Sitting outside at a small café along the riverwalk, the couple enjoy the sunshine finally after a day of making love celebrating their rekindled romance. This day starts with a decadent brunch followed by a boat ride.

Standing behind Paulina at the stern of the boat, Jake comments on the architecture resting his chin on her shoulder. The amount of physical interaction between the two is evident with each slight touch. His tone is light speaking softly directly into her right ear. There is a shortness of breath Paulina experiences as Jake explains unequivocally of how rare and beautiful, she is every day.

His hot breath continues down her neck as he asks her, "Do you know what the secret to life is?"

She falls back feeling his arms wrap around her waist tighter, "What's that, McKinnon?"

His lips brush her cheek inhaling her enchanting scent, "You." She turns to face him in his arms. "You are my secret. You… it's always been you, Paulina."

Following their trip to Chicago, Paulina sits in a corner booth at Al's Diner awaiting Jake's arrival from his mandatory board meeting in Oakdale. It is just after the lunch rush. She browses thru the local paper's front page and sips her coffee in an eggshell summer floral print long dress showing off the polite amount of cleavage.

Jake sneaks up behind her, "Hi there, Cupcake." Upon hearing his voice, Paulina turns around to greet him with a smile. "You sure look beautiful."

She places her palm on his cheek and whispers, "It's all the sex I'm having." He leans down giving her a passionate kiss. "We have had some nice nights…"

She speaks against his mouth, "And a nice morning." With her eyes still closed, "How was your meeting?" She removes the excess lip gloss off his lower lip.

He slides in next to her glancing down at the folder in front of her. "It was productive. Did you look over the papers?" He asks pointing to the envelope sticking out of her purse from the lawyer.

"I just got here, actually. I was doing some shopping in Old Towne." Paulina shows him the outfits she picked up for the girls.

Jake glances over them, "They're adorable." This is the first time he really takes notice of what Paulina is wearing since he left the hotel room before she woke up. He flashes back to this morning remembering her asleep tangled in the bed sheets exposing her bare back. Jake refocuses on Paulina speaking just above a whisper, "I like the view."

She smirks and places a delicate kiss on his lips. "Thank you, sweetie." And kisses him once more.

After ordering a coffee, Jake spots a familiar face across the diner, "I'll be right back." Jake stops at the bar where two other patrons are eating at the counter. "Molly Conlan?"

Molly, dressed all in black, turns and yelps in surprise, "Jake McKinnon." She slaps him on the arm in shock, "What are you doing here?"

"Business. Just a quick trip." Molly hugs Jake while Paulina observes the close embrace from across the diner. He answers looking back at his woman before continuing his conversation, "Would you please meet someone very special to me?"

Reaching the booth, he states, "Molly." Hearing his voice, Paulina stands up with skepticism of this black-haired woman. "This is the love of my life..." He pauses, "Paulina Cory."

Paulina has heard stories of the woman who was the key to finding the twins. Jake was weak on the details of this particular individual, "You… are Molly Conlan," she sticks out her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for being available to help find our girls."

Jake's eyes widen hearing the words 'our girls' come from her mouth. He wraps his arm around Paulina's waist.

Paulina continues, "Obviously you know how integral your involvement was in making it possible for them to be found."

Before responding, Molly glances at Jake. "I'm just glad I could be open for the experience and that this guy," pointing at the subject, "wouldn't back down from the possibility."

Outside the diner in an alley nearby, Jake nudges Paulina against the brick wall. Her purse and shopping bag drop on a pile of empty cardboard boxes.

"Jake… what are we doing?" Her voice is caught in her throat.

He leverages his position holding her hips. "I heard you." Jake stares directly into Paulina's eyes, "You said 'our girls'. Is that how you really feel?"

She nods positively and proudly, "I do."

He smiles sliding her purse strap up her arm, "I'm glad."

Paulina holds Jake's face, "Those girls are a part of you. Those girls are a part of our family. So… yeah, our girls." Their kiss is tender before walking thru Old Towne.

After their trip, they spend the next sixty-eight hours separately: Paulina spends quality time with Dante getting him prepared for Kindergarten with clothes and needed school supplies; Jake spends quality time with Michelle and Bridget while working from home.

In the meantime, Jake sends a messenger to the Cory Mansion. Paulina is the one to answer the door before Hilda. "Hi, can I help you?"

The messenger pulls out the small envelope from his back pocket, "Is Paulina Cory here?"

"That is me," she answers astonished by the bouquet of flowers he hands over.

"Fantastic," the young man beams and hands her the beige colored note, "And this is for you."

She thanks the kid and opens the sealed envelope, "Jake McKinnon…," she mumbles smelling the flowers and reads the hand-written note silently alone in the foyer.

Dearest Paulina,

You know. I've waited years for you and even now with you in my arms… I know why I am alive. Nothing prepared me for the privilege of being yours: your lover, your partner, your friend. Everything you do, everything you are… You are the Why, the What I live for: your love.

Our story has volumes with a million pages and more defining life moments, unequivocal descriptive monologues, and passionate tales of love. I hope you are ready, Cupcake.

You possess the key to it all: the beat to my heart and the gate to my soul.

I love you with everything I am,

Jake

P.S. Please join me for dinner tonight at the Penthouse. See you 7pm.

Paulina's heart leaps reading the note for the third time. She takes the full three hours to get ready finding the ideal date-night outfit. She decides on wearing a black off-the-shoulder top and skinny jeans with her hair in an easy French-braided updo.

With her purse tucked under her arm, Paulina enters the Penthouse with her key finding the table set for two. "Jake," she calls out. "Where are you?"

He walks out of the kitchen wearing a classic stripped apron protecting his navy dress shirt and hand towel over his shoulder. "Hi you."

"I got the flowers…" Paulina saunters towards him, "And your note." She tenderly kisses his lips. "Thank you..." She follows him closely into the kitchen to find out what is on tonight's menu, "You cooked?"

"My repertoire has expanded since the last time I cooked Italian for you." Jake pours her a glass of wine.

She parks herself near the island, "Right…" she recalls taking a sip, "the marinara sauce… I remember."

"Well, this is creamy Tuscan chicken." He reveals pulling the dish out of the oven. "Can you grab the salad?"

Paulina is thunderstruck by his growing abilities. She takes a seat facing the view of Bay City and Jake sits adjacent to Paulina at the head of the table. They both immerse themselves in this meal for the first few minutes before Jake remembers exciting news to share on progress of their house.

After complimenting on the dish, once more, Paulina finds herself reaching for his hand. "Sweetie… I want to tell you that what you said in your note… is exactly how I feel." Licking her lips before stating the next declaration, "I've never really known how to live without you."

He kisses her palm, "Thank god we don't have to live like that anymore."