DEAR ABBY: I can't talk to anyone about this (including my husband) because they'll think something's wrong with me or I am making it up.

When my son and his wife come to visit or we visit them, there's always something missing from my house or from my suitcase (when we visit them). When they visit, it's always small items like a china teacup, a nut bowl or a figurine. After we return from a visit, there's always a piece of costume jewelry or an item of clothing missing from my suitcase.

The items are always inexpensive. I never see these in their house, so I suspect she just takes them and throws them out. I don't know what to do aside from confronting her, which will probably cause a rift with my son. I've mentioned it to my husband and he refuses to believe me! Is there something wrong with her? Please help. I don't know how to handle this. -- GOING NUTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

DEAR GOING NUTS: Seeing is believing. Before your son and daughter-in-law's next visit, consider setting up one or more security cameras around your home. If what you suspect proves to be true, your daughter-in-law may suffer from emotional problems that need to be addressed. And when you visit them, make sure to lock your belongings in your suitcase. If nothing else, that may give you peace of mind.

DEAR ABBY: I am recently separated. I just started seeing a guy who was also recently separated and who will soon be divorced. The problem is, he is my friend "Melissa's" soon-to-be ex. They are breaking up because she cheated on him and left him for the other person.

He's a great guy, and it's too soon to tell if this could turn into an actual relationship. Melissa isn't a best friend of mine, but she's more than just an acquaintance. Should I pursue this or stop now? -- CONFUSED IN BROOKLYN

DEAR CONFUSED: When it comes to rebound romances, I advise to proceed with caution, so you don't get hurt. If you like this man, be a supportive friend to him for now. If the relationship develops into something more serious from there, so be it. You didn't cause the divorce, Melissa did, and you shouldn't be blamed.

DEAR ABBY: When restaurant hosts/hostesses decide where to seat patrons, I wish they would consider their mobility. Many times I have accompanied mobility-impaired family members and friends, and the host didn't consider the distance to the table. I understand that restaurant hosts try to balance the number of tables for the wait staff, but surely they can also consider the occasional patron who would greatly appreciate a shorter walk to their table. -- MOBILITY-IMPAIRED PATRON

DEAR PATRON: Restaurant hosts are not dictators, nor are they mind readers. If you or someone you are with has a disability that must be accommodated, inform the host and request a table that suits your needs. If the establishment values your patronage, the employees will be happy to comply.

DEAR ABBY: I recently married a man with kids. I have kids as well. Combining two families is hard, but we're figuring it out.

When we were dating, he would text me during the day to tell me he loved me. Now that we're married, I never hear from him during the day. I have told him numerous times that I enjoyed those texts and how much they brightened my day. He always promises to do better, but doesn't. I tried texting him instead and only got emojis in return.

I came to the conclusion that that's just how he is, and I love him enough to overlook it. Well, last night I needed to use his phone because my battery was dead. When I texted his daughter to pick up something on the way home, I saw that he texts her every day telling her he loves her.

I'm afraid to say anything because I don't want him to think I was snooping or that I'm jealous of his kids, but it really hurt my feelings. I've been hurt in the past, so he knows I'm somewhat insecure.

Should this bother me? My best friend says I may be depressed. Does it sound like it? We both have custody of all of our kids, so it's not like he doesn't see them every day. Their mom is in their lives -- they just prefer not to stay at her house and only hang out with her some. -- TEXTING IN TENNESSEE

DEAR TEXTING: Whether or not this "should" bother you isn't the point. It does bother you. You have expressed to your husband what you need, and he has chosen to ignore it. It's almost as if, now that you two are married, he feels he has "closed the sale" and doesn't need to put forth more effort.

I don't know whether your friend is right in her estimation that you are depressed. But if you are, I can understand why. Rather than brood, tell your husband you needed to use his phone because yours wasn't working, and how what you saw made you feel. It's great that he loves his daughter, but he should also be communicating the same to you.

DEAR ABBY: My wife, "Nancy," and I are working on fixing our marital problems. She confides in an "older wise woman" at church who has been telling Nancy she's a lousy Christian because she stayed married to me.

How can I defend my wife from this defamation of character that makes her feel weak? I told Nancy to avoid her. I have told the older wise woman to leave us alone. Nothing has worked. -- FRUSTRATED IN THE PEW

DEAR FRUSTRATED: Your wife needs a better role model. Point out to her that Christians should not judge and insult others. Allow me to offer a suggestion that may make your wife feel instantly better: Change pews.

DEAR ABBY: When someone anonymously pays your tab in a restaurant, and the staff drops enough hints to reveal the identity of this person, what's the protocol for the recipient? Should I have walked over and thanked that person? My day was definitely made brighter by this kind gesture. I will certainly try to do something similar when I can. -- SURPRISED IN COTTONWOOD, ARIZ.

DEAR SURPRISED: The protocol is the same as with any other gift. A show of appreciation is always welcome, and it would not have been a breach of etiquette to offer one.

DEAR READERS: Once again, I can't let April Fools' Day pass without printing a few of the more "interesting" letters that have crossed my desk during the past year:

DEAR ABBY: I own a champion Airedale terrier I have been trying to breed for more than a year. Finding her the right match has proven difficult. But recently, we found a perfect match. Their genetics are superb, and they seem to like each other.

The male's owner and I took the two dogs on a dog run last month and, except for a bit of mud, it was a perfect afternoon. There have been other afternoons and evenings.

The problem is the male's owner. She will only allow her dog to breed mine if she and I also "breed." She claims it is the only true way to know if our canines are a perfect match.

I'm not a prude, but since my divorce, I haven't dated much. The woman is attractive, and I'm lonely, but her proposition felt odd to me. And if the breeding is a regular thing, would that be good for the dogs? What should I do? -- OVERWHELMED IN KANSAS CITY

DEAR OVERWHELMED: Keep your romances and those of your pooch separate unless you're willing to risk your love life going to the dogs.

DEAR ABBY: I wanted to show my elderly co-worker some photos I had taken of the countryside. Without thinking, I handed her my phone so she could browse through them while I went to get coffee. When I returned, my phone was on my desk and she was nowhere to be found.

Only then did I realize she must have seen the many nude pictures of me and my husband. (We like to send each other naughty selfies.) What's more, the photos are clown-themed -- rainbow wigs, red noses, makeup, etc.

My co-worker has never said anything, but now I sense she's avoiding me. Should I pull her aside and see if she wants to talk about anything? Pretend it never happened? Casually mention "the circus" and see if she gives a reaction? -- NAUGHTY IN NEW MEXICO

DEAR NAUGHTY: The less said the better. This mess was caused by your "greatest show on earth" of bad judgment. You have only your selfie to blame for the uncomfortable silence happening in your office.

DEAR ABBY: Would sex with a robot be considered infidelity? -- WONDERING IN WESTWORLD

DEAR WONDERING: It's not infidelity unless the robot belongs to somebody else -- or you do.

DEAR ABBY: I love my girlfriend so much. I'm trying to think of a unique romantic gesture to show her what she means to me.

Would it be acceptable to have a carnivorous plant delivered to her office? Although I've considered traditional ones, I think the carrion flower is my pick. It's huge, pink and smells like rotting flesh. I think it's the perfect way to express my love. What do you think? -- OFFBEAT IN ST. PETE

DEAR OFFBEAT: I think your idea stinks worse than the flower. Happy April Fools' Day to you and to all my readers! -- LOVE, ABBY