Jody and Christian were high school sweet hearts, but he wasn't faithful, not even then. He was "dating" an "older woman."

Jody says, "I was very naive."

After graduation, he went to California. He wanted Jody to go with him, but she didn't. He came home, and they had an on again, off again relationship.

She says: "He was in a band and living a faster life. But he still hung onto me and I was very passive. I found out he was living with a girl while he was seeing me. Eventually they moved back to California."

Years went by — 10 to be exact. Then, Jody got a call. Christian's father had died, and he was back in Chicago for the funeral. Jody was married and had just had a baby girl. She didn't even recognize his voice on the phone.

Life went on. Seven years ago, Jody divorced after 19 years of marriage. Her daughter and granddaughter were living with her. Three years ago, she was on Facebook and saw Christian's name. It had been 25 years since she'd last spoken to him.

She says: "I contacted him. I had always held him in such a romantic unreal regard. I still have a bundle of his love letters from when we were kids. I'd always wondered about him and how his life had turned out and if he ever thought about me.

"He got right back to me. He said let's talk. Send me your number. He called me quicker than I was prepared for. He called me that night. We talked for three hours. He remembered things about me that I had forgotten."

Still, the phone call was a bit unsettling. Jody says it was "slightly vulgar" and he seemed to take great pleasure in talking about an old girlfriend. "I had no interest in so many intimate details," she says.

Nothing came out of that phone call until a year later, when Jody emailed him to wish him a happy birthday. He told her he was going to be in Chicago and that they should get together for dinner.

She says: "I hadn't seen him in 35 years. I felt very anxious. A dear friend of mine gave me some good advice. He said you are just two old friends getting together for conversation over dinner. Odds are what you didn't like about him then you still won't like."

Christian was late. He didn't come to the door. He called her and told her he was in front of her house. He didn't get out of the car or open the door for her.

She says: "He couldn't look at me. I asked him if he would recognize me. He didn't answer."

Dinner was awkward, with silent stretches. He showed Jody a picture of a woman, his "hiking partner."

"She was very young and very beautiful," she says.

Jody invited him home for coffee. When he left, she walked him out, and he gave her a hug.

She says: "I said that next time you're here, I'll make dinner. Who knows? Like my friend said we're just two old friends and yes, what I didn't like about him before I still didn't like."

I think I know — nothing good.

What do you think?

Have you reconnected with an old love? Send your tale, along with your questions and problems to [email protected]. And check out my e-books, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front" and "I'll Call You. Not.