Jake wakes up knowing every step after last night will be towards a new beginning with her… the woman who is sleeping peacefully next to him. The shower was a clear test for them in trust, love and affection. Furthermore, there are more than just memories between them; there is a future.
"Good morning…" she yawns rolling over towards him as her crisp, white cotton nightgown appears from under the covers. "What time are we supposed to be downstairs?"
"We got about an hour." He kisses her forehead and slides her fallen strap back to her shoulder. "I'll order up some coffee for us."
Huddled in the corner of the elevator alone, Paulina holds on the metal rail for balance. Jake brushes his lips against her cheek continuing down her neck as he inhales her perfume triggering flashes of them in the shower.
"Jake," she whispers. "I want you to know," she refocuses his attention to her face. "Last night was perfect." She places an airy kiss on his mouth.
"You know, I've missed everything about you..." Jake is interrupted by the elevator ding. "Especially those lips." Once the lobby is reached, they walk holding hands to meet with a private investigator and she laughs causing him to squirm.
They park themselves in a quant coffee shop across the street. The three of them sit on a high-top table with large lattes and petite scones.
As per their prior conversation, Jake calls him by his last name: Lipchitz. This investigator, retired FBI agent, specializes in anything that gives him cash at the end of the day.
"So, basically, you need birth certificates." He dials the conversation down to his level. He opens the file to add additional notes to their previous correspondence.
Jake nods, "I need information to obtain correct birth certificates for my daughters." Paulina excuses herself from the table to answer her blackberry. "Lipchitz, this may be a foregone conclusion, but it is imperative you are discreet. Got it!"
Shortly before lunch, Paulina and Jake are walking hand-in-hand on the Navy Pier on this spring day. The slight breeze is a nice perk for their morning as they act like a couple of teens. Her cerulean jersey romper is the ideal outfit due to its relaxed lightweight fit. Yet, Jake cannot seem to stop peaking at the curved slide slits for a glimpse of her creamy thighs. His grey shorts appear just as ideal with its sporty style and assortment of pockets. Yet, Paulina cannot seem to stop searching how the front fits as the drawstring moves side to side.
Leaning against the rail outside the carousel, Paulina detects Jake resting his chin on her shoulder. "I'm not sure how much longer I can hide my feelings. Look at us." She turns to face him, "We can't keep our hands off each other." She shoves her hands in his back pockets. "Should we go public when we get back to Bay City?"
He sighs as he thinks before he answers. "I like it just being us. It's a safe place."
"You're hesitant." She rests her hands on his forearms.
"How about we wait a little longer?" He wraps his arms around her.
"Really?"
"I think so." Jake needs to be honest.
"Okay." She hears him, but remains a little perplexed. "Jake. We said last night this is it."
Jake nods, "And that's true, Cupcake. You are it for me."
Resting her head on his shoulder, "For me, we should have never been over." He grins holding her tighter. "You are back…in my life." She sighs, "I do not intend on loosing this, ever again."
He takes a deep breath, "We just need to focus on us. Not share it with the world just yet."
Paulina's nerves skyrocket, "O… okay. If that's what you want... wait. Where is this coming from? What is it you're not telling me, Jake?"
He moves his hands to thread behind her lower back. "We have a history of moving fast. Right?" Seeking agreement, Paulina nods repeatedly. "And we both have recently been drenched with change."
Paused on the top of the Ferris Wheel, Paulina leans her head on his shoulder.
"I was so wrong." Jake declares gripping tighter to her hand in his lap.
"Wrong?" She lifts up her head in skepticism.
"This. Is. A great way to start our day of dates." He smiles at her. "Hey, wait a minute. You look concerned."
Paulina withdraws her initial thought. "Oh, nothing. I just thought you were going to say something different."
Jake wraps an arm around her pulling her into his body. Each have their own amount of worries and insecurities that creep up from now and then.
"So, my phone call I took this morning." Paulina moves her sunglasses to the top of her head, "I forgot to tell you. It was Cass. The papers are signed, so it should be finalized sooner than I thought." She says it so nonchalantly with an innocent wink and puts the sunglasses back to the needed location just as they unload.
Jake pulls her back and murmurs into her ear, "Seriously..."
She holds on tighter to his arm wrapped around her chest. "Come on. I've got a sweet tooth. Let's get some cotton candy."
Their day of dates does not go exactly as either thought due to the uncomfortable, yet honest, conversation at the Pier. They retreat back to the hotel to splurge on spa services and try to relax while feelings bubble. In the dim meditation room, Paulina reclines in a marshmallow-like chaise sipping on herbal tea. Jake enters the room quietly in a lush robe, identical to hers. He chooses to lounge directly across from her to admire the view.
"Are you ignoring me?" Jake asks just above a whisper.
"I'm relaxing… that's what you do in a place like this, Jake." She huffs placing her empty cup on the table beside her.
"Yeah, but you're not. You're angry."
"I'm confused." She sits up crossing her legs with the sound of aggravation, "Aren't you?" He does not answer. "I thought things were changing, growing between us."
"And they are, Paulina." He slides forward, "I'm trying to be honest. That's what we said from the get-go." He reaches to place a hand on her knee, "You can't be upset with me for being scared. That's unfair."
"You're right, I'm sorry. I guess I'm scared too."
"I never want you to feel pressured or suffocated. Or say…that living with me is too hard."
"Jake…" she slides to the end of the chaise lounge. "I care about you. I care about us. We shared a life…"
"An amazing life." He corrects the last statement with a grin, "But, this time, we are not just picking up right where we left off…" Knee to knee, Jake awaits her concurrence.