Hi Folks! Here is the latest update. Thank you for understanding why this was somewhat delayed by the death of my dad. I hope you like this update. Please let me know your thoughts, questions or comments. I so appreciate them. Love - Carebearmaxi
Little One
Chapter 15
While Harvey and Donna were settling in Seattle, Charlotte was doing her best to hard sell Donna's condo in New York. The first couple that flew in from L.A. did not purchase it because their plans of moving across country had fallen through with little hope of resurgence. Charlotte had, luckily, lined up a few other interested buyers and showed the condo to those couples. However, it looked like maybe the asking price was a little too expensive. Charlotte was trying her best not to cut the price. After all, she did not have to split a commission with her sister or her husband.
So, on a whim, she removed Troy from school in early January and appeared on the doorstep of her sister looking jovial. It was her first visit since Harvey and Donna had settled in Seattle in early December.
"Charlotte! Troy!" Donna exclaimed with surprise as she opened the front door of their new apartment. It was late afternoon. Donna was working on a business plan for her new business. She had employed her husband, of course, as her corporate lawyer, and Harvey was extremely supportive and happy that Donna had found something to ground her enthusiasm to make a fresh start in a new city.
"Hello little sister!" Charlotte said with gift bags in hand moving forward and hugging Donna.
"Hi Troy!" Donna said while Charlotte was hugging the life out of her.
"Hi Aunt Donna! Is Uncle Harvey home?" Troy asked. He really loved being with Uncle Harvey. Uncle Harvey showed an interest in Troy and shared with him a love of cars. Troy loved that Uncle Harvey had actually shared jazz music with him. Troy's father, Archie, was not a lover of music just cars. When Troy heard Gordon Specter's music and then some other music in the plethora of Harvey's record collection, Troy was hooked. Harvey actually patted him on the shoulder and was only the second man to actually pay attention to him.
When Donna was released by her sister's bear hug, Donna answered Troy, "No, honey, I'm sorry. Uncle Harvey is in court today. He may be back early, though. Sometimes he comes home early when he's been at court." Donna pulled Troy into a hug and kissed the top of his head.
"Let me look at you!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Wow you are getting huge!"
"I'm five months' pregnant with twins, and the doctor said my weight is right on target," Donna responded a little too sensitive. For a woman who had always had confidence in spades and knew that she was attractive and sexy, this new transition aroused deeply buried feelings of insecurity. Couple that with no longer working at the same company as her husband (her own decision), Donna's insecurity streak was growing wider.
"So, I was sorry to have missed the holidays. Mom told me she and dad had a blast out here with you and Harvey and The Rosses."
"Yes, we did," Donna said offering a seat on the couch. "Troy, you can leave the suitcases right there."
Troy looked around and then did as his Aunt Donna said and left the suitcases in the foyer.
"Aunt Donna?"
"Yes, love," Donna responded to her nephew.
"Where is your den? Uncle Harvey said I could play his records any time I came over to your house," Troy said with his hands in his jeans. He had his head lowered shyly although he stated himself very astutely.
Donna shook her head in wonder and smiled. Harvey allowed someone to touch his precious record collection. Relentless teasing tonight! He still never forgiven me for scratching Miles Davis.
"The den is right over there, honey," Donna said pointing straight down the hallway. "It's also our offices, so be careful."
"I will. Thank you, Aunt Donna," Troy said as he hurried away from the two women.
"Why are you laughing?" Charlotte asked seeing the smile and the incredulous look spread all over Donna's face.
"Harvey never allows anyone to touch his records. Not even me. I scratched one of his Miles Davis albums about a billion years ago and he still hasn't forgiven me."
Charlotte laughed.
"Do you want something to drink?" Donna offered hovering between the living room and the kitchen.
"Sure. Do you have some ginger ale?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes…" Donna said when Charlotte came and placed her hands on Donna's upper arms and maneuvered her to sitting on the couch.
"I know where it is. Remember I brought your husband dinner here a week before you moved in," Charlotte said and walked to the kitchen half wall and pulled out two glasses from the upper cabinet and then pulling two bottles from the kitchen chattering the entire time.
"Wait, Charlotte, why are you out here? All I have heard is since you got here was your divorce issues, your Christmas in England, and how you think dad and you have now come to a head. What I haven't heard is why are you here?"
Charlotte placed the bottles of ginger ale firmly on the counter.
Charlotte waited a minute before she responded. She picked up the bottles and placed them in the crook of her arm. Then the retrieving the glasses pinched them in her fingers and walked over to the coffee table to where Donna sat. All of Charlotte's movements were deliberate. Charlotte was afraid her sister would kick her out of her house the minute she discovered the multitude of reasons why Charlotte was out there.
Donna took her tumbler of ginger ale and asked Charlotte again.
"Why are you here Charlotte?" Donna asked again.
"Well," Charlotte sighed and slowly sat down. She grabbed her own glass of ginger ale and folded her leg under her. Charlotte mirrored her sister's position as they faced each other.
"I suppose you know I haven't sold your place yet. That one couple fell through the cracks."
"What happened? I thought they were a sure thing, Charlotte," Donna slightly admonished trying in her soul hoping that what she thought would come out of Charlotte's mouth would not.
"Their plans fell through because their company reneged on expansion, so they did not need to move to New York after all. I haven't had another couple or any potential buyers since before the holidays," Charlotte said with a sorrowful look at Donna.
"Maybe that will change. It's only early January."
"I'm hoping it will. So, I thought since I missed the holidays, I would see how little sister was faring with her babies and her new house and…what's this I hear about your new business?"
"Well, I was offered the COO position at Harvey's firm. But I decided that at the moment I want to take my time and seek out other opportunities," Donna said stroking her bump and taking a sip of her drink.
"So?"
"Well, I was out taking a walk in the city and I noticed that there were no exclusive children's clothing stores here. Sure, there's the major chains and some exclusive clothing stores for men and women, but nothing for children."
"Is that important?" Charlotte smirked.
Donna unfolded her leg and was a little incredulous that her sister would ask her this question.
"Ok, the first time I had seen Troy in six years, he was wearing a tie and a jacket. Obviously you think it's important or you would never dress Troy the way you do. I think this is the first time I've seen him dressed like a kid," Donna said.
"Troy likes to dress like his father. I have nothing to do with it," Charlotte said rolling her eyes.
Donna smiled.
"So, you are designing clothes, buying a storefront, what?"
"Well, I was writing my business plan and I have seed money tucked away, so I thought maybe this is where I can make a mark. I definitely want my children to dress like I dress."
Charlotte placed her hand on her sister's arm.
"Well, what does Harvey think about that?"
"He's on board. He's my corporate lawyer. He was disappointed that I didn't take the COO job, but he supports me," Donna said smiling and nodding her head emphatically.
"I'm glad," Charlotte said.
"Charlotte, why are you here?" Donna still pushed.
Later that night, Harvey opened the door to his home and noticed at once the room was dark. He panicked because it was not like Donna not to be waiting for him to come home. She usually greeted him at the door or had a glass of Scotch waiting for him. They would tell each other of their day. He was excited for her and her new business venture. He was more than happy to be her lawyer as well as her husband.
Harvey came around the corner and saw the note on the end table. The words written in Donna's hand:
Harvey,
If you are reading this, these babies made me entirely too tired to wait up for you.
However, I left dinner in the oven. Just warm it up.
Or you can come kiss me awake and I will let you know about Charlotte's visit today.
I miss you.
Love
Your wife
Harvey's face became worried when he read that Charlotte had visited today. He could not think why she would be in town. He hoped she had done nothing about her divorce settlement. He had negotiated the best settlement he could. All she had to do was wait another month or two and then her divorce would be final.
Harvey chuckled to himself as he read the first part again. He smiled and placed the note back on the table. I miss you, too, Donna. You will never know how much. Harvey thought. So, with the thought of kissing his wife, Harvey turned the corner for the hall. When he arrived at the master bedroom, he glimpsed his wife sleeping peacefully in the dim lamplight. Her red hair was brushed behind her. Her hand was under her pillow and the other rested on the bump. Harvey smiled. The last thing he wanted to do was to awaken her, but he wanted to take her into his arms and hold her. He wanted to kiss her and not stop. The other night they made love in the shower and Harvey's memory went back to his kneeling before her and loving the bump.
While Harvey was staring at his wife and thinking of special memories he heard a voice.
"So, mister, take a picture it lasts longer," Donna said opening one eye at Harvey.
Harvey sat next to her on the bed. He smiled and Donna crawled into his arms.
"Hey," Harvey said quietly and kissed her.
"Hey," Donna responded and stroked his chest and kissed him back. She sighed heavily as she maneuvered her tummy more comfortably as she moved her leg between his. She tilted her head and looked up at him. She could eye his jawbone and cheekbone and his regal profile. She nudged him as he was so quiet.
"What's going on?" Donna asked quietly. The bedroom light was dim, and the sounds were so quiet around them. Seattle was definitely not like New York which even from the top of Harvey's penthouse apartment one could still hear planes fly overhead and ruckus in the street way below. Here the curtains were drawn as they faced the bay. The large French doors leading to the terrace from the bedroom were closed and the shades pulled down. The other windows had their drapes slightly open to reveal a dark clear sky.
"You said in your note that Charlotte was here. How did that go?" Harvey asked tilting his head onto the top of Donna's head. He pulled her close subtly. He felt her arm wrap around his waist.
"She wants to borrow money until she can get a commission from selling my condo."
Donna stopped talking and did not continue and allowed Harvey to process her statement.
Harvey sighed deeply.
"What did you say?" Harvey asked calmly.
"I told her I would have to ask you first since we don't hide things from each other."
"Mmm," Harvey commented. He raised his head from Donna's and looked at her and then looked into space.
"Donna, you know how I feel about family and money. Let me guess why she needs it."
"Harvey, let me just say this is different than when I asked you to invest in my father's business venture. I feel that Charlotte is definitely not worth it."
"But…"
"Yes, there is a but. She said she needed it for expenses including getting Troy into a better school next year."
"What's wrong with the one he's at?"
"He's being bullied, and Charlotte doesn't want him to be discouraged or hurt or you can guess," Donna said looking up at her husband's jawline which had become tight. She had not seen that look since Faye Richardson had done her best to get him disbarred.
"Harvey. It's ok to say no."
"Then you know she will go to your parents for the money, right?"
"Yes," Donna answered simply and looked away into space.
"Do you believe your sister just wants money for expenses?"
"No. I think she wants it for a business venture and dad denied her."
"Ok, did you ask to see a figure from this school or was this just off the cuff?"
"It was off the cuff. That's why I think she's lying because she's thorough. If she was really on the up and up she would have had portfolios of information."
"Did she name the school?"
"No. That's the other thing I think is weird. She told me you got Archie to pay expenses including any school that Charlotte saw fit to enroll Troy. Is that true?"
"Not specifically, but, yes, in general."
"So, this is why I don't believe her. I know I should call my dad to get the real truth, but then a whole big thing will happen with Charlotte. I don't want us to get caught in the middle."
"Donna, we're already caught in the middle, and it's my fault," Harvey said.
"How's any of this your fault?" Donna said rising from her position and with a narrowed look asked her husband gently.
"Because I told her she could keep her total commission for when she sells the condo and because I handled her divorce and child support cases with her exes."
"Harvey, you think my father is going to blame you for Charlotte if we refuse to lend her the money," Donna realized and then lean forward and straddled one of Harvey's thighs. The babies bump protruding between them. Donna bent forward and stroked her husband's cheek.
"You are not to blame for any of this. No one could have done the deals you did, and you know it."
Harvey half smiled and placed his hand on the bump.
"Ooo!" Donna exclaimed. "Did you feel that?"
"Slightly…was that one of them?"
"Ooh, there's the other," Donna said incredulously moving Harvey's hand slightly to the right.
Harvey had no words but raised his eyes to Donna who saw tears well in his deep dark eyes as he felt his babies' make known their existence, alive and well, and tucked in their mother's belly.
"I have no words, Donna," Harvey said looking at her, loving the fact that she was here with him in this strange place and that she carried two children conceived in their love.
Donna wiped a tear from Harvey's cheek which had escaped.
Donna went back to her business plan the next day. She still had her seed money from "The Donna". She had only used part of it when she became a Senior Partner at Pearson Specter Litt (which it was when Donna joined). When she and Harvey married, he insisted that the new firm entity Litt Wheeler Williams Bennett reimburse her as severance for the years she was Harvey's assistant. Louis had no problem with it, of course.
Speaking of Louis and his family, Donna and Harvey had returned to New York one winter weekend to help Louis decorate his house with Christmas Lights. He had promised Sheila that they would celebrate not only Hanukkah but Christmas as well. They still never discussed or decided which religion Lucy would be raised. Harvey almost and Louis did fall from the roof but when they looked back on the house it was beautifully lit with blue, green, red, and white lights. Luckily Louis suffered no permanent damage from his fall.
As she worked on her business plan, Donna received a call from Charlotte who asked her for Harvey's answer. Donna stopped typing and rose from her seat at her desk and went into the kitchen drinking a cup of hot chocolate since coffee was off limits while she was pregnant. The babies got calcium and she had a fairly tasty substitute for her morning cup of joe.
"Charlotte, Harvey suggested, instead of lending you the money for Troy's school, we will hand them a check for the tuition," Donna said. This was really Donna's suggestion for which Harvey did agree. This way they were calling Charlotte's bluff if she was.
"Well, I don't have any hard and fast figures. I can get them…"
"Yeah, I didn't think you wanted the money to put Troy in a new school. You want it for some fly-by-night business venture, and you couldn't convince dad to go in with you. This is your typical MO, Charlotte. I'm not falling for it."
"Donna…no…really," Charlotte protested.
"Goodbye, Charlotte. If you really want Troy to go to another school and you can't get the money out of his father get us some real information on the school you want; and we will make good on it. If there are any exceptions to that you will have to wait until you sell the condo. Goodbye, Charlotte." Donna finished and hit the button on her cell hard.
"Charlotte!" Donna exclaimed rising from her seat at her computer. This was one of the reasons why she never mentioned she had a sister in the first place. Charlotte was one woman who could suck the life out of not only a man but her entire family! Donna was so frustrated now because she tried again to help someone who refused to help herself. She's getting good alimony from two of her four ex-husbands plus child support. Why would she need more money?
Donna rubbed her belly because it seemed her babies were feeling her frustration and became restless. For relaxation she decided to do some yoga. Her doctors encouraged her to keep her yoga going and her walking as it would keep her weight down and facilitate her body in preparation for giving birth.
Donna sat cross-legged on the floor. She closed her eyes and blew out a cleansing breath. She raised her arms above her head and stretched a bit breathing deeply. She blew out another deep breath and visualized her happy place.
She pictured a beach with the water as blue as the Bahamas. It was warm and she walked along the beach with Harvey hand in hand. Then she spotted them walking in front of them: two strawberry blonde children. One boy and one girl dressed in bathing suit bottoms and t-shirts with small ball caps to protect their fair skin from the sun.
"Lily, Gordon., wait for us!" Donna heard Harvey call to them. The twins who walked ahead were approximately two years old and when Donna looked down her belly was protruded with another bump….three?!
Donna popped her eyes open. She hoped and did not hope that they would be blessed with more children after this pregnancy, but she wanted to wait until she birthed these two before having another one.
"Well this is not going to work," Donna said to herself. Donna rose from her seated position and walking back to her desk pulled her notebooks from the middle drawer. She opened the one listed Second Wedding. She had an idea for a destination wedding. Donna retrieved her phone and dialed.
"Hi MaryBeth. This is Donna Specter, Harvey's wife," Donna stated not sure if MaryBeth would remember her.
"I know you're Harvey's wife, Donna," laughed MaryBeth. "Congratulations before you go any further. I know from Marcus that you and Harvey are expecting twins in late June! I'm so happy for you. Harvey is over the moon from what Marcus said."
Donna smiled. She loved hearing how happy her husband was now that they were to be parents. Harvey himself never let Donna forgot how much he was grateful for her being in his life and giving him a life. So different from that man for all those years who was always emotionally unavailable.
"I'm sorry. We've only met once and I was not sure how much you talk with Harvey's brother," Donna said still smiling.
"Marcus loves you almost as much as Harvey does, I think. He wanted me to relay to you that he and Katie are getting back together on a temporary basis. They are going to try to make it work after all."
"Oh, Harvey, will be so glad to hear that. He really thinks Katie is good for Marcus."
"Yes, I got that feeling when I talked to Marcus" MaryBeth said. "Now, I am pretty sure that you didn't call all the way from Seattle to hear me wish you well with your pregnancy, did you?"
"No, I just wanted to see if you could arrange a few things for me.
"Like what?"
"A destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy?"
"Tuscany is part of your travel package I gave you. I think I can arrange it. Did you have particular church in the area in mind?"
"Well, there is the 13th Century Church…." Donna told MaryBeth her thoughts on her second wedding to Harvey.
Meanwhile, Harvey had accompanied Simon to a client's office. There really was no need for two lawyers on this case, but Simon pled that he was having trouble getting the client to close the deal and knowing of Harvey's reputation as an excellent closer spurred Simon on to request Harvey's presence so he could see just how wonderful, 'Mr. Wonderful' was.
"Mrs. Stanfield, we can buy you some time before your company needs to leave the premises. The only thing we can't do is coerce your landlord in letting your company stay. I…we realize that your company is only one office, but the landlord wants to raze the building and make it into a new building. I…we," Harvey said feeling he should keep saying "we" because this was Simon's case and really not his.
"Now we can try to negotiate a new deal with him for you to have space in the new building, but I can't make the landlord lease you space if he wants to attract a different type client. That, unfortunately, is his prerogative," Harvey finished. He gave up saying 'we'.
Harvey sat across from Belinda Stanfield who owned the small pet grooming office on the second floor of a small office building in the middle of town. She was being evicted because the landlord was tearing down the building. The landlord, Summaries, Inc., had purchased the building immediately adjacent to this one and decided to tear down both and raise one larger building affording more square footage and, if decorated according to his plan, the building could attract more affluent commercial tenants. Smelly Kids Company was a small two-person business that had been a good tenant for the last three years, but the landlord was evicting the small business and coercing it to look elsewhere for space to house the small but solvent company.
All of a sudden, Harvey's text tone sounded. While Simon spoke with the client, Harvey, eyes still focusing on the client's face, felt inside his jacket pocket nonchalantly. He pulled out his phone and looked down at it thinking it was someone who did not realize he was with a client. However, it was Tracy, and the text was in giant capital letters. Two words: "DONNA EMERGENCY".
"Excuse me, it seems I have a family emergency. I'll be right back," Harvey said hurrying from the meeting room and out into the hall.
He called Donna's phone first. He let it ring until it went to voicemail.
He then called Tracy. Luckily the woman was so busy she was never too far away from her phone. When she did research she carried her cell, so if no one got her on the desk phone they could call her cell.
"Harvey! Thank God! Donna's ob-gyn called. She couldn't reach you on your cell, so I used the emergency number."
"What is it, Tracy? Thank you. Is Donna ok?" Harvey asked in a panic. An anxiety attack was tightening the collar of his shirt, so he loosened his tie. Now was not the time to panic. Donna needed him.
"Donna is in the hospital. She started bleeding, so she was rushed to UW Medical Center not far from where you are now."
"I'm on my way. Thank you, Tracy."
Harvey went back in and explained to Simon in hushed tones what was happening. Luckily, Mrs. Stanfield made her decision which was to have the firm approach the landlord and see what type of space, if any, he was willing to let her have and at what costs.
They shook hands and Simon drove them both to the hospital.