Asking Eric: My married friend touched me and kissed my cheek — is she flirting?

In the Asking Eric column, R. Eric Thomas addresses two distinct personal dilemmas. First, a retired man seeks clarity on whether a married woman's physical affection, including cheek kisses and touching, indicates romantic interest or mere friendliness. Second, Thomas responds to an individual experiencing guilt because their mother is miserable in a nursing home, despite the person feeling they have no other viable options for her care. Both segments provide professional perspective on complex emotional situations.