contact.
As most female friends are, we are very affectionate with one another, calling each other pet names, signing off phone calls or texts with "I love yous," chatting for hours on the weekend just to enjoy each other's company. The last time we had a chance to meet up in person, we were physically affectionate as well: heads on shoulders at the movies, hands together at the bar -- that sort of thing.
Part of me wonders if I'm reading too much into it, but another part is annoyed I didn't just ASK her how she feels.
...continued
