First off, I realize this is all my problem. I'm just at cross-odds as to what to do about it, and would appreciate some input.
None of my extended family knows what's happened. That said, one of my relative's houses is where I originally proposed to Heart, and it is now toxic to her (understandably so). Therefore, when we have big family get-togethers there, Heart starts getting triggery to the point of an almost full-blown panic attack. So, for her sake, I never insist that she goes.
When I show up without her, though, the womenfolk tend to ask, "Where's Heart?" to which I respond with the standard, "Not feeling well." Lately (I don't know if it's busybodiness or what), a number of them have started asking things like, "Is it flu?" "Is it allergies?" and so on.
And here's my conundrum:
1. Since habitual/cover-up lying was something I did during my As, one of my boundaries has been to not lie (especially to Heart, but it extends to other areas of my life as well).
2. Since telling secrets/personal information about our M to people outside our M was one of my OTHER problems during my As, another of my boundaries has been not to inform unnecessary people about the details of our relationship.
3. Heart is concerned that her absences from family get-togethers will be seen as a sign of distancing and not wanting to be 'part of the family.'
I want to tell the truth (1), but it involves making a lot of people Heart doesn't really know or trust privy to sensitive information (2).
How do I let people know what's going on (1) without revealing too much information (2) so that no one gets the wrong impression about Heart (3)?
Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated, even though I don't expect to have to get together with my mother's family until at least Thanksgiving (which is right around antiversary time, so it will be its own difficulty)!