Thank you for your replies, comments and support. Yes, I was elated with the email, but mostly in the moment I read it. I think all of us here know better than to get too excited over baby steps (even though this was more of a huge step to me). I do feel more at peace now, still very proud of H for doing what I doubted he would ever be able to do. I thought I had lost the bitterness towards him, but realized I lost more of it after his admission. Our last interaction was far less guarded, less formal, and more casual. I do feel like we're becoming friends again and sense he's becoming more comfortable at my place. He even sat on the couch for the first time since bomb.
As for reconnecting with friends, H began doing that a few months ago. Seems to be hanging out less with post-bomb group. And now that he's no longer with ogre, her group of friends are no longer a part of his life. I've heard that he's still in contact with ow, and also heard he's just recently become facebook friends with her and her friends. Annoying, yes, but I don't think the relationship goes any further than that. (H and I are not fb friends.)
Still haven't figured out what the perfume was for and have stopped trying to figure it out. Definitely not guilt for not being around for the holidays, as it's not one celebrated where we are. Maybe it was a peace offering.
For now, I'm going to let H lead the way from here. I've said what I need to say. So it's back to doing nothing. Surprisingly, I don't think much about what's happened. I'm prepared for this to go either way.
