Am I on the right track?

[NEmoose43]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, been a very busy week at work, and a very busy week between W and me. The roller coaster continues to roll. Here's the update as concisely as I can write it, sorry it's gonna be a long one.

Last Thursday, had dinner with W after work. Great time, talked and joked like everything was fine. No real R talk to speak of, though W was talking about plans after the school year ends. Stuff about coming home, what she wanted to do for work, vacations, etc. I didn't pry or push on anything to do with us, just offered suggestions when she asked and tried like hell not to presume that she was including me in any of these plans. I even said I didn't want to be too presumptuous at one point, which she said she appreciated. Left on a good note, and she told me she wanted to spend the day with me on Saturday and then stay with me at our house that night. I felt like I was walking on air the whole next day.

Friday, did a bunch of stuff for myself. Good long workout, hung out with friends, took the dogs for a walk, read a bunch...and received texts from W all day. Things still looking up.

Saturday, W spent the afternoon with a mutual friend who is also having some M difficulties, but we met up at the mall for some shopping and dinner that night. Lots of flirting while we were shopping. At one point we literally ran into each other at one store with really narrow aisles, and she laughed and put her arms around my waist, so I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She smiled and winked at me...again, things looking up no?
Had a great dinner, some more talk about stuff we were planning for the summer, and some more touching and flirting. If it had been a regular date, I'd have thought I was going to get lucky! On the way out to our cars, she actually took my hand!!! That hadn't happened in over a month and I practically melted, but obviously I didn't let that show, just looked over and smiled at her.
Watched TV together for a bit at home, went to bed, and all I said was thanks for a fun evening. I also said I wanted to apologize if I sounded too presumptuous when we talked about the summer, but I really hoped that there was room for me in the plans that she had. Wasn't entirely sure if I should have said it, but she smiled and said thank you for saying that.

Easter, had to work for a few hours in the morning, W went to a yoga class, then we both showered and got ready to head to her parents for dinner. I made a point of saying that if she didn't want me to be over there it was totally okay and that I understood. Told her I didn't want her to feel awkward at all, and she said that she really wanted me to come, as did her parents.
Had a great time. I made a point of leaving my phone in my car and making every effort to reconnect with her parents and aunt. It was the first time I had seen them in a couple months, and I was hoping that my 180s would be obvious to them as well. Anyway, it was awesome. MIL had been cleaning out the basement, and found a huge box full of baby photos of W and her sisters. After dinner we spent about a half hour sitting together on the couch with her going through them and telling me stories. We were practically cuddling and it felt like old times. And then that damn light switch got flipped in her head.
As I was talking to her father about baseball, noticed that W had been gone for a bit. Her father actually said "Where'd she go?", and I said I thought she was in her bedroom. He just looked at me and gave me a little head nod down the hallway and said "go talk to her." Love the guy, he gets it.

So I go down the hall and she's laying on her bed playing a game on her phone. Ask her what's up...and it leads to a 2 hour conversation about the R and a lot of bad stuff comes out. ILYBINILY, no attraction, I've been thinking about leaving since your EA (3 years ago) and I feel like if I stay I'm giving something up...the usual. Gotta love that rapid backlash action! But I suppose that all the positive stuff was too much for her.
We both cried a little, I validated as much as I could, and when I felt us starting to talk in circles told her she needed to get some sleep and I'd take off. She walked me to my car and I said it felt like we got a lot of stuff out in the open again and that we were back to the point where she wanted to try for us, but that she was afraid to let me back in because she was afraid I'd just hurt her again. She agreed. So all I said was this: "W, I have never been more sure of anything in my life than the fact that I will never hurt you again. I have made some terrible mistakes in the past 3 years, but I have learned from them and I am a changed person because of them and because of you. I know you've already seen this, and these changes are for life. And all I can say is one more chance is all I would ever need." She nodded, gave me a hug, and told me she'd call me before she fell asleep. I found that weird, but I wasn't going to argue.

Got home about 15 minutes later, and by the time she called, I was steaming mad. We talked a little bit, but then I told her I had some things I needed to say and I let a little of the anger out, which is something I haven't done so far throughout this crisis. Here's what I said more or less:
"W, what I think happened today is that, after the last few fun days together and having a great time as a family today, you freaked out because you caught yourself believing in us again. I totally understand why that would scare you, especially because you feel like allowing yourself to try for us again feels to you like you're giving something up. I know that I screwed up, and I know I'm not perfect, but no one is, and I know that you deserved better than the husband I've been for the last few years. But I am NOT going to make those mistakes again, and I need you to give me the opportunity to prove that to you [raising my voice a little at this point]. I will do whatever it takes to save us, and I will do whatever it takes to prove to that to you. I miss you W, and I want you home."
She got a little quiet, honestly I think that I shocked her a little. She said she understood and that she'd talk to me the next day.

So that brings us to yesterday. She had to be in to work at 6:15, and she had mentioned that she forgot to grab a check to register for a triathlon she's entering in June (part of her GAL), also noticed she had forgotten some insurance papers she needed for a Dr. appointment in the afternoon. I decided to take them to her at work. Actually arrived when she had about 15 minutes of down time and she got a HUGE smile on her face when she saw me walk through the door. I actually wanted to look behind me to see if she was smiling at someone else. Gave her the check and the papers and she was so surprised and happy: "Thank you so much, I wasn't even sure you heard me mention the check. And I wouldn't have been able to go to my Dr. without the paperwork." I said it was no problem at all, but I had to get to work and she offered to walk me to my car.
On the way out, I apologized for being a little angry on the phone the night before. She said I didn't have to and she totally understood where it came from. But she was smiling at me??? I asked if her parents had said anything about me being over at the house, and she said her mom just looked at her and said "W, he is really trying. This is the first time he hasn't been on his phone once at our house since I've known him, and he spent the entire afternoon talking with all of us." [Thanks MIL!!!] So W gets in the car with me, which I didn't expect, and says:
W - I agree with you that we need to be together for you to prove yourself to me, and I'm not sure if we should get a place closer to school or not. I'm afraid if we rent something and you go back to the old you, then I'm going to be trapped.
M - I understand, but like I said, this is the new me W, and these changes are permanent. And I know that it scares you, but I also know that there's a part of you, the part that loves me, that wants to believe that they're for real.
W - You're right.
M - So we're back to where we were. Finish the semester and take these two weeks to concentrate on school. [her nieces are staying at her parents house for 4 nights this week] If things are nuts at your parents, you can always come stay with me Tuesday since I'm at work late and you'll have the house to yourself to study. Then get through finals next week and we'll take it from there. OK?
W - That sounds good [with a huge smile]

As I'm driving out of the parking lot, I slow down to wave to her. Then impulsively, I made the "I love you" sign with my hand and winked at her. It's something we used to do when we worked in the same location so we could always say it without making our coworkers nauseous. She laughed and made the sign back to me.

Then that afternoon, she got out of work early, and we had talked and texted several times during the day. So I dropped a line from the movie Anchorman on her in a text. "Gonna throw this out there, if you like it you can keep it, if not, just throw it right back...you can always swing by and say hi after work if you want." Followed it up with "Bet you thought I was going to say I wanted to be on you...well, I was thinking it ;-)"
Total flirting, which I've avoided for a while now. [And sorry if I got a little risque here, but if you've seen the movie, I'm sure you remember the line.]
She showed up at my job right after she got out. We talked for a bit, and it was so natural. One of my employees even said afterwards "Wait, I thought you guys were having problems...she was full-on flirting with you." We walked to the door together to say goodbye, and she moved in really close to me.

M - Umm, is it me or are you in a much better frame of mind than you were last night?
W - I am, and are you?
M - Well that's good, and I absolutely am.
W - OK sweetie, I'll call you before I go to sleep tonight and I'll let you know about staying with you Tuesday.
And then she moved in and gave me a long hug, really holding me too, not just a perfunctory "arm" hug kinda thing.

So that's where we are. Again sorry it's a long post, but a lot happened in a short time. Any insights you guys might have on this would be appreciated. I think I'm still in a good place right now, I guess I just need to stay patient???