Neal and Carly go on a date, Jack confronts Lily about matchmaking, Mike investigates Sofie's disappearance and Paul and Meg get married.
Neal arrives at Carly’s and immediately charms her. She goes upstairs while he goes to the kitchen and Jack walks in. Neal asks who he is and Jack asks the same thing! Carly gets downstairs as Jack begins interrogating Neal. She is uncomfortable and asks Neal for help with her necklace. Jack jumps to help her. She asks why he stopped by and Jack gives her a note from Sage. Carly excitedly reads the letter. Neal says they are both lucky but steps on Jack’s toes when he says they have it good – they have kids and they can send the kids away! Neal says they met at the farm and Carly fills Jack in on Neal’s company. She says Holden introduced them and they leave for lunch.
At Lily’s, Holden can’t stop thinking about Carly. Lily comes in and asks what is wrong; he blames his worries on Meg’s upcoming marriage. Lily says he can’t stop Meg from doing what she wants to do. He tries to leave but Lily says she needs him more than Meg does. She begs him to stay with her so they can talk but Holden goes to the door anyway. Lily follows, saying she isn’t the same weak person she was a few weeks ago. “Don’t shut me out,” she says. Holden gives in and Lily invites him to lunch. They are about to leave when Jack stops by and asks why they are setting Carly up on dates! He compares Neal to Simon, annoying Lily. Holden agrees with him though! Lily says Carly has every right to a private life and to move on; Jack says an Englishman isn’t the right choice. She can’t believe that Holden agrees with Jack.
Over lunch, Carly and Neal talk about their pasts. He tells her about his wife’s death from breast cancer and says he is looking for a huge romance in his life. He asks more about her past and Carly tells him about breaking Jack’s heart and committing several crimes. He is charmed by her and says she also has a successful business and is a great designer. He tells her not to underestimate herself. They walk home and Carly invites him in for coffee. He says he has to return to work but asks for another date. She agrees and he leaves. She goes inside and finds Jack on the couch. “What are you doing?” she asks. Jack says it is too noisy to work at the farm because of the construction project. Carly doesn’t believe him. She says if he is going to see Janet, she can see Neal. Jack says Janet is different because she isn’t a stranger. Carly tells him to back off because it was just a lunch date. Jack brings up the kids. Carly says Neal isn’t around the kids and won’t be and that Jack has to let her go – just like she let him go! He walks out.
Neal stops by the farm to see Holden and Lily. He thanks Holden for answering his questions about Carly, surprising Lily. He reports that lunch was great. He leaves. Lily asks Holden about his change of tune about Neal. He says he didn’t do anything except tell Neal Carly was single; he says he wasn’t encouraging them to date. Lily says he should stop backing up Jack and give Carly a chance to move on!
Mike sees Barbara at The Lakeview and asks where Sofie may have gone. Barbara refuses to say anything except that Sofie is long gone. She says Sofie was obsessed with Paul and used her pregnancy to blackmail him. Mike doesn’t believe her.
Meg wakes up at Fairwinds and calls for Paul. He is downstairs cleaning after planting roses over Sofie’s burial spot! Meg stares out the window at the garden, feeling guilty. Paul tells her to stop thinking about Sofie but she can’t forget that Sofie was murdered. She says they have to go to the police! Paul insists they can’t but Meg won’t give in this time. Meg asks how he could believe she would harm Sofie and he says it was just because Sofie was so good at pushing buttons. Meg says she could never kill anyone. He hugs her and says he believes in her but that he will go to the cops if she wants him to. Barbara arrives and says she has taken care of everything, that Sofie is gone for good and they can get married that afternoon. Before Paul or Meg can react, she has gone to find a minister. Paul and Meg believe Babs might be the murderer! They go their separate ways for a bit so they can think. When Paul returns, Meg says Barbara couldn’t have killed Sofie but Paul says she could have. He says they can’t go to the police now because they will focus on Barbara and she can’t handle that kind of pressure. They agree to get married for Barbara’s sake. Babs returns and says she has a judge lined up and ready in the rose garden. Meg runs from the room, saying she can’t go through with it. Barbara asks what is wrong now and Paul says she is pushing them too hard. She says she is just giving Paul what he wants and refuses to talk about Sofie! Paul goes to Meg’s room and says he loves her. He says they can only go forward and try to protect Barbara. She agrees to marry him.
Mike convinces a bellhop to let him look at the things Sofie left behind in her hotel room. He finds Cole’s phone number and calls him. Cole says he doesn’t know where Sofie is and hangs up on him. Mike calls him back. Cole says Sofie is a tough broad who hustles people by pretending to be a victim; he says Sofie probably left for greener pastures and hangs up again.
Mike arrives at Fairwinds just as Paul and Meg are about to get married. He says Sofie didn’t just leave town and they have to go to the police. Paul tells him to get out because they are getting married. Mike is stunned. Meg says this is exactly what she wants and the ceremony begins. Meg can’t take her eyes off the roses. Mike watches for a while and then walks away. He finds one of Sofie’s necklaces in the grass! Paul and Meg say their vows as Mike turns back to them.
Next on As The World Turns:
Mike tries to get Paul alone.
Meg wonders if they can get past Sofie’s death.
Casey and Emily are caught in the act!
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