January 29, 2022 Issue, Page 5 of 10

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January 29, 2022 Activities 5 Niece still hasn’t paid back loan for legal bill relationship we have, or suck it one if she can afford to, regard- Dear Abby up and accept that I’ll never see less of whether or not she’s the money. married. But I understand her DEAR ABBY: Several years Because of the pandemic, my husband has been out of work preferring to be married first. ago, my adult niece, with whom I am very close, found for many months. While we are Time is running out on the herself in some legal difficul- not desperate, the money she likelihood of developing a new ties and needed an attorney. At owes me could be put to good relationship this late in the the time, due to some medical use. Please advise. -- GOOD process. What’s a girl to do? -- issues, she wasn’t working and DEED IN THE MIDWEST WONDERING IN OHIO could not afford the attorney’s retainer, so I offered to lend DEAR GOOD DEED: Meet her the money. I told her she with or contact your niece DEAR WONDERING: The could repay me once she began to ask her for the money she “girl” should ask her boyfriend working again. still owes you and, when you of six years if he wants to be Nine months later she sent do, explain that your husband married to her. If the answer me a check for $500 and, two hasn’t worked in many months months after that, another and you need it. Agree upon a is yes, AND he wants to be one for $500. The retainer was repayment plan. However, if a father, her problem will be $2,600. My niece has been she reneges again, DO discuss solved. However, if the answer steadily employed for the last it with her parents. Perhaps is no -- and she can afford it two years, yet I have received they can “encourage” their -- she should proceed on her no further payment. I regret daughter to do the right thing. There must be a reason they path to motherhood without that I didn’t set up a formal repayment plan, but I never didn’t front her the money for him. Someone may come into dreamed she’d default on the her legal problem. Let’s hope her life later who would love to loan. it wasn’t because she stiffed be a husband and a dad. And, if Her mother told me she is them, too. not, she will have fulfilled her saving up to buy a house and, biological imperative. apparently, she has money to DEAR ABBY: A female rela- spend on friends and others. tive wants to have a child. She I never told her parents that is 30. However, her significant Dear Abby is written by Abigail I loaned her the money, and other of six years hasn’t pro- Van Buren, also known as Jeanne I have no idea if she ever did, posed. She feels her biological Phillips, and was founded by her although I assume she hasn’t. clock is ticking -- loudly. What mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact I’m torn between approaching would you suggest family ad- my niece to remind her that vise her to do? Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com Crossword the loan has not yet been re- I feel that a woman or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, paid and risk damaging the who wants a child should have CA 90069. Current puzzle answers Get Fuzzy Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield Dilbert