Dear Annie: A lifelong friend of mine moved to Utah a little more than a year ago with a man twice her age.

They met in a similar career field and travel together. She has been helping take care of his 10-year-old son.

We were best friends all of our childhood, and even as we got older, we remained close to varying degrees.

Before she left, she promised we’d remain in touch and still try to see each other when possible.

We even got together for lunch when she was back in town a few months after the initial move. We had a really nice time. At least, I thought we did.

Since September, I haven’t heard back from her. I have texted and feel nervous to call for some reason.

My wife and parents say maybe the relationship she’s in is isolating her and she’s unable to reach out.

I thought being with a man that much older was weird, but my friend has always been a capable, independent woman, so I’m just not sure.

Any idea why she’s ghosting me?

Thank You.

— Best Friend Forever in Colorado

Dear Best Friend Forever: The best way to find out why she has not texted you back is to pick up the phone and call her. She is your best friend!

This is especially true if you feel that something is wrong with her relationship. She would need a friend.

She could also be busy taking care of his 10-year-old son.

Regardless of the reason, communication is the answer to your question. The best communication is done face to face, but if you don’t want to make a trip, start with a phone call and not just a text.

If she is a true friend worth keeping, she will appreciate you telling her how you feel. If not, then you are better off without her.

•        •        •

Dear Annie: I lost my husband of 36 years due to rare bone marrow cancer. From the day of the diagnosis to the day of his passing, it was exactly two months.

My family and I were shocked. GriefShare helped me so much.

Please inform others to check for their local support groups via Google or GriefShare.org/(name of your town or city).

— Grateful Nan

Dear Grateful Nan: I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing the link. I hope it helps others find the support they need.

Dear Annie: My husband has five kids from a previous marriage. One was — well, I’ll say never overly friendly. The other four I thought we were good.

But things blew up over something dumb. Now three of his girls do not talk to me. Which for me is fine. They think that I am too controlling with their father.

But they are also taking out their anger on their father by not talking to him either. This makes me more angry.

I would like to tell them that they all need to grow up. It’s not like they are young. These are grown children with families of their own.

My husband says I should let it go. But I know he is so hurt by how they are acting.

Should I leave it alone or finally tell them to grow up? This is something that is not going to blow over.

— Tired of Trying

Dear Tired of Trying: Wanting to insult your stepdaughters is not really trying. It’s being judgmental and not looking at how your behaviors might have caused their frustration with you and your husband.

You never once referred to them as your stepchildren, only your husband’s kids. This leads me to believe that you have never been accepting of them.

Instead of telling them to grow up, reach out to them and say that you and your husband would like a relationship with them.

If it is too far gone with you, at least try to repair their father’s relationship. In addition, encourage your husband to reach out to his children and not be so passive, pretending everything is fine.

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Dear Annie: My good friend and I were sitting and relaxing on her front porch, when the guy she had a crush on (they weren’t even dating) came walking by.

I asked her if I could have a drink, and she said there was soda in the fridge, so go help myself. I left them outside to talk.

I leaned into the fridge to reach for the soda, and when I stood up and turned around, he was in my face and kissed me. I was shocked and appalled. I went outside and he left.

I struggled with what to do, and felt it was only right to tell my friend. She confronted him, and he told her I had made a pass at him.

She blamed me, cut off the friendship and tried to make my life miserable.

That was more than 30 years ago. And no, she never did date him.

I realized she wasn’t really a friend to begin with, if she believed him over me. Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing.

— Shocked Friend

Dear Shocked Friend: You absolutely did the right thing. She sounds like she wasn’t much of a friend in the first place.

What that guy did to you was a form of assault, and she let her feelings for him get in the way of being an empathetic friend to you while you were going through something scary.

Sounds like the two of them deserved each other. They should have dated!