Alpha One, Alpha All #

[alpha99]

W's morning reply to my text: I know. she loves her sooo much awww.

Took the kids back. W invited me in 'for a few minutes'. (unusual). Kids played in the backyard and we just sat and chatted on the couch for around 15 minutes. W loosening up/slightly opening up to me. I paid her close attention when she spoke. I looked directly at her. We smiled looking at each other quite a few times, laughed over one or two minor things. We are getting on quite well - in a restricted sort of way.

W seemed to be fishing for me to mind the kids as MIL won't this morning whilst W wants to go and get a fake tan. I pointed out I am working today.

W: So, did you go out on Wednesday? Did you have a good time?
M: Yes, I did. It was excellent actually.

From the way she asked and her facial expression it clearly bothers her what I get up to. It's like she wants to test the water to see if I'm moving on. Maybe this has been brought about by stopping all pursuit. She doesn't know it was the Italian meet up. I didn't tell her. Let her wonder, I thought - be mysterious!

S6 was naughty for W when we returned. She asked how he'd been for me. Excellent, I said. 'So, he's just playing up for me then' was her reply. The accusations of spoiling the kids have stopped.

Her fake tan is prep for a night out tomorrow. She said it was a workmate's birthday. She went out of her way to explain that it was only girls from work going out. It was like she was speaking in code to say OM wouldn't be there. There's no way at any other time she would have made this point.

As like the other day, I gave W a lift back to town with the kids. It's not out of my way at all so no big favour or anything.

W asked if much stuff needs moving from our house before Monday. We discussed it briefly without issue.

Overall, a very pleasant interaction. The longest sustained nice conversation we've had since probably even way before BD. W saying please and thank you to little things - that's something new. W said to kids that 'daddy is very kindly going to give us a lift to town' for example. Lots of smiling amongst the general chit chat. W looking directly at me at times and smiling. I validated wherever possible.

Before I get carried away, there was no sense of anything other than us being nice and polite with each other. I'm fine with that. Before anything else could even potentially happen we'd need *a lot* of time just getting on with each other. W still talking about separate holidays, kids moving school to make it easier for her in future years - in other words plans for and by herself.

Incidentally, last few days show W listening to a few 'break up' songs via YouTube. I get the feeling they aren't being played for me. Who knows? I'm not reading anything into that.

I do think that the LRT is having some effect though. Like MWD says in DR, 'if you think it is working, don't get overly excited. Write it down in your journal...' That's what I'm doing here essentially, making a note of the things that have happened, W's reactions, the positive changes I see. If this was a marathon then we are only just limbering up before the starting pistol fires - there's a long way to go!