Do people want me to feel better or do they want to feel better about me?

I wonder if my wife really cares about me sometimes. She looked at me with such concern the other night, as her eyes welled up with tears. She said she does t want to be "the last person to notice" about me - whatever that means. I think she wants me to be outwardly more strong and stable so she can feel better - not because she actually cares if I am secure and strong for ME.