How should I proceed now? Is there hope?

[pinhead]

I step back and don't contact him (even about kids), he steps forward and adds a little warmth to his message. Then if I'm friendly, he retreats a mile. It's so tiny it seems foolish to count it. It's like watching grass grow.
NCU

Hey Volcano!

My W does the same. Yesterday morning I was preoccupied with our Ds school progress reports, and she thought I was mad at her. Awkwardly gave me a goodbye hug (second contact she's initiated). Now that she knows I'm fine, she's back to her old ice queen behaviour. Well, not ice queen, that's too harsh, but she's gotten quite good at shutting down. She brought me a book from work that was a thoughtful gesture, so not totally ice!

I would limit your contact with H, even when he comes back. You're proving your independence with the license, and the cooking gas, and that hurts a mans ego to think he's unneeded. And since he's such a powderkeg, he needs to learn that you won't accept his CB. Don't!

Be mysterious! Don't offer information, make him inquire. Be catnip. Be the Volcano people make sacrifices to!