Since leaving one week ago, I've been receiving daily emails from
him, telling me all about how he can be a better husband and father
and how AA is helping him so much and he's doing so good. I
discovered the emails on about day 4 and responded with one sentence
saying it was the first I found out about the emails, it's a lot to
process and I'll talk to him soon. I haven't talked to him since.
He must've remembered my work address because he emailed me at work
and said "your phone is shut off so if you want to come get your
mess, there's something from work. That's it..." I'm assuming he
means he shut off my cell phone, my "mess" is my personal effects and
mail, and that's the something from work he's talking about.

It sounds like he's figured out that the nice guy, "I'm getting
better" routine is not working, so now he's getting pissed and wants
me to come pick up my "mess."

Good. He's breaking. He'll start showing his true side and get
angry and abusive. Those will be the emails I save. I knew this
nice guy thing was a lie, and now I believe I'm seeing the beginning
of his rage. Did no one in AA tell him that he can't expect people
to forgive him after a week and that he's not even close to the step
that involves even asking for forgiveness? So if he wants to get
mad, he let him.

I still get that second-guessing thing when I read his emails but I
wanted to read them today to see if there was anything I could use
when I go to the lawyer's today to have her help me with the
restraining order.

I don't know if I should just ask him to not email me (because he did
put in one of them that if I feel uncomfortable with emailing him or
reading his emails, to let him know) and see if he complies, or just
do the restraining order now. I have to decide before my lawyer
calls, which is supposed to be some time this morning.