Dear Queenie,
My husband is in business with his brother’s wife, but I have started wondering if it is all business. When she calls him, he goes into the other room to talk to her and sometimes when she calls him she just hangs up if it is me that answers the phone. He says they’re just talking business, but I have to wonder.
Queenie, do you think he is cheating on me with her?—Worried wife

Dear Wife,
It is quite possible that the “business” they are talking is “monkey business.” You have every reason to be wondering about this. Have you mentioned all this to your brother-in-law? He, too, may be wondering.

Dear Queenie,
My husband is a real couch potato. He works hard and takes good care of me, but all he ever wants to do in his time off is lie around and watch TV.
Me, I like to go out and do things, like dinner out, visit friends, go to a concert or go dancing or jump up at Carnival, but he just isn’t interested, he says it’s no fun and too much trouble.
So I end up going by myself and sometimes I meet a nice guy who keeps me company and I can’t help thinking about doing more than just a night out with him.
Queenie, how can I get my husband to do things with me before I do something I know I will regret?—Tempted

Dear Tempted,
Has it occurred to you that your hard-working husband is just too tired to enjoy strenuous activities in his spare time? If that is the case, a visit to the doctor might help explain his lack of excess energy and, if there is a physical reason (like being overweight), might help him find ways to overcome his chronic fatigue.
Meanwhile, do your best to avoid situations that might lead to temptation. And consider marriage counselling – with your husband if you can persuade him to go (and if he is not too tired!).

Dear Queenie,
Some time ago I borrowed some money from my parents and now they keep bugging me to pay them back.
Queenie, what’s their problem? The money will come to me anyway when they die.—Ungrateful daughter

Dear Daughter,
As long as even one of your parents is alive the money is not yours. Be grateful that they were willing – and able – to lend it to you. They may need it, possibly badly, to live on and that may be their problem. For heaven’s sake, PAY THEM BACK PROMPTLY.

Dear Queenie,
My brother has done some pretty bad things in the past. He never got caught by the police, but he came pretty close a couple of times and there were some things that never got reported but should have.
Now he’s going with a very nice girl and they are talking about getting engaged.
Queenie, should we warn his girlfriend’s family about him?—Worried brother

Dear Brother,
I think you should forget about the girlfriend’s family and tell the girlfriend directly whatever you have to say. Going behind her back to her family would seem – would be! – a rather sneaky way of handling the matter.
Either way your brother would not be pleased, and the sorry fact is that your interference may only bring the two of them closer together.