I must say I get a real kick out of everybody quoting my fabulous phrases!
KAW, I don't know anymore than you know WTF is going on with w. could be her typical seasonal down mode, could be anniversary of the bomb bringing her down (I'd tend to think it's not just us that get effected by the timeline)
if her spirits are rising and she's becoming a bit more attentive again then why not just roll with it?
the "secret" could be anything....really anything...need not be something bad could be something good. Hate to say it but even the most mature women can act like school girls when they are with a very close friend.
re w's depression and your interventions... are there ways that you could intervein that may not be met with advisary?? I don't know maybe a gift cert for a massage or something, some bright cheery flowers? just a thought.