Friendship

I have a friend whose in the early stages of a messy divorce. The husband has a mistress and has ran away with her. But now he has the cheek to want half the house. Anyway my dilemma is that my friend needs a large amount of cash to pay for solicitor's fees. I have enough money to spare to lend it to her but I also fancy her. I want to give her the money but I don't want to give her the wrong impression that she feels obliged to go out with me. I'm being realistic and understand she's vulnerable. But I also honestly don't think I have chance anyway, but I don't want to make our friendship uncomfortable. What shall I do?

Sol, your friend needs you as a friend, now, more than ever. Be the friend she expects you to be whether you go ahead and loan her the money or not. You may fancy her, but she'll be no good to anyone until she gets over her marriage and sorts the legal side of things. This could take awhile. If you are her TRUE friend and a genuine man to boot, you'll be there for her as a true friend should be...and there's nothing uncomfortable or untoward about that....

Problem resolved. I asked if she wanted to borrow the money and she said no, she has an aunt who will help. She will also try and get help from the bank. But at least now I've made her aware that I'm here if she needs someone to rely on.

You can give her the money to be nice whether you go out with her or not. And just ask her out if you want her. If she says no, it'll be ok. You can still be friends.