He was just a good decent friend to both of us. All through Covid he kept turning up to walk or run with me for a while then sat with DH to give me a break and DH some different company (I considered this was allowed under the helping with care rules). He didn't do that "you know where I am" thing most people do and then you never see or hear from them again.
It actually makes me well up to think someone was so kind to both of us in that awful time.
However, even at the time it was a bit weird. He wasn't a particularly close friend to either of us. We were grateful for his friendship but we hadn't been close before DH's illness. I think at the back of my mind I wondered if he had some ulterior motive. That said, the people I thought were our good friends all but disappeared and he was a godsend. He had just come out of a long relationship and way staying with his Mum, so he was bored and lonely, it probably helped him too.
Anyway nearly 3 years on we've remained friends, he's an integral part of the social life I've built for myself and now we're going on our first date.
People are going to assume this all started before DH died....aren't they?
Is it possible he actually did set out with this intention? He's been very patient if he did!