Stumped.. even at my advanced age by guy?

[Swanmute]

Would welcome all advice. Dating again in midlife.. been with loving, attentive partner for six months, sex life revigorated. Promises made, holidays booked etc etc. phones me all time.. utterly loving. Yesterday I was shocked that he drove me home from his house early, barely after 10 pm, gave me my coat and casserole dish( I’d cooked tea) and basically’ There’s your hat, what’s your hurry’.. attitude. Today not willing to talk about it, closed down. I asked for conversation to clarify..not happened. So I’m giving him space but he does know I’m finding his behaviour unfathomable.
Two factors he works away.. part of time offshore, we’ve managed this well to date, love seeing him when he’s home. Secondly my adult son is recovering from cancer, going well waiting at moment for CT scan which will hopefully be clear. This man was Uber communicative to me, incredibly responsive and communicative. Was I love bombed..not feeling great tonight?

He's trying to keep you on the back burner

@Swanmute Have you cancelled the holiday or is that something you've left to him to sort out? I think he made arrangements to play golf etc with this old friend and had to get rid of you this week, whilst still keeping you on the back burner for the future. He's engineered a temporary situation to get out of his commitments to you. He's definitely placed you 2nd best to his beloved golf. You don't deserve that, be prepared to get lots of messages from him when his golfing session is over and he goes back offshore. He'll profess confusion as to what actually happened, blame it on you being moody, in a sulk over nothing, a misunderstanding etc. Hope your son is OK and that you can get together with friends who appreciate your company.

I think he’s planned to ‘manage me down for a while, almost into ‘friends with benefits mode’

”Manage me down” …. that’s a new phrase for me, an interesting/astute observation

Good for you OP, take the upper hand and say nothing - it says more than ten thousand words ever could.

yeh, i called it the relegation. Happened to me a couple of times. You don't understand the first time. it's so awful.