Chapter 1 – THE FIND
2008
(Harvey is a junior partner)
"Donna, where are you? I have court in an hour" Harvey asked in an exasperated voice. It's 9 AM and for the first time in four years of Donna working for him she is late for work. "I'm sick Harvey; I think I'm going to take a day" Donna replies in a feeble voice.
Harvey can sense something is off but no sooner was he about to show his concern and ask her what is wrong than Donna cut the call. He debated about going over to her place and checking if everything was alright however it was then that he was interrupted by Jessica regarding some client merger he was handling.
Donna was in her bathroom looking in the mirror. This was the fourth time she threw up this week. It was only when she had decided to visit a drugstore to pick something up as she thought it was an upset stomach did she see a pregnancy test on the counter. It was then that she remembered she was almost two weeks late. Hence, she grabbed three tests from the drugstore. And now here she was having taken the tests and all of them showing positive. She could not believe it. It was supposed to be a one night stand with a guy she met in France (she had visited a month and half back) when she was on a trip with her girlfriends from college for New Years. Not even in her wildest dreams did she imagine getting knocked up by a guy whose name she could not even recall. What was she going to do now? Her life was going to completely transform. She was in this state when Harvey had called her. In all the years of working for him, it was the first time she had completely forgotten about him. Now she knew that her abruptly hanging up the phone on him would have consequences. However, she couldn't care less about that at the moment.
After what felt like hours of Donna standing in the bathroom, she regained some sanity and dialled her gynaecologist to fix an appointment with her. She had a decision to make and either she could sulk over it make it or she could remain confident and think it through.
It was around 2 pm when Harvey got back from court and his client meeting. For some reason he thought that Donna would show up to work by the time he got back. However, all he saw was an empty chair. His frustration was now turning into worry. He always maintained an exterior of not caring about people. However, Donna Paulsen was an exception to that rule. She was his confidant and his work wife. He knew that she knew that. So he decided to call her once again only this time it went straight to voicemail. Perhaps, he was going to pay her a visit after work.
Donna was in the cab on the way back home. She had her head rested against the car's window. Her mind wandered off to the conversation she had today with her gynaecologist.
"Well, you're officially 6 weeks pregnant Donna" Dr Owens stated after showing her the ultrasound image. "Everything looks healthy. However, the first trimester is the most crucial period of pregnancy. In the prescription you'll have the entire do's and don'ts, what to eat and what not to eat." She continued however, Donna was now hardly listening to anything what her doctor/long-time friend was saying. She was officially freaking out. This was a huge deal. Did she even want this? But when she had seen the ultrasound, a wave protectiveness had surged over her. This feeling was new to her. Her entire life was going to change. How was she going to do this all by herself? Dr Owens as if sensing her patient/ friends worries stated "I know you're scared Donna, every first time mother is. But if there is anyone I know who can rock motherhood, it's you. You're the strongest and the most empathetic person I know. And I saw the look on your face when you saw the ultrasound. It was a look of a mother. But it's going to be your decision in the end. I do not want to sway it whatsoever. From what you've told me the father will be absent from the child's life but I have faith in your parenting abilities. Your life will be filled with challenges. But as a mother myself I can tell you this, in the end it's all worth it." Donna had merely nodded to her friend and listened to her instructions about the do's and don'ts. After what felt like forever, she had left the doctor's office and was now sitting in the cab.
She was going to keep the baby, was what she had decided eventually in the cab ride. The thought was both scary and exciting at the same time. Single mother in the Big Apple, it was a scary world. She wondered how her parents and Harvey would react to the news. But that was a confrontation which could wait as of now.
It was 6 pm when she reached home. She had stopped at the grocery store and the drug store to pick some essentials. It was when she got out of the cab did she see a black Lexus pulling over and man clad in a three piece suit mounted off the car. "Harvey, what are doing here? I told you I am sick" she tried to reason with him and attempted to sound sick. "For someone, who claims to be an actress you sure aren't doing justice to the mighty Donna Paulsen" Harvey argued. "Well, I had gone to visit the doctor and I decided to pick up some essentials on the way back home" Donna reasoned. Technically she wasn't lying "You know if you wanted a day off, you could have just asked." Harvey said and Donna rolled her eyes "Also, don't be late tomorrow. This behaviour won't be tolerated" Harvey continued. He didn't mean to come off as abrasive but he didn't like being lied to. Donna always prides herself over how well she knew Harvey. But what she did not know was that he knew her just as well. "Fine, Mr Specter" Donna spat and turned to go inside her apartment building. "Look, I'm sorry for being like this Donna but you are hiding something from me and I know you weren't sick today. If you'd just come clean right now" Harvey reasoned. "Look Harvey, sometimes people have a life okay? Now if you don't mind I would like to go inside my apartment and no sir, I will not be late tomorrow" with that Donna headed inside her apartment building leaving a bewildered Harvey alone.