Hi Folks! Well, it's another Lazy Sunday Morning but this time Donna is in Boston meeting Lily for the first time without Harvey. She's in town for a business conference and combined it with a visit with her soon to be in-laws only she is not aware yet that they will be her in-laws. This will have an additional chapter because I couldn't fit it all in this one. Please R&R if so moved. Thank you for reading. Love - Carebearmaxi.
For Just A Moment
Donna was on her own for this business trip. It was her first big Women in Business National Meeting. The organization happened to be meeting in Boston near where Harvey grew up. She had arrived late Saturday night because she wanted to spend as much time with Harvey as possible. However, things did not go quite as planned. She and Harvey did not have an argument as much as he did not want to talk about something that was bothering him.
On Sunday morning, she rose from her hotel bed with a start as she had for a moment not remembered where she was as she rose and looked at the clock. It was 8:30 am. Donna and Lily were having for lunch at the college where Lily taught. Lily had said that she would pick her up at the hotel around 11 am. Then they were planning to surprise Marcus at his restaurant around dinner time. She had begged Harvey not to tell Marcus. When given the news, Harvey became rather distant closing off the rest of her conversation and just nodding that he had no intention of warning Marcus of her and Lily's surprise.
Their conversation had been practically nil before he had Ray drove her to the airport. Harvey gave her a perfunctory goodbye kiss and pled that he could not get away from the office to accompany her, but he said he would call her later.
"Look, Harvey, I'm not going to spill secrets or anything I know of Lily to Lily. I would never make either one of you look bad in the other's eyes. I just want to get to know your mom because she is now a part of your life and I'm a part of your life. I would hope that it would mean more to you than just a simple telephone conversation between us."
Harvey had smirked at her when she mentioned that initial phone conversation wherein he introduced his mother to Donna.
"That was hardly a simple conversation, Donna. You were on the phone with her for an hour," Harvey complained.
"Well, worth it, too," Donna said trying not to sound too sarcastic. However, she had to get Harvey to tell her why he felt that Lily and Donna should not meet alone.
It had been an awkward and guarded conversation between she and Harvey yesterday afternoon as she prepared for her flight to Boston. They were in his condo and she was packing. She had watched him as she stated her peace. He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head; therefore, she knew that he knew she would never spill things that she knew in confidence or ever make either one look bad. However, the problem she continually pondered was what?
"Oh, Harvey," Donna lamented as she rose from the bed and went to the window. It was March and chilly. She chafed her arms and looked at the sky. It was a clear blue and looked like it should have been at least 50 degrees outside; but one look at the people quickly traversing the street bundled to their eyes in coats, scarves, and gloves, Donna knew the outside air was much colder.
She took a hot shower and put on a warm brown sweater over her bra and tank top and put on her casual wide dark khaki skirt. She was looking for her warm woolen socks to wear underneath her long boots, but she could not find them immediately. She searched in the drawers and in her suitcase.
After thoroughly searching for a few more minutes, she figured she must have left them at home. She also decided to call Harvey to see if he was more open to tell her what was wrong using the search for her socks as an excuse.
She took a seat on the bed and picked up her phone. The white numbers on the screen said it was 9:30 am. It was late enough in the morning that she would not disturb him from his sleep.
"Harvey Specter," Harvey answered sleepily.
"Hey, it's me. Sleeping way in this morning?" Donna asked hearing Harvey's slumberous voice.
"Yes, I got drunk with Alex last night. Boy was his wife pissed!"
"Good thing I wasn't there," Donna remarked.
"If you had been here, I wouldn't have spent the night getting drunk with Alex," Harvey said.
"You sound better than when I left yesterday. What happened?"
"Nothing. I'm sorry. I just didn't want you leave without me."
"I'll be back, Harvey. It's just a business conference…"
"Lunch with my mom and then dinner with my brother and mom. I feel left out."
"There's a remedy to that "Mr. Name Partner".
Donna could hear him practically pout on the other line because he knew what the solution was. She heard Harvey moving around and then he finally answered her.
"Yes, I know I could be there in five hours if I drove. Then I would just have to drive myself back tomorrow. I have to be in court."
"You could take the train," Donna suggested.
Donna heard him move around again.
"Listen, you have fun at your conference. Tell mom and Marcus I'll be there next time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…and Donna."
"What?" She asked breathlessly anticipating Harvey's next statement.
"I love you," Harvey said quietly.
Donna smiled and looked to the ceiling.
"I love you, too. I'll be back on Thursday."
"Oh! By the way, have you seen my long dark woolen socks I wear under my long boots?"
"Donna," he responded annoyed.
"Ok, don't worry about it. I'll just wear something else."
When Harvey was silent on the other end, she knew he was thinking of something dirty.
"Harveeee, what are you thinking?"
In a voice that Donna recognized as his sex voice, he said, "I'm picturing your long legs naked and…"
"Don't start something you can't finish from 80 miles away," Donna laughed and smiled.
"Well you said I could just drive up…"
"You have to be in court early tomorrow morning. I know Judge Clark doesn't like you very much, so you have to be on your best behavior."
"How do you know that Judge Clark is presiding in my case?"
"I may not be your assistant anymore, but I know everything," Donna answered him back her voice going deep at the end of her statement.
"No, Donna, I don't see your socks by the way," Harvey said reverting back to the socks. "Wait a minute. You used your socks to call me to see if I was in a better mood than yesterday, didn't you?"
"Ah aha, don't you know me by now?"
"Not as well as I like to right now."
"Stop it, Harvey," Donna said amused at where the conversation was heading.
"You first," Harvey responded.
"Harvey," Donna said sounding annoyed but not really.
"Ok. I'm sorry," Harvey said. "I just miss waking up next to you."
"Me, too. I woke with a start this morning because I forgot where I was," Donna confessed.
"I'll meet you at the airport on Thursday. Your flight comes in?"
"7:05 pm. See you then. I miss you," Donna said quietly.
"I miss you," Harvey said and then finally hung up.
Lily met Donna in the lobby of the hotel. Although they had talked on the phone a few times since her son and Donna had become a couple, Lily was glad that Marcus had had a few pictures of her from all the times he visited Harvey's office.
Upon recognition of Donna, Lily rose from her seat as she watched Donna approach.
"It's so good to meet you in person, Donna," Lily said as she hugged her and then held her wrist shaking it. Lily felt Donna's fingers enfold hers.
"I am so glad to meet you in person as well," Donna responded with a big smile.
"So, I want to take you to the place on campus. It's good light fare and then I can show you my classroom and before you know it we'll be hungry again and ready for Marcus at the restaurant."
They walked the short distance to the car and before Donna got in the passenger side, she stopped Lily and said, "I'm so glad to be doing this."
"Me, too," Lily said before she got in the car and started it.
Lily drove them to the school where only a block from her classroom was a nice little restaurant that served mostly hamburgers, pizza, and chicken sandwiches. However, not only was the food good and fairly priced for students, the aesthetics were what was always so thrilling for Lily. The place was decorated with student art and the owner had actually purchased one of Lily's more Avant Garde paintings many years ago when she started to teach. It had not taken long for Donna to pick it out and admire it.
"That is a beautiful painting," Donna remarked as she painted to a vibrant colored painting hanging directly across from where Donna was seated.
"I'm rather proud of that one," Lily said. She examined Donna to see if she could glean that it was hers.
Donna smiled. "That's yours, isn't it?"
Lily silently nodded. She was not sure how receptive Donna would be to her other less domestic paintings, but Lily's instinct and her accumulated knowledge of Donna's own artistic pursuits allowed her some trepidation.
"I love the colors and how the couple is entwined in each other's arms. It looks to me like two angels whisking their way through heaven. When did you paint it?"
"About twenty years ago after I just started teaching here," Lily said and looked down at her fingers which were mindlessly playing with the silverware. She lifted her eyes and was pleased to see Donna still examining it. She watched as Donna tilted her head and squinted her eyes as if she was looking for a hidden meaning.
"I painted it after I married Bobby. I was in love and felt like we were flying together in a heaven. My divorce from Gordon was amicable, surprisingly," Lily offered suddenly speaking.
"Yet, I still sense something sad in that painting, Lily. Was this because Harvey had walked out of your life?"
"You are the only one that perceived some sadness in that painting. I did think about my son and what my actions had caused him to do. I missed him so much."
Lily sat still and looked up as Donna placed a comforting hand over Lily's.
"Harvey missed you, too. He just had to get over his anger which as you know Harvey could hold for many stretches of time."
"Yes. I suppose he would."
They both laughed a bit at that one at Harvey's expense.
Lily then reached out again for Donna's hand and said.
"I know one thing is for sure."
"What is that?" Donna asked.
Lily could tell that Donna had no idea what she was going to say as her eyes flickered up to Lily's face questioning what Lily could possibly tell her.
"That I should have known all along that you were really the one that Harvey loves. I just wondered what took him so long to acknowledge it to you. He told me you are "the one."
"Really?" Donna questioned and then she nodded silently.
Lily reiterated how happy she was meeting Donna like this. They ordered their food and laughed about different instances in their own lives involving Harvey and not involving Harvey.
When they were finished, Lily brought Donna up to her classroom and showed her all the paintings from her students. Lily was sure that Donna was probably not interested in painting and graphic art being she was an actress and a performer by nature, but Lily was please that Donna showed an avid interest.
"Did Harvey ever want to paint or draw?" Donna asked.
"When he was little he used to love to watch me as I painted. He showed a bit of promise when he was young but then he had a more musical athletic, especially athletic, turn of mind," Lily answered looking away as she remembered how much was lost when Lily decided to involve her eldest son in keeping her secrets of infidelity.
Donna laid her hand on Lily's arm. Lily was surprised by the next empathic words that Donna uttered.
"It's all in the past now, Lily. It is for Harvey and it should also be for you."
Lily smiled and had unshed tears in her gray eyes. She went forward and hugged Donna.
"I'm so glad Harvey found you."
They both laughed a joyous freeing laugh after they disengaged from the embrace and looked at each other.
"Do you need to go back to the hotel for something?"
"Not really. Why?"
"I want you to meet Bobby before we go to Marcus' restaurant tonight. Bobby's not working at the garage right now and I am sure he would love to meet you."
Donna hesitated and then said, "Ok. Sure."