Frank, it sounds like otherwise you are getting well put together. It's nice having someone to bounce things off of and I'm glad your friend isn't "oh, just kick her to the curb and move on". I hope I didn't offend with my suggestions. I think you'll need to be patient and supportive. Your XW has issues that aren't yours to fix, but hopefully she'll trust you with at least expressing what she feels so guilty about. Remember to do what is right for you first. I think it's great you want to be there for your kids, but make sure you can be there as the man they need. If a move puts you in a position where you are struggling yourself, you might not be in the best place to be there for them. Good luck.
Jo, no offense taken at all. I knew where you were coming from. I appreciate the concern and the well wishes. Thank you.
Willow, it's nice to hear from you. It's somewhat of a catch-22, how do you let them know there is a chance of losing you, help them to realize they don't want to lose you, and at the same time make them feel safe enough to tell you rather than assume you've moved on and all they'll get is rejection. He must have had some sense that there was still a chance with you for him to suddenly make the effort to get you back. What do you think?
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. Theodore Roosevelt
