On a recently plowed runway in Bay City, Jake holds Michelle on his lap while Paulina holds Bridget, both awaiting the all clear to unload. They left snow eighteen inches tall in the most scenic place to return to Illinois with just cloudy skies after the last snowfall of the year.
"We are minutes away from reality. You doing okay over there?" He asks with care watching her fidget with Bridget's fingers. He may have already asked her a half dozen times, but he is worried about her.
"I think I'm a little anxious." Paulina holds Bridget's hand. The tiny princess has really bonded with Paulina over this past week. "I know this is the right decision. I don't have any intention leaving this. I want this." She looks up to see Jake beaming.
"We are proud of you," he speaks for himself and the girls. A month from today is notated with big bold letters into his brain.
A few hours later, he parks the rented S.U.V. outside the Cory Mansion. Paulina hugs and kisses the girls goodbye, "I will see you two very soon."
Standing behind the vehicle, Jake assists her with her luggage. "I hope you know that you are my person."
Paulina wraps her arms around his neck and whispers, "And you are mine."
He kisses her cheek. "You call me… anytime." He kisses her again, below her ear. "I mean it."
She nods and he observes her closely as she returns back into reality.
Hours pass, after playing with Dante, Rachel and Paulina find themselves catching up in the art studio. This is a perfect location to ensure no interruptions.
"This decision didn't just happen." Paulina gazes at Rachel's newest sculpture and is amazed by her talent. "I want more out of life. I can't live up to what Joe expects and he will always look over his shoulder. He will never stop being a cop with me."
"When are you speaking with him?"
Paulina walks around the room, "Tomorrow. We're meeting at the restaurant before it opens for lunch."
"Are you ready?"
Paulina stands a few feet behind Rachel watching her technique, "He may have forgiven me, but it doesn't change of how he hurt me with his words and actions. He never came back fully. It's not the same with him." She pauses to reiterate her position, "In the past several months Rachel, I have done some serious soul searching."
"Sweetheart, I know the last few years have been difficult." Rachel turns around cleaning her paint brushes and changes the subject slightly. "How's Jake doing as a father?"
"Oh… He's a natural." Paulina resists from being anymore detailed thinking of how much she loves watching him with those girls. Paulina grins from ear to ear. "I taught him how to braid the girls' hair."
Rachel perks up, "Really? Any good?"
Paulina smiles, "He actually did pretty well."
Shortly after a late lunch, the doorbell rings at the Cory Mansion. Cass walks in; Paulina sits on the sofa adjacent to her lawyer, "Thank you for coming over here."
"Absolutely, I brought the papers for you to review before proceeding." He opens up his briefcase and hands her a manila folder.
Paulina flips thru the papers, "I want this to be uncontested, Cass. It should be rather straight forward, right? I mean, he will get complete proprietary over the restaurant."
Cass understands, "I put that in there just as you requested as well as the house."
At the door, Paulina announces, "I'm meeting Joe tomorrow. You should be able to proceed later that day. I will call you then."
After sending Cass on his way, Paulina's blackberry rings and recognizes the number. "Hi you."
Jake reclines back in his office chair. "I hope it's okay to check on you. How's your day going?"
"Much better now. I just got done meeting with Cass. How are the girls?"
"Super. They're spending the night with Donna. You sure you're okay?" He fiddles with his sport coat.
"Yeah." She steps outside on the pool deck. "I just want this not to turn ugly."
"I know." Jake remembers the other reason why he called, "Are you free around two on Saturday?"
"Yes. If not, I will be." Paulina leans against the brick wall and asks the obvious question they were both wondering. "Jake, will we see each other before then?"
Jake runs his hand thru his hair, "Your call, Cupcake."
She smiles biting her bottom lip, "Do you think you could sneak over here after… ten tonight?"
Jake agrees immediately. They both cannot wait to see each other again.
A little after ten, Paulina finds herself pacing inside Rachel's studio waiting for Jake to arrive. Paulina keeps the room dark to conceal their secret. He pops in after a quick knock.
"Hi." They are standing several feet apart. The moonlight shines thru the windows on either side of the fireplace.
"Hi." He slips his hands in his pant pockets. His eyes start at her face lightly covered in makeup framed by her long straight locks. "You're so beautiful."
Paulina takes a step forward, "Thank you." She takes another step closer and smiles, "It's really good to see you."
"I miss you." Jake takes a step keeping his hands in his pockets.
She cocks her head to the side, "I miss you too." They are now a few inches apart.
He takes a deep breath and leans in to whisper in her ear, "I'm hypnotized by you, do you know that… your eyes, your smell… all of you." His lips graze her bare skin along her neck down her collarbone.
She cannot handle it. She threads her fingers in his hair, feeling his lips on her skin. "Oh god, Jake…"
"Paulina, if I wrap my arms around you right now… I'm not sure I'll ever let go." He moves to the other side of her neck.
"I know, honey." She reaches for his arm and they sit on the sofa. She slides closer so their knees are touching. "Are you sure you are okay to wait?"
Jake reaches for her hand, "Absolutely."
Paulina decides this is the best time to ask more about his past. "Jake. You know my personal history; the men I've been with. What about you? Have you had any lovers since Vic?"
"No. I am nothing, but faithful. A true monogamist, some would say." Unabashed by his truth with no reason not to hold his head up.
"Yes. That's true."
He leans in closer to her, "Paulina, listen to me. Like I said before, I loved Vicky. We had a good marriage, but she also knew how you never left my heart. I had to push my feelings far away for such a long time. But today, our attraction is as fiery as ever. You know, I want you."
She leans her forehead towards his, "And I want you."
"I don't want just a piece of you. I want all of you. And we need to do this the right way. For both of us." He kisses the inside of her hand.
Before leaving for the restaurant the following day, Paulina rehearses the possible outcomes for the tenth time. Though her practice sessions have been one sided, she seeks preparedness dreading this inevitable situation. She walks thru the back door finding Joe at a booth in the dining area.
"Hi." She slides across from him. "I'm sure you need to get going, but…" Paulina is as stoic and unapologetic in this unfortunate position as she can handle.
Joe interrupts her while holding tight to his coffee mug, "I cleared my morning, so what is it you want to discuss?"
"I'm just going to get straight to the point." She clears her throat prior to proceeding, "We are not working. We've been separated for… for awhile. We are both distinctly unhappy and clearly not in love with each other."
Joe's face doesn't show any emotion. Paulina waits for him to discredit these findings, but he remains mute.
"It's been several months, if not longer. We are not even fighting the want we should have to be together." She continues just as she practiced, "We are happier apart, than together… And, and, I don't know if you're having an affair."
Joe perks up, "An affair? What would make you think that?"
"Are you kidding?" Paulina's voice is angry and then pauses to calm down. "Honestly, I don't even care. I want a divorce."
Joe reclines back in the booth dropping his hands in his lap. It is then when he notices Paulina not wearing her wedding rings.
"Joe, life is too damn short for us to be living like this. Right?"
He agrees. "What about the restaurant?"
"It's yours. I have already started the process. I don't want anything, but Dante… primary custody." She stands up to leave. "I need to get the rest of my stuff from the house. I will take care of it today and I will leave the key under the mat." She exits the restaurant thru the kitchen with her first call to Cass.