W didn't try and talk to me last night when I called D. D was so excite about today's birthday party and we talked for over 15 minutes. It was wonderful to hear the happiness in her voice.
Today I arrived at the birthday party site just a few minutes after W and D. I was early, but they still beat me there. D was really fired up to see me and I was excited to see her too. I was polite, I told W what I had brought for her, and even asked how her back was doing. I unloaded all the coolers filled w/ ice and drinks and lugged them to the party site. I helped set up and then concentrated on D and taking pictures.
W asked me to get her cell for her at one point as she was out waiting for people to arrive, so I did. I held the phone out clearly so she could see I wasn't trying to check it or anything and gave it to her. I did a couple of other small "favors" for W, but mostly stayed out of her way.
My mood was good. I was upbeat and friendly. I talked w/ people like I always do and didn't think I gave off any signs of being down. W was a bit cold and not very social, so I think my attitude was positive. Again, I spent almost all my time focusing on D and her needs and I didn't find myself looking around to see what W was doing.
One of W's closest friends and her two daughters were there and I was very sociable and friendly w/ them. I initiated conversations w/ her and made sure she, like all the other parents, had their drinks, etc. She responded very well and even if it was an act on her part, it made me feel as if I was giving off the proper vibes.
W was fairly decent to me and bordered at times on being nice. At the end of the party, W even reached over and picked some lint off of my shirt, so I have to look at that as a minor victory, don't I? I mean, she touched me on her own. Maybe it was OCD or something, but remember her story had been how she's afraid of me and how I'm a monster. Anyway, the DB books says not to overlook any small baby steps, so I'll call this one of those.
Around 1:30, we left and I loaded the last cooler into W's car. I wished W a happy birthday and then told D goodbye. I also asked W if calling at 7:30 would still be ok, b/c I didn't want to interfere if they had evening plans or something. W said they were going out to dinner, but she wasn't sure when, so I asked if she would call me if a 7:30 call didn't work. She said she would.
They left and I came home and sat down for a bit. I was very hot as it is in the low 90s today, so I cooled off in the living room and worked on transcribing texts from W and identifying the dates and times I'd called D to refute some of the false claims and exaggerations W is throwing at me.
Now, I'm going to head off to the gym, then come back and work some more. I have D tomorrow, so I need to write a test and study guide for my economics students by the end of the weekend, so I may look to do that now and get it over with.
I'll be talking w/ D at some point tonight and I'll keep everyone posted as to what goes on.
