Thank you very much, Clara. The funny thing is that, when their mother was alive, she was always very nice to me and never bitter toward him. He hadn't really been a negligent father, until the marriage ended. (and he didn't end it.) The kids seem to have had very happy childhoods. They are just not very giving.

The son and I have exchanged some PMs. It seems the social worker has misrepresented my feelings to the family, and their feelings to me. I've had reason before not to trust this social worker. Once, she laughed about my friend being senile. When I asked her what was so funny, she went berserk and hung up on me. I now suspect she may have instigated a big misunderstanding between my friend's family and me. I think this is all going to simmer down, now.