Sounds like she was testing the waters, do you think that she was trying to find out if there is any room in your life for her now? I get the feeling that she was waiting for you to tell her that the woman you are dating is not that important. Was she wanting you to say that you want to be more than friends?

I am not trying to give you false hope but sometimes woman don't say what they mean and she may be afraid of being rejected by you.

Everything happens for a reason, maybe Dad needs to find that it isn't better out there, he needs to realize how good he had it here. Maybe he will find God and that is the most important thing when he finds Him he will know he is supposed to come home.