Oh my gosh, this just gets better and better. Openness and honesty with my wife are now burdensome weakness. Maybe to someone who's never known the truth, such as your wife, I guess the truth might be burdensome, but for my wife, to whom I've never lied, it hasn't been. She's know the truth, every bit of it, about me since day one. As a result, she's never had any misconceptions about me, and has loved me anyway.
You see Rick, I don't want anyone to love, or even like, a me that isn't me. I want them to love the real me, not some construct I create for their benefit, especially a construct that bears little to no resemblance to reality. And I respect them enough to give them the information they need to decide whether or not to do that. If they can't love me, well then, take care.
As for why Frank called me? Perhaps because he recognized and respected his wife's feelings for me, and mine for her? He's known about me since before they were married, after all, and I've gone to visit her several times since she left, so it's not like he was ignorant of our relationship.
Hard for you to understand how we could all get along like that, is it, Rick? Mayhap you should examine your own world view, rather than criticizing others' lifestyle choices. Not everyone subscribes to the Judeo-Christian property rights basis for marriage, and I for one, think that's a good thing. Certainly better than what the Church calls "marriage".
Having never met my wife, I can understand your misunderstanding with regard to "dragging" her to the funeral; I couldn't have kept her away if I tried.
Did I get incredibly lucky with my wife and with my ATF? You bet I did, and I personally think I owe it all to being honest with both of them. I don't regret it at all.
Take care, Rick.