HI All! Thank you for sticking with this story. I hope you like this chapter and I have the next one almost completely written. I gave Donna a brother this time. In my other timelines, though, she should be the typical middle child of three girls if my middle sister is any indication. FYI - I'm the oldest of 3 girls with 1 brother thrown in. Two other things: Lynne is the name of Harvey's niece before Suits gave her Haley and Eddie was Paula's ex's name because I couldn't remember Jacob. LOL. Anyhow, please R & R if moved to. Thanks - Carebearmaxi
Paula, Donna, and Harvey - Take Two
Chapter 4 - Siblings
Paula called her sister, Penelope, in England. It was 8 am on Monday morning and 1 pm in England.
"So, did you tell Harvey he's going to be a daddy?" Penelope asked her sister. Penelope was also a doctor who like their brother, David, a teacher at Cambridge, had no aspirations to take their practices to the US. Paula had decided on Harvard when it was her turn for medical school after Cambridge, hence why Paula lived and worked in the US. Paula also had the audacity to become an American citizen a fact that Paula knew Harvey loved as he was a lawyer.
"Yes, I did he found out last week," Paula said.
"So how did he take it? Did he tell that tart of a girlfriend that you're pregnant with his baby?"
"Now, Penny, Donna's not a tart. She's COO of the firm, and she did save my life and has it turned out my baby's life as well,"
"Well, anyway, how did he take the news?"
"Better than I thought. He was shocked, of course, as I was and he did say that he was to marry Donna and that was not going to change. However, because he has abandonment issues still he would not abandon our child but support me as a friend and our child as its father."
"That's good. I guess he is as good as you say," Penny continued to say. "Now you make sure you see this child to its fruition. You understand? I will be there this weekend so no unnecessary trips to the mental wards and fight with your more physical patients or wrestle with that ex of yours. Does he know you're pregnant?"
"No, he doesn't. It had better stay that way until I can get Harvey back with me. You do know that Eddie is slandering me and that it is hurting my practice, don't you?"
"Yes, I hope you have your brilliant lawyer taking care of it?"
"Of course, Louis is a brilliant lawyer. He took care of him before and I am sure he will put Eddie in his place again. I should not have to worry about losing my practice."
"What about you? Any sickness rising yet? What about your meds? As your doctor taken you off your meds yet? Be careful because that mania will return and..."
"Penelope, I am a doctor a psychiatrist no less. I know what can happen without my bipolar meds. My gyno took me off them after he found out I was pregnant. He approved some holistic medications that seemed to be working just fine."
"Truth be told you haven't taken them for quite some time, have you?"
"Nope, I think that's what caused me to attempt suicide, you know?"
"You're fine now, though, right?"
"Yes, Penny, I am terrific and actually happy. Now don't you have to go back to work?"
"Yes, you called me, Paula, not me call you. Anyhow, I'll be there Saturday. I'll take a cab, so need to pick me up. I don't want to be responsible if you're in a car accident and lose that baby."
"Ok, darling, I'm looking forward to Saturday. See you then," Paula said then hung up.
Friday after their talk, Donna had found it difficult to be in the office. They had just returned to their banter but their open love for each other had added a new dimension of ease between them. Now it all came tumbling down. Donna was still with Harvey. She said she still loved him and wanted to marry him, but she had to come to terms first with what would be happening in his life before and after he became a father. So, instead of driving to the office as she said she would, she called Harvey and told him where she was going.
Donna stopped the car in front of her parents two storey home. It looked the same color of cobalt blue except it had had a fresh coat of paint from what she can tell. Since her father's latest real estate scheme had fallen through, Donna had given them the money to continue to live in this house. Harvey would probably kill her once he found out. However, he'll probably won't be mine much longer anyway.
She took her keys out of the ignition and opened the car door. She closed the door and just stared at the afternoon sunshine. Another beautiful February day, Donna thought. Well, this is it. I'm either going to convince myself to still marry Harvey or just to return to being his friend and congratulate him on being a father. He has no idea what's going to happen. I just wish I had been able to keep our baby all those years ago. He never would have left me either.
Donna walked up the three small wooden porch steps and walked into the house. Cortlandt was a very safe suburban neighborhood and Donna knew that her mother never locked the doors until she and her father headed to bed.
"Mom? Dad? It's me! I'm here," Donna took off her coat and hung it in the closet next to the door.
"Hey, is that my big sister?"
"Jimmy? What are you doing here?" Donna greeted her younger brother as he came through to the living room from the kitchen in the back of the house.
Donna hugged her brother tightly. She had not seen him since he had transferred to California with his closet business. He was also a contractor and helped with some of the real estate deals that their father would start.
"I came home to help dad with the house. You did notice the new paint job we did a few months ago, right? It still looks great. I've been staying here because work is a little slow in California these days."
Donna looked at her baby brother who was her junior by four years. He was taller than she but possessed the same red hair inherited from their mother. Jimmy was a burly man in his late thirties and could remind people of Paul Bunyan. He just needed a baby bull named Blue.
"Really, I would have thought with all the rebuilding that needs to go on there you would have more than enough work," Donna said as she held her brother's hand as he led her to the couch.
"Say, do you want some coffee or something? Why are you not at work, Ms. COO?" Jimmy asked.
"I came home because I need some time away," Donna said so pleased to see her brother. "By the way, where are mom and dad?"
"They are out of town in Florida. You know mom doesn't like the cold anymore."
"Oh that's right, she did tell me they were leaving last week for the new house."
Donna's body decided at that moment to let down and she began to sob. Jimmy, empathic, like his sister took her bent sobbing body under his arm.
"What did Harvey do now?" It was no secret to anyone in the family that Harvey Specter was the one man that Donna could never detach from her life no matter what he did.
"How do you know it was Harvey? Maybe I did something!" Donna said rising from under her brother's arm.
"Because you are blind when it comes to him, sis. You are guilty of doing nothing but love that man unconditionally. You told me yourself he counts you as the main reason why he was so successful as a lawyer."
Donna sniffed and found a tissue in her purse which she placed beside her. She blew her nose.
"I didn't do anything except save himself from himself and his more stupid behaviors. I gave him common sense and helped him through his bad times."
"You never told him, did you?" Jimmy said as his hand came to rub his sister's back.
"No. There was no need to tell him after I lost it anyway."
"So, what's the problem now? I thought you had told mom and dad you were extremely happy for the first time in your life. So help me if Harvey broke your heart again, I will go to Manhattan and strangle him by his Armani tie!"
Donna put the tissue near her nose again and smiled at her brother wanting to defend her honor like she was some virgin whom Harvey had kidnapped against her will.
"Well, I wanted to talk to mom about this issue and I forgot about Florida."
"Can I help?"
"You have about three hours for me to explain what's wrong?"
"Sure. I'm not going anywhere."
So they walked to the back of the house into the kitchen. It smelled like baked goods and freshly brewed coffee. Michael poured a hot steaming mug for his sister, put some vanilla into it, and then handed it to her. Donna decided to act all indignant when he handed her the mug
"Now how do you know I still take my coffee the same way?" She had noticed the dab of vanilla Jimmy had slipped in it.
"Because I know you and you don't change very much, especially coffee," Jimmy said sitting and taking a sip from his own mug.
"Mmmm, you know how to make a mean cup of coffee, bro," Donna said taking another sip but her eyes flickered to her brother's scowling countenance.
"Ok, I will confess. I have a dilemma and now, since mom is not here, you will have to do."
"Well, get on with it, I have to return to California sometime and I'd rather not do it knowing if my big, tough, beautiful sister was having troubles."
Donna put down her coffee mug and stared at her brother.
"You do remember that Harvey and I finally became a couple, yes?" Donna asked nodding her head.
Her large baby brother took her hand and nodded emphatically and said, "Yes,"
"Well, last Friday Harvey took me to dinner and, out of character for him, he alerted the entire dining room and asked me to marry him," Donna said sighing heavily and lowered her eyes.
"No shit!"
Donna smiled at her brother's remark and nodded her head. "No shit."
"Uh-oh, so what happened and where's your ring? I know Harvey can be generous to a fault especially with you. I have never known a more materially appreciated assistant than you." Jimmy laughed.
Donna laughed, too. She nodded, "You're right, but I'm worth every handbag I ever bought for myself with his credit card."
After a beat, "In answer to your question, my beautiful engagement ring is safely locked in my lockbox stashed in the wall of my apartment."
"Oh, whew, I thought you were going to tell me he took it back and gave it to another woman because he changed his mind."
"Well?" Donna unintentionally remarked.
Jimmy's ginger eyebrow went up. "What does that mean?"
"It means that his ex (motioned air quotes) called him the other day and when he went to her home she proceeded to tell him she's eight weeks pregnant with his baby."
Jimmy reached again for her hand. "I'm sorry, Donna. What about this woman? Is she promiscuous or slept with another man, maybe, while she was with Harvey?"
Donna smiled in return and said, "I appreciate your optimism, but no she's a professional. As a matter of fact, she was Harvey's therapist almost two years ago now."
"He dated his therapist (motions air quotes)? Was he desperately looking for a woman? I know Harvey and that man would never have to beg a woman to sleep with him. We should all be so lucky."
"Well, he thought he had to beg me. So he transferred his feelings for me onto her. Paula, that's her name, knew this and told me that she dated Harvey anyway knowing that he loved me. To top it all off, I've saved the woman's life. She tried to off herself in Harvey's apartment."
"Donna! Why didn't you just let her jump?"
"Oh, well, she also slit her wrists. There was blood everywhere. Harvey could not stay in his apartment for a couple of nights because the smell and the stains were horrid. I, of course, made sure that his apartment got clean."
"Of which he was grateful," Jimmy took up.
"He was so grateful, Jim. He came to the hospital and he took me in his arms and told me he was in love with me. I was so happy."
"You were floating on air weren't you?" Jimmy said.
"Not exactly. I did have this foreboding feeling, you know?" Donna asked squinting at her brother like she was trying to see something in the distance.
"Yes, Donna, I felt the same before Sarah divorced me."
"I remember. Well, thanks for listening. I guess I will just go on up to my room. Thank you for the coffee little bro." Donna rose from her chair.
"Wait a minute. We're not done. You came her to discuss, and I know I'm not mom but I think I can help."
"Really? So what is your experience? I don't remember Sarah getting pregnant by another guy. If I remember correctly she didn't even want kids."
"I can look at it from a man's perspective."
Donna amused sat back down. "Ok, Let's hear your opinion from a (air quotes) man's point of view."
"Well, first off, what did Harvey say?'
"Jim, I appreciate what you want to do, but, frankly, I don't want to talk about it anymore. I just want to go up to my room, grab a bottle of wine from the cellar, and go to sleep."
Jimmy then rose from the table as did Donna. He followed her to the winding staircase leading up to the three spacious bedrooms and office.
"I hope you brought some of your very feminine clothes with you. I'm going to take my big sister out and show her off."
Donna stopped midway up the steps and turned leaning over the banister looking at her little brother who could always put her in a good mood.
"Did it occur to you that most people who are still living here already know me? I'm sure the ones you want to show me off to I already know?"
Jimmy laughed. "I guess you do already know Carl, Albert, and Lenny."
"It didn't take you long to fall in with those losers, did it?"
"Hey, Don, I thought you liked my friends."
"Only when you're not with them. I've said my peace before about them and I was more than happy when you transferred your business to California. You couldn't be successful with those three strangling you. However, yes, I did bring my more feminine dresses with me and I would be happy to accompany my little brother to dinner."
"It's good to see you, sis."
Donna smiled and for a moment she had forgotten her own predicament and the reasons she ran away from Manhattan and the love of her life.
"Marcus?" Harvey said as he shook his brother's hand. "What are you doing in Manhattan?"
"Well, that's a fine "how do you do?". I'm here because your niece wanted to see where Uncle Harvey worked. She said next time I went to New York City that she wanted to come."
"So, where is Lynnie?"
"I'm here, Uncle Harvey," Lynnie Specter said coming out from behind her father.
Harvey held his arms open wide and the 10 year old girl ran into them. Harvey dropped to one knee and hugged her properly.
"So where's M.J?" Harvey asked her.
"He's got a bad cold. He's home with mom. Dad told me he was coming to see you today and that you were sad about something," Lynnie volunteered.
"Did he now? Well, my day just got a whole lot brighter because you're here, sweetie," Harvey held his niece tightly.
When they drew apart, Lynnie asked, "Is Donna here? I didn't see her in her office. It was dark."
"No, Lynnie, Donna went to see her family. She, too, wasn't feeling very well. I'm sure she'll be unhappy that she missed you."
"Lynnie, I saw Mr. Litt was in his office and I know he always likes to see you. Tell him about your ballet recital. He would love to hear about it I bet," Marcus had said because he noticed that Harvey looked tired and worn. His normally glinting deep dark eyes were red rimmed and sad.
"Really, Uncle Harvey, Mr. Litt likes the ballet?" Lynnie asked appealing to her Uncle Harvey for confirmation. Lynnie had previously met Louis at a Christmas party that Donna had in her apartment a few weeks ago when she told her that she and her Uncle Harvey were going together. Louis had started talking to Harvey's niece and found out she loved to dance. However, Lynnie was never able to tell Louis that she had been taking ballet lessons since she was three. So Lynnie became somewhat familiar with Louis' likes and dislikes and they had become friends. Lynnie enjoyed Louis' company and especially when they talked about his cats.
"He does. Louis studied ballet and he loves it so he more than anyone would enjoy you telling him about your recital. You can come back and tell me all about it, too, once you're done with Louis, ok Lynnie?"
"Sure, Uncle Harvey. I hope you feel better about Aunt Donna after you talk with daddy."
"Now, how.."
"Don't ask. Sometimes I think she's inherited Donna's empathy by osmosis."
Harvey smiled at the sound of Donna's name. Her name alone was enough to make him smile, get mad, or cry.
After Lynnie's little lithe body skipped down the hall to Louis' office, Marcus accepted a bottle of water from his brother who did not care that it was 11 am and poured himself two fingers worth of Scotch into a large tumbler.
"So what's got you so beat?" Marcus asked taking a sip of his water and sitting down across from his brother who sat opposite from him across the coffee table. "From what I understand you should be jumping for joy."
"Mom told you that I asked Donna to marry me?" Harvey inquired bending forward swirling his drink.
"Yeah, what did she say? No? Wouldn't surprise me if she did you big dick..." Marcus said his attempts at jocularity failing. "Oh, I see it's a bit more serious than that. What happened big bro?"
Harvey looked up at his younger brother. The creases in Harvey's forehead were so prevalent that Marcus was sure his brother's head would explode if his expression did not soften a little.
"Donna said yes. We were so happy. But it seems there is a wrinkle in our getting married," Harvey said taking a big gulp of his Scotch. It burned on the way down much like Harvey's heart at the thought that Donna may return and not want him after all because of his predicament with Paula.
"Oh, no, Harvey! You got one of your exes knocked up?"
"How did you know that?"
Marcus just smirked at his older brother. "I know your history, Harvey. So is it Scottie?"
"No. Paula."
"Paula, the one who tried to kill herself? Your therapist?" Marcus smiled and rose. He did not want to laugh at his brother's situation but he almost could not stop himself.
"I know. It's ironic to say the least." Harvey said finishing his drink and rising to put his tumbler on the table so he would remember to have it washed later. He walked up beside his brother and they both looked out the window to stare at nothing in particular just the beautiful blue sky and the tiny cars below.
"So where is Donna?"
"She's visiting her parents in Cortlandt. She told me she needed time to sort things out. She assured me that she still loves me and wants to get married but she wants me to do some hard thinking...and feeling...no doubt."
"Well, how do you feel about things?" Marcus said. "All I know is that I know deep down inside you want to be a father. You always tell me how much fun you have spending time with my kids. Lynnie and MJ love you, too, so much since you walked back into their lives."
"I must admit I am excited to be a father. I'm just not so happy with who the mother is," Harvey said smirking and walking over to his desk and sitting down behind it.
"So what are you going to do?" Marcus asked knowing that his brother was stubborn and would never change his plans in marrying Donna. If Paula was trying to trap him into marriage, Marcus knew that it would not work.
"I'm not abandoning my plan to make Donna my wife, if that's what you're thinking? I told her that I can handle having a child with someone else and being her husband."
Harvey sat there with a pen in one hand clasped in the other with them both steepled under his chin.
"How about Donna? Does she want children with you? I mean she's pretty much career oriented at this point."
"Donna...we've never discussed it. We didn't think about it at this point." Harvey looked at his brother. "I know what you're thinking. She's envious and that's why she left to sort things out. I'm sure that's not it."
"I didn't say anything like that. Donna doesn't seem the jealous or possessive type unlike some I know."
Harvey smiled. "Yes, I know. I can be possessive, but I'm loyal. That's why."
"So how's Paula. I bet she's over the moon."
At that juncture, Lynnie returned holding Louis' hand.
"Hi Marcus. This little one is a treasure. She told me all about her ballet recital and showed me the pictures on her phone which you took. I promised next time she came into town I would take you all to the ballet. I have season tickets."
Louis knelt down to Lynnie's level. "I wish we had more time to talk, but I have meeting in five minutes. So you be sure to tell me when you come into town next time, ok?"
"Sure, Uncle Louis," Lynnie said giving him a hug. Louis squeezed her tight.
Rising he said, "It's great to see you again, Marcus. Harvey, Gretchen wanted me to remind you that your depo is waiting in Conference room 3."
Harvey said, "Thank you, Louis. I will be right there."
Then after Louis left, Marcus and Lynnie said their goodbyes but promised that after Harvey was finished with his deposition that he would give them a tour of the place and she could meet the new people.
Shit Harvey thought. What am I going to do? I want to be a father to this baby but I don't want to lose Donna in the process. Catch 22. A place that Harvey Specter made sure he would never be.
Donna and her brother Jimmy went out to the swankiest restaurant one could find around the Cortlandt area. Despite what Donna thought was going to happen, Jimmy had not invited his three best friends from childhood to join them. He knew that Lenny still had a crush on his big sis so to throw her in his face was not fair to either one of them. However, there was a person Donna had not expected to see. He came over to the table once Donna had made eye contact with him.
"Alan...Alan O'Keefe! What are you doing in the Cortlandt area?" Donna asked rising from the table as the very tall darkly handsome man came over to Donna and kissed her hand upon greeting.
"Donna!" said Alan with a thick Irish brogue. "I may ask you the same question."
"Well, I lived half my childhood here. I came back to see my parents and when I stepped into their house low and behold I found my baby brother, Jimmy, here."
Alan, all dark Irish handsomeness, turned and shook Jimmy's hand. "So you're Donna's brother?"
"Yes, I am. I'm sorry. My sister is forgetting her manners. Where does she know you?"
"I was in a play in a small theater group with your sister. We were in MacBeth together."
It was the first time he had ever seen Donna blush. Was she embarrassed or surprised? Jimmy thought. Be careful, Donna, especially if you want to go back to Harvey. Don't make it too easy for this Paula person.
They all sat down and the waiter appeared with another place setting and refilled their glasses with Chardonnay.
Jimmy said, "So were you MacBeth in MacBeth? My sister was Lady MacBeth if I remember her telling me."
"Yes, I was as a matter of fact. Your sister and I spent a lot of time together rehearsing."
Donna said, "Yes, and there were four curtain calls opening night. The crowd roared when you took yours." She sipped her Chardonnay and picked up her menu.
"Take the baked cod. It's the best here, sis," Jimmy said eyeing his sister and Alan. All of a sudden his sister's face lit up which it always did when the theater was mentioned. I have always felt bad for Donna. She had such big dreams of being on Broadway when left home and went to college. She is so good. I suppose Harvey knows this. I know he has seen her when she has had the oft performance.
Donna asked, "So Alan you said you were looking for a home here? Thinking of settling down?"
Alan remarked. "Yes, but I have a big audition coming up in New York and this is not really that far away, so I thought a home in the suburbia would be good."
"Do you have someone special in your life. Last time you were still looking," Donna asked wondering and enjoying herself for the first time since Harvey broke the news about Paula's pregnancy. Let's not go there, Paulsen. You can worry about Harvey later.
"No, I just want a sense of permanence. My family is back in Ireland and I would like them to visit. It would be better if I had a place for them to stay. Hotels are expensive."
"Yes, they are," Jimmy agreed. "Say Donna why don't you tell Alan your news?"
"What news, Jim?" Donna asked back and then shook her head and mouthed "no".
"You know about you and Harvey?"
"Who's Harvey?" Alan asked.
"He's a Senior Partner of the firm. He is also my best friend," Donna said glaring at her brother over her wineglass. What the hell are you doing, Jim?
"Oh, I'd say he's more than a best friend, Donna," Jim kept saying as he felt the pressure on his foot from Donna's.
"He's been my best friend for a long time and he used to my boss until he promoted me to COO a few months ago," Donna said looking back at Alan and finishing her glass. "Say since you don't know Harvey, then the news doesn't matter. Oh good, here comes the waiter. Anyone for a refill?"
Donna, Jim, and Alan spent a nice evening together. After Jim's initial faux pas which Donna was able to squash by a little pressure on her brother's food, their main topic of discussion was Alan. They focused on Alan's new audition and what that would mean for him should he get the part. It turns out it would not impact Alan's decision to buy a home in Cortlandt. He had come to love the area so much.
"I've spent a lot of time in this area as I have friends who are married and settled here. It reminds him of outside Londonderry where I grew up."
"Alan's is a marketer for Spectrum International," Donna explained to Jimmy taking up the story from there.
"So how did you get into acting in theater?" Jim wondered. He was always fascinated by the people that Donna found in her theater groups.
"I graduated with a degree a degree in Fine Arts. I came over from Ireland for acting, got my degree, and realized I could not make a living as an actor. So I went back to school and graduated with a degree in Marketing and Analytics which is how I make money to live on and be able to keep acting in little theater groups here and there."
"Just like me," Donna said. "I took a secretarial job at the D.A of Manhattan's office and met my current co worker who was an ADA and history was made." How come I can never for a moment not bring up a thought without Harvey? Because he is your life and has been for a long time and God willing he will always be.
Donna's demeanor changed after that exchange as it brought back to the forefront why she was there in Cortlandt in the first place. The three continued to have pleasant conversation and a very good tasting meal. However, Donna became quiet and unlike herself when this interesting man apparently from Londonderry, Ireland, had sat down and began to speak with her.
"How long are you in town, Donna?" Alan asked her while Jimmy had excused himself from the table.
"I'm only here for a couple of days. I had some agenda in mind and it might take me that long before I resolve it."
Alan bent his ear closer to Donna in a very intimate manner.
"This was fun. It was incredible good luck to have met up with you here. I was wondering would you like to see a movie tomorrow night with me or just have dinner again?"
Donna was going to refuse. Then she gazed at her left hand third finger and realized that she was an engaged woman and engaged women do not go out on dates with men not their fiance whom Donna did miss very much.
"Sure. That would be nice," Donna said and lowered her eyes.
"That would be nice for what?" Jimmy had come back to the table just in time.
"Donna said she would like to go out with me tomorrow night for dinner or a movie," Alan volunteered happily. "You're welcome to join us as well."
Donna breathed a sigh of relief.
Jimmy declined looking at Alan and then Donna. He mouthed to her "What are you doing?"
Donna just smiled and then frowned at her brother.