Dear Abby: My ex-wife cheated on me five years ago. She ran off with a nonworking criminal type and has been bouncing around with this bozo ever since.

When they and their 3-year-old became homeless two weeks ago, she showed up at my door shoeless. She said her boyfriend was abusive and asked to stay with me until she finds a place. I agreed under the provision that she not see this guy.

I am a hard-working single father of two. Abby, did I make the right choice? Or should I have told her she was not welcome and turned her and her son away?

I really feel I shouldn’t have to help her, and she should rely on her loser boyfriend — who she has started seeing again. I need guidance and your expert advice. Am I an idiot?

Confused

You’re not an idiot; you’re a pushover. Your ex has already broken the agreement she made when you let her in. The situation is not going to get better; it will only become more complicated.

Now it’s time to direct her to a shelter that can help her get her life back together and give her son a stable home. Your responsibility for her welfare ended when she left you for another man.

Dear Abby: Something has been bothering me and I’d like your opinion. If a group of people goes out to eat together, and no one wants to order dessert except one person, is it rude for that person to keep everyone else waiting and watching while he/she orders and eats the dessert?

Check, Please

It’s not rude if you first ask the others in the group if they would mind, and they wanted to chat over coffee.