Infidelity and Mother

Donna Paulsen Specter looked at the letter her husband had just handed to her. She did not recognize the looping handwriting. It was late morning at Pearson Specter Litt, and Donna had not opened the letter before handing Harvey's mail to him as the letter was marked "personal" in big printed letters on the lower left hand side of the standard envelope. She began to read the unfamiliar hand and now knew why Harvey had handed her the letter.

"Harvey, this is from your mother," Donna stated shocked beyond belief. It had been a well- known fact that Harvey Specter did not speak to his mother or consider her at all. Donna had never met her mother-in-law, the infamous Lillian Specter; furthermore, she never mentioned her or thought about her either knowing what just her name erupted in her husband. Lillian's offenses to her elder son were numerous but betraying his father had been the worst.

"Yes, I know that! I do not want to see her!"

"She wants to see her grandchildren it says here." Donna said walking toward the couch where Harvey decided to plop after handing Donna the letter. She put the letter down on the end table and laid a comforting hand on Harvey's knee. She loved him so much and she knew how difficult seeing his mother would be after all this time. Lillian Specter laid the first brick of the emotional wall that had held Harvey captive for a very long time until the last five years when realization had hit Harvey that he did not enjoy being void of emotion.

"Harvey, I know how painful this is for you, but you don't think she has a right to see her grandchildren?"

"No, not our children! Whatever arrangement she has made with Marcus and his family that's between her, Marcus, and his family."

"Ok, Harvey," Donna said trying to calm Harvey from pacing up and down his office with his jaw tightly clenched.

"That woman lost her privileges to my life when she cheated on my father, a perfectly good man, who did nothing worse than try to love her."

Donna wanted to discuss this with him a little longer but she looked at her gold watch sitting on her wrist she realized that Harvey's next client was coming for a deposition.

"Harvey, focus. You have a deposition with Mr. Katzenberger."

"That's where I'm going right now… and Donna?" Harvey asked as he started towards the conference room and turning around to eye his wife.

"What?" Donna asked knowing already what Harvey was going to say before he said it.

"This is not something I want to discuss at home either. You got it?" Harvey said with a stern expression which Donna would understand as his final statement on the subject. He knew that once the children were asleep that she would insinuate herself into his thoughts and get him to examine why his heart and mind still had not changed all these years.

Donna saw his stern expression and decided that for now to let sleeping dogs lie. She simply nodded her understanding as Harvey turned and walked determinedly toward the conference room.

Part 2

Later that day Rachel Zane (Harvey's Associate) and Donna were having lunch discussing Rachel's upcoming nuptials with Mike Ross (Harvey's protégé and best bud).

"I know I will have to go for my fitting soon for my gown, but I don't think I took all the baby weight off after having Gordon. Although I know I look fabulous in anything," Donna said trying to be flippant and not worry about Harvey in the back of her mind.

"You look terrific, Donna. I think you must be the only woman I know that has had two babies in two years and jumped right back to her pre-baby weight."

"Well, yes…except the girls here," Donna said pointing to her breasts. "I've gone up two sizes since I decided to breastfeed."

"I bet Harvey doesn't mind they're bigger," Rachel sniggered.

"Rachel! You naughty girl. Is this what you think about when you were working with my husband?" Donna laughingly snorted at the other younger woman really enjoying their "girl" talk. She had missed it.

"No, or course not. However, I know he never takes his eyes off you when you're sitting at your desk."

"All I know is that I am glad I can finally drink something stronger than cranberry juice."

"Well, here is to the upcoming Christmas nuptials of Rachel Zane and Michael Ross," Donna said as she held up her champagne flute. Donna wanted to toast her friend properly because when Mike and Rachel announced their engagement almost a year ago, Donna could not drink alcohol she was recovering from a car accident and in the first few stages of pregnancy with baby Gordon born just about six weeks ago on a warm August morning. He joined his big sister Amanda who had celebrated her first birthday the previous March 11th making her only 18 months older than her baby brother. This was Donna's second week back to the office.

"Thank you. Congratulations to you, too, and Harvey for baby Gordon Jacob Specter," Rachel said.

Donna and Rachel finished their lunch. Rachel was finishing up at Columbia Law School and due to graduate before her wedding in December. The last few years had gone by so quickly that Donna could not believe the change in her life. She was now a mother of two under the age of two and still working with her husband in the daytime. Sometimes Donna felt guilty about not being home with her children as much as she could be. There was really no reason why she had to work as Harvey had said many a time. However, she knew that Harvey still needed her with him at the office. Harvey was a good husband and a good loving father, but he still possessed that little bit of selfishness that said he needed his children's mother more at work than they needed her at home. Somehow they had made it work. However, time would tell if Amanda and Gordon Specter would harbor resentment at their parents' decision. Besides Donna had decided that motherhood was wonderful, but it was much harder than coming to the office every day and providing for each whim of her children's father in her capacity as secretary. After all, as perceptive as Donna was about everyone and every situation, she could feel Harvey's relief at her being back at the office. He had always told her that "I can't be me without you."

Rachel had ridden back to Columbia for the last part of her day since she had her morning hours spent at the firm. Donna had walked back to the office before Harvey was to have returned from his appointment with Berger & Associates a new firm he had signed only a couple of days ago. Their products varied from baby powder to motor oil. The conglomerate had many subsidiaries, and Harvey had signed the entire entity for Pearson Specter Litt as their retained legal representation.

Donna arrived at her desk and found the voicemail message blinking. She hoped it was not her mother who had offered to take care of the babies until Gordon was a few months old. Roberta Paulsen did not trust the daycare centers as far as she could throw them, so as she did when Amanda was a few months old, she did the same with little Gordon. Donna retrieved the handset and heard a voice that was unfamiliar. Donna wrote down the information and staring into blank space put down the receiver.

"Hey, Donna," Mike Ross had said as he had come to her desk. "Donna?"

"Oh, Mike," Donna said taking a breath finally.

"Whoa, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. You were a million miles away. Something wrong?" Mike asked his best friend's wife.

Donna suddenly had a panicky look on her face as she asked, "Where's Harvey?"

"He should have been right behind me, but he stopped in the lobby to talk to some woman."

"Did Harvey know her?" Donna asked rising from her chair.

"Yes, he did…What's going on? Donna wait!" Mike exclaimed as Donna hurried from her seat to the bank of elevators around the corner.

Mike shook his head and then left the folder on Donna's desk as Harvey had asked him. He then went back to his office on the other side of the floor.