You know, Fy, I know I've said this before, but your wife confuses me. I cant quite figure her out.
I think she was quiet because you got along with her friend. She got to see that you were not what she is trying to make you in her mind and it is confusing to her.
I really think that she is a bit depressed, a bit restless, a bit feeling like life is passing her by. And so she feels like she should be taking steps.
But in reality, I dont think she ever really will. For a lot of reasons. I think she is content with her life. She gets to go out, she gets to live comfortably, she gets to have you as a friend and keep her life pretty much the way it is.
For someone who doesnt like people to know her business, that is important.
So, there is a good side to that. I dont think an OM is in her mind and a bad side, in that you stay in the friend zone.
I do believe she is working her way through the tunnel. I do believe that she knows deep down that you are a good guy and that she needs to address this whole thing about what happened with her brother.
At some point, and it is not now, you might have to start thinking about doing something different.
Until then, keep doing what you are doing.
Although I'd like to see you not quite as available to her as you seem to be, ya know?