My aunt and uncle have a relationship like that. My aunt calls him or e-mails him to ask him for help around the house or to see my grandmother more often, and my uncle kind of avoids her calls. To me, it looks like an endless cycle- she complains, which makes him avoid her, which makes her even more frustrated, etc. It’s like a rubber band. My aunt probably doesn’t realize that at this point, she needs to give my uncle a lot of space before he will come around on his own. I’m sure she thinks he’s a self-centered ass and he feels like she’s constantly harassing him.