Here it is folks! The second chapter in two days. I really wanted to finish this one and stop ignoring my other fic Mr. and Mrs. Specter: New Ventures. However, can't help where the mind is flowing at the moment. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please R&R if so moved. Thank you FairyClairey. I'm glad you'd like the "Armani" comedy. Love-Carebearmaxi.
Paula, Donna, and Harvey - Take Two
Chapter 5 - Uh-oh!
The next day Saturday afternoon, Harvey, bereft of Donna, went to see the woman who was carrying his child to inquire about her taking a non-invasive DNA test. He wanted to be sure that this baby was definitely his and not Eddie's. Harvey did not want to get invested in someone who did not belong to him. He was more than eager to begin a long awaited life with Donna. He thought he could detect something off in her voice when they spoke earlier that day.
"Hey, I just wanted to say. I miss you. I love you, and I will be home on Monday.
"Hey, are you sure about that? I miss you, Donna. I need you back here," Harvey had said almost pleading.
"That's nice to hear. I promise. Guess who was here instead of my parents?"
"I don't know. Who?" Harvey asked dreading her answer.
"My baby brother, Jimmy. You remember," Donna said.
"Oh he's back? I thought he relocated to California after his divorce a few years ago."
"Well, you would know since you handled his divorce for him. Yes, he's been back and helping dad with contractor duties on some real estate properties. Jim told me that business is slow in California. I told him I didn't believe him."
"I'm sure you're right. Anyhow, are you working through what you needed to? Because despite the fact that I personally miss you, the firm is falling apart without its COO," Harvey remarked attempting to encourage her to swiftly come back and to find out if he should be worried when she did.
"Yes, things are working their way through. By the way, I wanted to tell you that I met up with an old theater group guy who is looking to settle down here in Cortlandt."
"Guy? Man? Who?"
"Alan O'Keefe, he played MacBeth in the last theater group where I played Lady MacBeth."
"Oh, I remember him. I thought his MacBeth was ok. I just didn't realize that MacBeth had an Irish brogue." Harvey smiled.
"How would you know MacBeth wouldn't? You're a barbarian when it comes to Shakespeare. Alan was very good. Jimmy and I are going to a movie with him tonight."
"Well, I can't say Shakespeare was ever my favorite," Harvey said sarcastically. Then it dawned on him what she also said.
"What do you mean you seeing a movie with him tonight?" Harvey asked. His voice rose to a slightly higher pitch. What the hell is she doing?
"Don't worry. Jimmy will be more than happy to chaperone. So no need to worry that I will up and elope with the first man after you..." Donna paused. Then in a more serious, loving voice she stated huskily as she was missing him while she spoke to him, "...because there are no more "afters" for me, you do understand that, right?
Harvey was very quiet suddenly and shrugged his shoulders much like he was going to fall into a pout. "Yes, I do. Please come back. I'm waiting."
"Come on, Harvey, it's just a movie and one of the guys I'm with is my brother," Donna finished trying to recover the lightness in their conversation.
"The one I'm worried about is not your brother," Harvey said with a pout in his voice.
Donna could picture Harvey's expression as he talked. "I love you and I have loved you a long time. You're the one I've chosen and, besides, you do deserve me." Donna smiled and could see the rolled eyes that Harvey would have after that last statement.
Because he could not allow her to have the last word, he retorted, "Oh, I deserve you? I hadn't known that I had to earn you. It certainly wasn't that way before."
"Ok, Specter, before I list why you deserve this awesomeness that's me, I have to go and help my brother with a project. He needs my designing suggestions."
"Look at that. You can go work for your brother if you lose your job here. At least I won't be marrying a broke woman."
"Hahaha!" Then again the conversation plane took a nosedive to more seriousness. "I'll be home tomorrow like I promised. I'm going straight to the office, so no need to meet me anywhere. I love you."
Harvey smiled as he rose from his seat. "I love you, too, Donna."
Quickly after this conversation, Donna promised she would be home on Monday. Maybe I will surprise him by popping up at his apartment early in the morning before he wakes up.I could surprise him when he awakens and finds me lying beside him.
However, Harvey, no matter how glad he was to know that Jimmy would be Donna's chaperone on the movie "date", he could not know that Donna had fibbed about the quantity of people having that dinner and seeing that movie with Alan O'Keefe.
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So, Harvey was in a kind mood when he showed up on Paula's doorstep.
"Look, I am sorry I didn't call first but I wanted to make sure you were ok," Harvey asked Paula when she opened the door.
"I'm fine, Harvey. I'm not sick. I'm just expecting a baby. Would you like to come in?" Paula asked.
"Sure. I can't stay too long. I'm having dinner with my brother and niece," Harvey said as he passed through the foyer of Paula's home.
"Marcus, right? What's your niece's name? I don't think you ever mentioned it," Paula asked making small talk.
"Yes, Marcus. Lynne. My niece's name is Lynne," Harvey said going to the living room while Paula followed.
"How old is she?"
"Ten."
Suddenly a woman who looked like Paula came out of the kitchen and noticed a man sitting in her sister's living room.
"Harvey, this is my sister, Penelope. She's just come from England this morning."
"Harvey Specter." He rose and shook Penelope's hand.
"Oh my God, you are positively yummy," Penny said. Penny, unlike Paula, did not know when to be quiet and liked to say things that were outrageous. Penny loved life and never let grass grow under her feet. "No wonder she wanted to have your baby."
"Penny..." Paula trailed. Her older sister frequently embarrassed her growing up, but Penny had the biggest heart so one forgave her instantly.
Harvey looked over at Paula with an embarrassed smile. He smiled a little stiffly stemming from that very frank comment from a stranger. He returned the repartee with a quip of his own.
"I do taste good from what I understand. Thank you, Penelope. Nice to meet you."
"Oh bloody hell!" Paula said embarrassed and crossed her arms over her body and put her head in one hand with her eyes closed just shaking her head back and forth. Sometimes one could forgive Penelope Anna Agard instantly; however, this may not be one of those times.
"No, that's ok, Paula. I'm sure she was thinking it, so may as well get it out in the open."
"That's kind of you, Harvey. Please forgive my sister. She likes to shoot her mouth off."
"No need to apologize when it's the truth," Harvey retorted with all the smarm and swagger he could muster. Harvey dazzled his Chesire Cat smile looking straight into Penny's eyes. Penny's light blue eyes, so like her sister's were icy giving Harvey an "if you hurt my sister again, I will kill you" look. Harvey was not unaware of that type of look. He had seen it enough in the courtroom, and he had given it on occasion when he was protecting someone he loved. There was nothing wrong with that and Harvey was somewhat glad that Paula had someone in her corner to protect her.
"How's Donna?" Paula asked seeing the dark circles under Harvey eyes for all the fact he was trying to hide.
"She's with her brother in Cortlandt. She'll be there all weekend."
"Is everything ok between you two?" Paula pressed on.
Harvey rose. "I can see this was a mistake. Penny nice to meet you. Call me Paula if you need anything."
"Wait! Harvey! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit a sore subject. I was just asking about Donna because I know you love her and I wanted to make sure you were ok after you told her about the baby."
Harvey had stopped around the corner from the living room standing in the foyer. He felt a panic attack rising in his soul and he had not wanted Paula to see how ill at ease he really was with the situation. So he did the one thing of which Harvey Specter excelled. He rose intending to leave and not come back.
"I'm sorry, Paula. I know you were asking because you care, but Donna and I are off limits while I'm here, ok?"
"Perfectly," Paula could not help but smile. Harvey did not realize that he had fallen into a trap. If he did not want to discuss Donna at the present time it meant that all was not right in paradise. Far be it from Paula to spoil everything he had with Donna by just discussing herself, Harvey, and their child.
"The real reason I wanted to come over here was to see if you were willing to have a blood test for paternity."
"Harvey! You still don't believe me, do you?" Paula angrily asked.
"I believe it's our child you're carrying but I want to be sure," Harvey said trying to make her understand without saying it that he needed to know before he invested time and care away from his true love, Donna. He more than anything would have loved if Donna were the one carrying his child. This child with Paula still seemed like a big mistake like he had been careless. At the time of this child's conception, Harvey was starting to think of settling down. He probably would have married Paula even if she had not been pregnant. He did not think at the time of Donna because of her rule. As he had said to Paula when Donna helped him through the difficulty of seeing his father's music socked away forever in trying to get the money to settle Jessica, "She's part of my life. I like her being part of my life." She would have walked out of my life and I could never handle that.
"Paula, I'm sorry. I want to believe you. It's a blood test. It won't harm you or the baby, but you should know that you're a doctor," Harvey said holding her by each upper arm.
"I know that, Harvey. It's just where this request is really coming from," Paula asked not hiding her dislike because she knew that the expediting of this test really came from Donna.
"You're thinking Donna is pushing me into this, aren't you? Well she's not. You do remember two seconds after you told me you were pregnant, I asked if you would mind."
"You were kind to me, though, as if you really care for me and our child," Paula said putting the onus back on Harvey.
"Paula, I do want to be kind to you. You were good to me and you should not feel bad because I chose Donna."
"Just go, Harvey. I will let you know when I'm ready for that test," Paula said leading him to her door.
He turned around when he got on the first step.
"Paula, I really do care."
Paula just shut the door.
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Donna and Alan sat at an intimate table in the corner of the darkened restaurant. Donna was dressed much more casual than she had been the night before. Unless it was a red carpet premiere, which Donna only dreamed of attending, she did not think the occasion warranted anything but casual clothing. Casual enough not to be sloppy but enough to be not dressed to the nines. Of course, anything Donna wore she looked fabulous. She had dressed in her jeans with a long sleeved white sweater over a black turtleneck and black ballet flats. When Alan came to her parents' house to pick her up, he looked almost like her twin except he accessorized with a tweed blazer.
Before Alan arrived, Donna descended the stairs to her brother's comments.
"Oh, you know sis," Jimmy said to her as she descended the stairs, "if I didn't know better I'd say you're trying to forget about your predicament with Harvey. I don't think you've talked it about since early yesterday. The minute this Alan O'Keefe introduced himself to us, you've forgotten why you came here in the first place."
"Au contraire little brother," Donna said giving a squeeze to her brother's cheeks when finally at the end of the stairway. As she walked past him, Jimmy grabbed her arm.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Harvey does know who he is and I told him this morning when I called him that all three of us were going to this movie tonight."
"But all three of us aren't going."
"Yes, I know that. A fact that we are keeping between us. Got it?" Donna eyed him raising her one finger at him as if she were scolding him.
Much to Jimmy's better judgment he agreed and when Alan came to the door said nothing as his conflicted sister left with a man who was not her fiance on what purported to be a date.
"So, Donna, you didn't really tell me why you came back home. I figure a busy woman like you would come back home to see her parents for more than just a visit," Alan importuned.
"How do you know that I am just really close to my parents?" Donna asked him putting down her wineglass.
"Because you were surprised to find they were not home and you found your brother instead," Alan said cutting a piece of his chicken with his knife and fork.
"Well, there is more to it, but I don't really want to talk about it," Donna retorted back and took up her own silverware and put a piece of her cod in her mouth.
Alan's darkly bearded face smiled and put down his waterglass, "I see. You don't want to discuss it with a stranger."
"Yes, I am sorry. It is very personal. Let's just focus on what you do and where you may be going with your new theater role."
"Ok, so it would really mean..."
Donna and Alan spent a very pleasant evening. After dinner they went to the movie which both thought could be better. This discussion was so animated that when the car stopped in front of the cobalt blue house with its lit porch Donna had not realized the evening was at an end.
"Say do you want to continue this discussion over coffee or tea?" Donna had invited him.
"No, that's ok. I have an early day tomorrow. However, would you like to have breakfast? Invite Jim and see if he will go this time."
"Sure. What time?"
"You're a working woman. What time would you like?"
"Well, I do have some things to do tomorrow. How about 7:30? Too early?" Donna asked. She thought that she would really have to be ready to go back to Manhattan on Monday. She did enjoy Alan's company but she was not really accomplishing what she had set out to do. She was too easily distracted by this man's company. Not sure why she was, but she had been. Her brother had been right. She had Harvey in the back of her mind, but she had not given the conflict in her heart one ounce of thought since arriving Friday morning.
"You know, Alan, on second thought. I am going to have to decline your invitation tomorrow morning. However, you have my number, so call me when you get back to Manhattan. You can meet Harvey and maybe we can see you when you open in your new play."
Alan smiled. "Sure, Donna. It's been nice seeing you." He leaned over then and went to kiss her lips and then Donna turned so all Alan's lips met was her cheek.
She got out of the car then and walked swiftly up to the porch. Just when she was about to put her key in the door, Jimmy opened it.
"Well, I'm glad to find you not tied up hot and heavy with him on the front porch."
"Gee, thanks for your faith in me, dad. Get back in the fucking house Jimmy, " Donna said angrily.
"Ooo, an "F" bomb. Donna's pissed," Jimmy teased.
Donna turned around and she let her temper flare.
"Look, little brother. I am well aware I am an engaged woman. I would never cheat on Harvey. You do not need to be Harvey's guard. I was innocently enjoying being out with a man who was a platonic acquaintance. You could have come with us if you had wanted to be a chaperone since you were that worried that I was going to jump into bed with a practical stranger. For heaven's sake, Jim do you think I'm a whore or something? What do you think? Do you think Harvey is marrying me because we've been screwing for the last almost 14 years? I am so happy that Harvey and I finally stopped playing cat and mouse. However, this whole situation with Harvey and Paula having a baby that is supposedly his has been in the forefront of my mind. Is it a sin for a few hours not to think about it?"
Jimmy felt justly punished by Donna's outburst. He took her hand and kissed it.
"I'm sorry, sis. I just don't want to see you complicate the already complex situation you're in. Cheating on Harvey would only make you feel twice as bad. I know you came here to discuss your feelings. However, I think you've been tested and you know what you want to do."
"Thanks, Jimmy. I'm sorry I cursed at you. I know you meant well. I'm gonna jump in bed and sleep. I need to get up early so I can pack to go back to Manhattan. I also wanted to get Harvey something before I go back."
Before Donna could make it to the second step, Jimmy spoke.
"I'm sure all Harvey needs is you naked lying in his arms." Then a beat. "Wait a minute. You don't think this baby that Paula is having is Harvey's do you?"
Donna's jaw became hard which was odd in such a soft beautiful face but harden it did. She turned around and dropped her coat on the couch sitting in front of the staircase.
"I don't think she's actually pregnant at all to tell you the truth. This woman is very smart, a bipolar. Her mania when she's off her meds could make her say or do anything. She very well could be acting out, or she could have lost track of her periods. She could want Harvey back so badly that she would fake anything and play on his guilt, abandonment issues, or his desire for us to marry. You do know that she knew Harvey had feelings for me all along, right?"
"Donna, sit down. I think you may be onto something."
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Harvey's Saturday night was along the same lines. After his visit to Paula, he felt a little guilty about not believing Paula when she adamantly protested that he believe she was carrying his child. He tried to think back eight weeks ago which would take him back to that night when he came home to find Paula sitting by the fire. The night Donna kissed him out of the blue.
Well, it could not have happened that night we didn't have sex. It may have happened the next morning, though, we did it in the shower. I tried to forget about Donna's kiss by having sex with Paula. Did I really use her? I know I haven't been an angel when it came to women, but I really thought I would eventually settle down with her. I'm glad I realized in time it's Donna who is the "one".
These thoughts kept revolving around in his mind like a mixed tape on continual play. He really needed a distraction. Good thing Marcus came to town. Harvey had enjoyed earlier in the evening when all three of them had gone to dinner and saw a movie that Lynne was particular excited to see. Harvey did not mind and thought he should get used to more child oriented films since he would eventually introduce his own child to the wonders of cinema.
Marcus came into the living room of Harvey's condo after tucking Lynne into bed in the guestroom.
"Do you mind if I bunk here on the couch, Harvey? I don't want to sleep in the same bed as my ten-year-old daughter. When she was really little it was fine, but I think now it's not appropriate."
"Really? I'll have to file that away for future use," Harvey said and then pretended to have a paper in pen in hand and said "don't sleep in same bed as ten year old daughter".
"Got it," Harvey smiled and took up his tumbler of Scotch and sat back. "Listen I can be perfectly comfortable here. You take my bed, ok?"
Marcus had walked across the room to Harvey's liquor cabinet and helped himself to a tumbler of Harvey's best Scotch.
As Marcus headed back to the couch, he raised his glass and said, "Cheers!"
"Cheers," Harvey responded.
"What's on your mind? Missing Donna?"
"Yes, but I'm still trying to acclimate myself to the fact that I am going to be a father in a few months. Also I am just wondering when this child was conceived. Something seems off about the timeframe and the circumstances."
"Well, did you have sex in that timeframe?"
"Yes, but I am sure we took some type of precaution although I was reeling from Donna's behavior which catapulted me into thinking how much I would like to settle down with a woman and when I found Paula here my mind automatically went to living with her."
"Uh, Harvey, I don't mean to play shrink here but don't you think that was because Paula made you forget what Donna had done? I know, when you came up to Boston to discuss things, you realized that Donna's kiss made you understand that she was really the one you wanted not Paula."
"Yeah, I know already. I don't need another person to explain my feelings to me. I may have a few years to catch up with my emotional maturity, but I know whom I love and with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. Besides I could not understand Paula's behavior today when I went to check on her."
Marcus paused in his sipping and removed the glass from his lips.
"You went to see her? Why was that?"
"I told you. I wanted to check on her and I wanted to get her to schedule the DNA test. Needless to say she was not happy."
"I guess not. It only lends credence to the idea that you don't believe the baby is yours. So what did she do?"
"First it was all congenial. I even met her sister who is a much more brash and louder Paula. She gave me a dirty look like I was an axe murderer or something," Harvey put down his drink then and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I've have a fucking headache thinking about all this shit."
"You didn't really think she would take that test happily, did you?"
Harvey looked up at his brother. "Yes, I did think so," Harvey muttered incredulously. "I figured if she had nothing to hide than she would just accommodate my need for confirmation."
"Well, big bro, women are complex animals. She may just be insulted and not really hiding anything."
"I'm too tired to keep going over this. I think I'll take a shower and then prepare this comfy couch for bed. You are welcome to my bed. I just changed the sheets."
"When is Donna coming back?"
"Monday. She said she would see me in the office."
"Have you told her your suspicions?"
"No, I didn't tell her I was seeing Paula today. She's having a hard time adjusting to the fact that her fiance is having a baby with another woman."
"Aha, I see. Ok, bro," Marcus finished his glass and put it in the sink, turned on the faucet, and let it fill the glass. He turned it off and came back to the chair and sat down again.
Harvey looked up and was surprised that his brother sat back down in the chair.
"I thought you were going to bed?"
"Maybe you should discuss this with Donna. She may have some insight as she is a woman and can glean something perhaps you didn't catch. She has a great way of reading people, you know."
"She has to return before I can do that. In the meantime, I just want to say. I'm glad you and Lynnie came down. She is such a joy to be around. I was amazed at how interested she was in the law and the law library."
"Yes, she's becoming quite argumentative as well. I think we have a budding junior partner. I had to tear her away from Brian, is that his name? One of your associates whom we found in there doing research on a case."
"Oh is that where she was? I thought she had found Louis again."
"No she helped herself to the place like she owned it. She enjoyed meeting Samantha. They seemed to hit it right off."
"Must be because there both blonde and female," Harvey remarked sarcastically.
Marcus rose then and stretched and yawned. "I'm going to bed now. See you in the morning, dickhead."
"Goodnight, loser," Harvey said affectionately and began to undress as he prepared the couch for sleeping.
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Paula sat with Penelope enjoying milk and cookies after their large dinner. They were sitting in Paula's living room enjoying an old film that their mother had always enjoyed. Wuthering Heights with Lawrence Olivier as Heathcliff always affected Paula the same way.
"I understand all about passion and being wildly distracted by that passion but I think Heathcliff borders on cruelty," Paula said.
"Well, you know where I stand. Catherine was a tease and Heathcliff was a man and men don't like it when you tease them without a payoff," Penny said.
Paula practically spit her cookie across the room. "Don't make me laugh, Penny. What do you think Catherine should have done?"
Penny looked at her sister and noticed for the first time the color the pregnancy had put into her normally English pale complexion.
"Catherine should have just jumped his bones and ran away with him. Who cares what Edmund was? Edmund, what a stupid name!" Penny rolled her eyes and laughed.
"You're only saying that because Edmund was your teenage love's name. What do you see in him anyway?"
"Not what you saw in Harvey Specter that's for sure."
"Harvey is a grown man. Troubled, but grown for sure."
"He seemed perfectly fine to me. I did have to stare him down earlier. I hope you know what you're doing with this baby of yours." Penny said. "Trying to pass this child off as his going to be difficult, you know?"
"That's why I can't take that DNA test or allow Harvey to come with me during the Ultrasounds. They show gestational age, you know?"
"Yes, . This Dr. Agard is well aware of this since my current boyfriend is an obstetrician. Does Eddie know about the baby at all?"
"Why do you think he's trying to sue me for the practice? He swears the baby is his and he knows that I told him it was Harvey's. So he figures he will just take away my practice and realize that Harvey doesn't want me so I will have no recourse but to return to his sorry ass."
"Do you think it will work? From what you told me, he's been in love with her for a long time."
"I don't need him to marry me. I just need to tie him to me so eventually it will drive a wedge between he and Donna and guess who will be waiting for him with open arms."
"You must be off your meds, Paula. You are extremely devious when they are not clouding your mind."
"It has nothing to do with my condition on or off my meds, Penny. I've had Harvey and I love Harvey and there is no one else for me."
Penny just shook her head and resumed her attention back to Wuthering Heights.