Maybe he misses having you to talk to Bea, as a sounding board for his ideas. Imagine that as a conversation in person. It would be short and quite natural, even the part about the best way to get the stove home. 

But instead of calling you to discuss the best kind of stoves like a normal person does, xH texts you about it. Over several days!  My H does this too, communicate via text as much as possible even though I am a few rooms away. 

I think the sporadic but frequent texts are his way to keep in contact but give him the safety net of only having to respond when he wants to. And of being able to ignore anything HE wants to ignore. 

I wonder how OW2 views all this texting! Bea in her eyes, YOU are the OW and probably make her quite insecure!

Linda

Me 65, Ex 64
M 38 y
2 adult S, 4 G-Kids
MLC 11/07
BD 12/09
D 3/14
Dating nice guy 7/14
Engaged to nice guy 12/17