Hi Folks! I bet you thought I had forgotten about this little story. Nope. I will be brief. This is quite a long chapter and the quote in the middle I did not write but found on Pinterest and saved. Thanks to Korsh for allowing us to play with his characters. Even if he can't decide what to do with them. Happy New Year! Please R &R if so moved. Thank you-Carebearmaxi
Paula, Donna, and Harvey - Take Two
Chapter 9 - Family Party
Later that night, after their respective busy days had ended with a quick but tasty pasta dinner and a glass of scotch, Harvey and Donna lay naked and close together in Harvey's king size bed. Harvey was drifting off to sleep with his arms comfortably surrounding Donna's warm body very close to his. The duvet covered them both which belied the twisted sheets in which they were tangled. Just as Harvey had kissed the top of Donna's head and lay with his cheek on top of it, Donna started speaking. She spoke softly but Harvey's eyes jolted open quickening his heartbeat. Donna must have felt it because her hand that had been lying tranquilly on his bared chest started to stroke it almost soothing his heart to slow down.
"What about my mother?" He murmured squeezing Donna tighter to his body. Harvey was so warm and contented that the thought of not holding her at least part of the day or night in his arms was abhorrent.
"She's throwing an engagement party for us," Donna's voice was low and deep. She had wanted to mention it earlier in the evening but at dinner their conversation was centered around the firm's happenings. Afterward while they enjoyed their scotch, Harvey's dark eyes became sparkled and mischievous. One thing led to another and suddenly Donna had been carried off to bed all the while she pulled Harvey on top to quickly stake his claim inside her once again.
"When?" Harvey said still fighting to stay awake.
"Around the end of April. She called me this afternoon and I have to say I am very glad I talked with her."
Harvey was on full alert now.
"What did she tell you?" He asked. His attention clearly on Donna's words and his eyes suddenly more awake than they had been several minutes prior.
Donna raised her head off Harvey's chest. She turned her body now resting her chin on her crossed hands on Harvey's chest.
"Is it just because you're a lawyer or do you always ask this many questions?" Donna joked attempting to lower Harvey's sudden hackles; but gazing upon him and stroking his chest with adoration in her eyes, for she loved Harvey as much he loved her. With no longer needing to hide that love behind quickly lowered eyes or carefully constructed sentences, she never ceased to make sure that he knew that he was loved and adored by her.
"You know my mom's a sensitive subject with me. I just want to know what horrible story she told you about me. I mean you are the woman I'm going to marry, so I can imagine what she may have told you without being able to defend myself," Harvey said half jokingly. He remembered the disastrous dinner with Paula and the silly story of how Harvey could not sing even when he was six years old. Not a terribly insulting story by many standards but one that had embarrassed him in front of his old girlfriend.
Donna resumed her former position pressed against Harvey's body, their legs deliciously intertwined and her head in her favorite spot on Harvey's chest, she began again to stroke his still warm chest and stomach to which Harvey burst with a giggle when she hit a particularly tickilish spot lowdown on his stomach. Donna moved her head more close to the middle of Harvey's chest and just listened to his heartbeat and at the same time she could hear hers and feel like now they were totally in sync.
"Come on, Donna, what did mom say?"
Donna hesitated and embarrassed to say this out loud to him. "She told me that you called me someone very special to you."
"That's hardly surprising, Donna. You've always been very special to me. You know that," Harvey said moving turning Donna onto her back then to gaze at her beautiful luminous face and into those big dark green eyes. Harvey supported his head with one propped elbow. She was so beautiful. Her fiery red hair looking dark in the small light emanating from window. It splayed around her head on the pillow the image one of a dark haired angel. Her pale skin reflecting the light and feel so soft and pliant against his. He wanted to take her again and never be set free. However, badly he had become distracted, he decided to continue the conversation about his mother. He than gave Donna a quizzical look as to ask her why she was surprised he would call her "very special".
"Yes, but this was long before you were with Paula and about a year ago when you went to Boston to mend your fences with Lily."
Donna reached up and stroked Harvey's face and then pulled him down closer for a kiss. They were still caught in the afterglow. Their lovemaking had been sweet and slow as they savored each other and were grateful they now had allowed themselves this release after a hard day at the office.
After kissing her, Harvey manuevered his body to sit between Donna's long legs. Her knees rose cradling Harvey's hips and buttocks.
"Donna, I haven't always said it aloud because I was too afraid for you to leave me, but you are the most special person to me."
"I love you, Harvey. Never forget that," Donna said then and tugged on his neck to come closer and they kissed deeper this time. "I wanted to tell you that the night before you wanted to turn yourself in the day before Mike's verdict."
He clasped her hand that fell between them after stroking his face. He kissed it.
"I won't ever. I could never forget it. I love you even more Donna. So don't forget that because I know sometimes I speak without going through a filter but I will always treasure you for being that woman who loved me even when I was a dick to her."
"Speaking of dicks..." Donna continued with a smirk and a raise of her eyebrows.
"Don't go there, Paulsen."
"Feels like you already have." Donna could feel Harvey's quickly thickening shaft lying just near her opening. She opened her legs a little wider and could feel Harvey right at the tip of her erotic spot and her breathing started to quicken just anticipating the moment when he entered her body again.
Harvey figured that was his signal. He reached down and stroked himself and slowly entered Donna. She grabbed the bedsheet and Harvey kissed between her breasts and the pushed himself slowly into her rising up to see her looking longingly at him from below.
They then resumed where they had left off an hour before.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
March passed quickly. The days were moderating and Winter's chill was still there but luckily no more snow had fallen complicating their commute to work. Early April still contained a chill but after Tax Day, April 15, the days were becoming increasingly warmer but the precipitaton had increased.
Little or nothing had been heard from Paula, so Harvey was safe to assume that her pregnancy is going well. However curiosity killing him, Harvey without Donna's knowledge did check in with Paula by phone a few times. He did accompany Paula mainly out of continued curiosity and less about Paula's pestering, again without Donna's knowledge, to Paula's last doctor's appointment. Unfortunately, no ultrasound was performed. Harvey was very disappointed in that he still had not seen even the smudgiest ultrasound print of his baby but happy that he heard his baby's heartbeat again as it checked out strongly with the Doppler. So, neither Paula nor Harvey was worried relieving a lot of undisclosed tension on Harvey's part.
Harvey was thinking that Donna had finally accepted that Paula was carrying his child because she had not recently asked if Paula had agreed or was still reluctant to take the DNA test or if a test had ever been scheduled. So, at the moment, there was peace between Specter and soon-to-be Specter.
During this time in late April, Lily's engagement party for her son and Donna went off without a hitch. Many weeks previous, Lily and Donna had conferred with Roberta, Donna's mother, for the decorations and any specific theme that Donna wanted to base her engagement. For one who was in theatre and loved acting, Donna chose a very basic and simple theme for her engagement party. Just a few decorations created simply to convey to others unknown to them who they really were. Two long ago lovers who became coworkers and best friends until they could no longer maintain that platonic air and shared how they had loved one another from day one.
One of the pictures which hung in the dining area was commissioned by Lily to one of her more prominent art students. The background was a painting of two people standing together on their wedding day hand in hand looking into each other's eyes. The woman, of course, had red fiery hair dressed in a plain off-the-shoulder wedding gown and the man with a definitive spiky hairdo dressed in a tux. The words written over it, small but readable stated:
"If two hearts are meant to be together, no matter
how long it takes, how far they go, how tough it seems,
fate will bring them together to share their love forever."
In light of the brief history of them that Harvey gave Lily when he went north to talk out his divided loyalties between Paula and Donna, Lily thought this was a very appropriate piece of poetry. Lily had painted her own picture which she was giving Donna and Harvey as a wedding gift of a seascape off the New England coast with another longer poem which Donna was using as part of her wedding vows whenever they decided on a wedding date. Lily had suggested to both Harvey and Donna that spring or fall were usually the two best seasons of the year to get married. Roberta also suggested these same two seasons as a way to get these two crazy kids to the altar, but neither Harvey nor Donna had taken the bait.
Donna had informed Lily that she wanted Harvey to enjoy this party as well; inasmuch, he could since Harvey never liked attention to his life in this way. Winning court cases, celebrating humongous mergers for the firm and getting his name in the paper for uncovering corporate espionage were the ways Harvey loved attention. He always wanted his big heart and loyalties for his family alone. Donna, of course, sitting at the apex of the small pyramid of people with whom he would trust with that knowledge of who he was in his heart. Donna need not have worried as Harvey was so in love and so happy that he knew their wedding was not all about him. This was Donna's day and one that she waited for so many years. She could have asked him to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, and he would gladly completed the task if he knew it would make her happy.
Saturday night April 28th was chosen. Marcus had insisted that they hold it in the largest banquet room at the back of his restaurant. Lily knew that when in town Harvey always loved the food there and it did not hurt that your little brother was the propietor and manager of the place. Besides Harvey had told his mother on the phone a few weeks ago that he and Donna were going to visit and he wanted to bring Donna to Marcus' restaurant as she had never been even those few times when she accompanied Harvey on business trips with clients in the Boston area. The lack of showing Donna his family's roots was usually Harvey's fault because for twenty years memories of his broken family and his mother's deeds to make it so were a dark spot in Harvey's otherwise hometown pride. Donna had no objections when asked, so Donna was proud to fly both her parents and her brother on her dime up to Boston for the party. Her other family were also invited but lived close enough like her cousin, Joseph, and his family with whom Donna was close. Harvey had never met them but she knew they would become fast friends he being a lawyer as well.
Lily acted as hostess and was there to greet the guests at the door and to point them in the direction of the food, bar, and the guests of honor. From across the room standing near the bar at the moment, Harvey had spotted his cousins on his mom's side enter the room then those of the firm family who had specially been invited, and finally Donna's family led by her father followed in the rear of the perpetually streaming line of guests. Before the doors closed as heads had been counted was a surprise dark-haired guest with a thick Irish brogue who had sneaked into the party by joking that he was the one-plus for Jimmy.
"Thought I should come over here and pay my respects for the happy couple before partaking of this lovely feast," Alan O'Keefe said as he kissed Donna's cheek and shook Harvey's hand.
"Alan!" Donna exclaimed happily. "I'm so surprised you could come! I thought the schedule at the theater would stop you from attending."
Alan laughed a fully belly laugh and then putting a hand near his mouth as if to confide something confidentially, he quipped to Donna, "To tell you the truth, I think my understudy still needs a reason to live. So here I am."
"So nice to meet you, Mr. Specter. I must say you are a lucky man. Not only is she a beautiful woman I hear she's quite a COO."
Harvey's smile lit up the room with his pride, "Yes, she is. I am a lucky man. You can call me Harvey.
At the odd look that Donna noticed on her fiance's face, she said, "We can catch up later. This is Harvey's brother, Marcus' restaurant and there is nothing that you can ask that he has not provided. So eat, drink, and be merry, Alan!" Donna said uplifting her glass in salute as Alan walked away.
When Alan walked away, Harvey took a huge gulp of the scotch he held in his hand.
"Harvey," Donna said side whispering to him. "He's a theater friend and my family will not bite you. You know how my mother loves you."
"Your father doesn't. I swear you're father was bearing teeth when I watched him walk in. He never even acknowledged me and went straight to the bar."
"Well, mom came over to try to smooth things over. Jimmy wasn't so bad to you, right?" When did this man start caring what people thought of him? I love him for his little insecurities and I know he's very jealous of Alan. Well, it will keep Harvey on his toes. Not that Harvey really has any reason to be jealous.
"Is it really a surprise that my father and you have never gotten along? Every time you see each other there's some legal problem that brings out the defensiveness in my dad and your protectiveness over me. It's sweet and annoying all at the same time. However, tonight you shall both have to find a way to fight over me but not fight over me, got it?" Donna took a sip of her champagne holding the flute by the stem and gracefully tipping it up to meet her lips.
Harvey just groaned.
Before the doors of the room were finally closed, two last guests breathlessly appeared. Harvey and Donna quickly left their posts to meet them at the door.
Lily said, "I guess I don't need to introduce the Ross' to the Specters' to be.
"Thank you, Lily, for inviting us. By the looks of the gaping mouths, they certainly weren't expecting us," Rachel said giving a small hug and kiss to Harvey's mom.
"Well, I shall make my way to the smorgasbord and help myself. Remember, you too, anytime you want to make your formal announcements, let me know." Lily kissed both Donna and Harvey and then took her husband Bobby's arm where he escorted her to the dining table.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I thought you said you weren't coming, Rach," Donna said as she clinked glasses with Rachel who was notably not drinking any alcohol.
"The way I've been feeling I didn't think I would be up for a whirlwind weekend trip to Boston," Rachel said saying everything but dropping the entire message she was trying to convey subtly.
"Feelin' how?" Donna asked playing dumb. She knew exactly what was happening with her friend. The glow of her complexion and the fullness of her hair did nothing to hide the work of pregnancy hormones. Donna, again, felt a little sadness for herself in the midst of her happiness for Rachel and Mike.
"Pregnant," Rachel finally confessed all smiles. Donna smiled wide as well and hugged her.
"I'm so happy for you and Mike. You are going to be great parents. How did he take it?"
Rachel lowered her head and placed a piece of hair behind her ear. She looked up at her best friend and smiled with watery eyes, "He was so over the moon. I didn't think he could hold me tight enough."
"Aww that's wonderful," Donna sighed stroking her friend's arm and glancing across the room at the bar where Harvey stood with Mike and Alan. Alan? Suddenly Harvey pulled Mike into a manly hug and Harvey's wide smile lit up the room and she could tell that now Harvey had knowledge of the new anticipated Ross blessed event.
"Donna," Rachel began carefully.
"Yes, Rach, I told him. Not how I wanted to but I told him that I had miscarried our baby way back when. It came out about a week after we were engaged and after the hullabaloo with Paula's baby."
It was Rachel's turn to place a comforting hand on Donna's arm. "How is that situation going? I see you put your ring back on. It blinded me when I walked into the room."
Rachel joked because Donna was always better at banter and lightness. Not that Donna could not say or feel heavy things it was just easier putting a lighter spin on it.
"I couldn't resist. Harvey can make a compelling argument when he wants. Just like a lawyer." Donna took a sip of her wine.
"Harvey thinks I don't know but I know he's been keeping tabs on Paula and I know he's accompanied her to at least one more doctor's appointment. It just drives me crazy because I know that Paula is lying when she calls that seedling "our baby" to Harvey."
"Now don't blame the child, Donna. It's an unfortunate accident. Have you thought what you are going to do if this baby really is Harvey's and not Eddie's?" Rachel asked knowing that perhaps Donna's empathic radar was off or skewed in some way due to the person involved. However, normally, her radar was always right on point when it involved the man she loved.
"No, Rachel, I have not thought about it. I'll be damned, though, if I will give that English tart my man if that's what she's thinking." Donna took a large sip of her wine and then stated she had to see her father about something. She asked Rachel if she felt like getting a little blood to her feet.
"No, it's ok. I see Mike coming back. I'm having a bit of nausea again. You go," Rachel said smiling up at Donna's face as she rose, straightened the skirt of her dark blue one shouldered with peek-a-boo cutouts gown.
Soon Mike returned and sat next to his expectant bride. She stroked his arm as he sat at the comfortable conversational couches that had been set up for this purpose. Dinner was due to be served shortly and then everyone would move to the dining area again. It was formal so there was specific table seatings set up for all invited guests.
"Rachel, did Donna tell you that Paula's pregnant?" Mike said concerned. Mike had had a long conversation with his best friend and mentor prior to this meeting over the phone in which Harvey had voluntarily blurted out the news.
"Yes, she had told me prior to this. What did Harvey say?" Rachel took a sip of her cranberry juice with ginger ale and felt she may need to visit the ladies' room before heading back to the dining area. Between the nausea and the constant urination, Rachel was looking forward to her second trimester.
"He's concerned because he knows that Donna feels the baby isn't his. He's afraid she will turn tail and leave him if and when Paula takes the DNA test and the baby turns out to be Harvey's. You know how he is with abandonment," Mike said clasping his hands together over his bent knees.
"I don't think Donna's going anywhere even if that's the case. She wouldn't give Paula the satisfaction or what did Donna name her? 'English tart'"? Rachel could not help smiling at that sarcastic name. Mike could not hold his mirth back either and erupted in a laugh.
"Mike, I'm going to the Ladies' room before I have an embarrassment, so I'll meet you at the table."
"Sure thing, honey," Mike kissed her cheek as he watched his wife rise and head in the direction of the restrooms just outside the closed doors.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
James Paulsen sat his table with his wife and Donna's brother, Jimmy. Alan had decided to circulate and see if he could find some other suitable female companionship other than the one of the two guests of honor.
"Hi daddy," Donna said kissing her father's cheek and then making her way around the table kissed her mother's cheek and her brother rose and hugged her tightly. He whispered into her ear that she looked radiant, beautiful, and happy. To which Donna thanked him and agreed she was happy.
"So, Alan was a surprise. I really didn't expect to see him here. We tried to have lunch in the city last week, but his theater and work schedules are packed," Donna said trying to break the ice. She had ventured over to the table without Harvey because the look on her family's faces revealed that her brother had not kept his big mouth shut about Harvey and Paula.
Donna sat down on Alan's vacated seat next to her father.
Donna's dad was a stout man with a serious expression on his otherwise jolly looking face. Donna's mother from where Donna had inherited her slender build, voluptuous bosom, long legs, and red hair held her husband's hand trying to stifle what she anticipated to become an explosive conversation with or without Harvey present.
"Sis, I apologize in advance but after your telephone conversation with mom, she insisted I let the cat out of the bag. Mom told Dad. Hence his sour demeanor at what should be a joyous occasion," Jimmy stated glaring at their father.
"I knew he was going to hurt you again, sweetheart. I don't want you marrying that man; however, I do know how much you love him. I'm just not sure how much he loves you."
"I love her with everything I am," Harvey said as he approached the Paulsens' table. He saw Donna sit down and thought maybe he should try to greet his future in-laws. " I may be a little late admitting it but I have always been in love with your daughter and the last thing I ever wanted to do was to hurt her. Any fight we have ever had was to protect her from any mistakes that she may have made because she loves you very much."
"Harvey," Donna sighed and was not relieved when he decided bring a chair up to the table and sit down intentionally next to her. Any other time she would never have stopped Harvey from proclaiming his love for her, but with the her father's look shooting arrows and Harvey's clenched jaw with drink in hand the situation was volatile to say the least.
"What is the issue, here, Jim?" Harvey asked stroking Donna's back as he talked trying to soothe her nerves that perhaps only he could tell from a distance.
"You know what I'm talking about," James Paulsen said challenging Harvey with his eyes.
" I assume someone informed you that my ex-girlfriend is carrying my child. That's really none of your business how we handle it. Just know that we are handling it and I am doing my best not to hurt anyone than they already have been," Harvey said with his hands balling into fists as they lay on the table and his jaw becoming painfully clenched. Donna tried to soothe him by placing her hand on the closest fist to her. Luckily, Harvey felt Donna's calming effect and unballed his fist. Harvey then clasped Donna's hand in his and stroked her knuckles with his thumb.
"Well, do you know that Donna miscarried your baby about thirteen years ago? She was devastated..."
"Jim!" Roberta exclaimed.
"Dad, stop!" Donna said and wanted to flee but Harvey's hand held her fast.
"That's enough!" Harvey said rising taking Donna's hand with him. "Look, Donna told me about that baby just recently. I am sorry. If I had known maybe things would have been different all these years later, but that's past. Now I love your daughter and she has agreed to become my wife and I could not be happier. However, if you feel you cannot join in our happiness, there's the door. I'll make an excuse to my mother who lovingly wanted to do this to welcome the Paulsens as part of the Specter family. Especially Donna whom my mom loves almost as much as I do! Come on, Donna, help me meet your other family members," Harvey said dragging an obviously distressed Donna with him.
After stomping off toward the head table, Donna stood her ground and refused to be dragged off like a caveman's woman.
"Harvey! Stop!" Donna shouted forcing him to let go of her hand.
"What!" Harvey shouted back. Jerking his entire body back to face her. His dark blue tie matching Donna's gown coming loose and swinging back and forth.
"That's not the way to leave things with my father," Donna said in a more calm voice.
Harvey breathed a slow breath and hung his head. He looked away and then raised his eyes back at her.
In a softer tone, Harvey acquiesced. "You're right. That was hardly a way to want to be welcomed into the family. I'll apologize later. I just don't like being villainized for deeds I've done in the past of which I had no knowledge or treated like I am not good enough for you for situations that should only be handled by us alone. I know I have never been angel especially where you've been concerned. I am trying to rectify that. This party is supposed to be for our joy at finally being together. I just think your father was out of bounds speaking of it here."
"Harvey, you are right. My father should not be harboring things from the past or the present. He's my father. You know how he has always overprotected me. I would hope that one day you two will come to some common ground concerning me. I apologize for him. He's as stubborn as you. My brother apparently was being pressured to say something about why I had made my little trip to Cortlandt a couple of months ago."
Harvey stared at her and he knew she had needed to talk to someone about the situation. He forgot that she always had her family there if she really needed them. For him Donna had always been his family. Being able to turn to his biological family when he needed comfort or a sounding board was very recent. That did not mean, though, that any private situations between he and Donna were to be shouted to the rooftops because Donna's father wanted everyone to know how Harvey had hurt his daughter in the past. Mostly everyone in this gathering had despaired of Harvey ever settling down and finding "the one". That included his mother. Speaking of whom he was not sure if she knew about Paula. Marcus seemed to be a little bit better at privacy than Donna's brother.
Harvey pulled Donna into his arms and took her face in his hands to search her eyes and could see the worry there. He tried to kiss it away tenderly without anyone seeing but the whole room erupted in cheers. They pulled apart and smiled at everyone and proceeded to their table at the front of the room.
As Donna took her seat beside Harvey, she spotted her father walk out and then her mother popped up out of her seat and pulled him back to it. Jim had run interference and had stood in front of the doors preventing their father from just plainly walking out. Then Alan came back accompanied by an attractive female whom Donna had not recognized. She thought it must have been one of Harvey's attractive female cousins because, though female, she did resemble many of the Specters.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sitting with Donna and Harvey was Lily, Bobby, Marcus, Katie, and their two children. The original plan was to have Donna's family at the head table as well, but Marcus thought the floor arrangement was not possible as the servers would only have a small thruway from the kitchen to the dining area. The last memory for any guest of this party was not have had food spilled all over their formal wear. Not to mention one of Marcu's nightmares. Not that it not ever happened, Marcus just wanted to take all precautions. By the looks of things unfolding this night, however, it was better and less embarrasing for Donna and Harvey to have kept the Paulsens toward the back of the room.
Lily clinked her waterglass and stood.
"Welcome family and close friends, I was so thrilled when Harvey told me he had proposed to Donna. He had come home not too long ago and had to make a tough decision regarding the rest of his life and with whom he wanted to share it although in the end I am adamant that his heart had always belonged to Donna first and foremost.
"I need to formally thank Donna for bringing my son back to me. You'll never know what that means to me. You may not realize it, but Gordon and Marcus both spoke so highly of you; however, I never realized how special you truly are and how much you have loved and protected my son and kept him so he could come back to us until you brought him back to me. We love you Donna and we welcome you to our family."
Then raising her glass, "To Donna" . Everyone repeated: "To Donna" Harvey stood up and raised his glass and then bent to kiss her. Donna's color rushed to the roots of her hair. She had never expected a tribute like that-not even from Harvey.
Donna then stood up and said:
"Thank you so much, Lily. I never thought I did that much for the whole Specter family. I did what I did and I said what I said because it is simply the way I am. Now, my beloved Harvey, I know you'd be nowhere without me," she smiled and said sarcastically. However, Harvey nodded emphatically and interrupted her
"I always said I would never be anywhere without her," Harvey bantered back.
Donna soon sat down as she had run out of words. They kissed again. Donna was overwhelmed with emotion between Lily's heartfelt tribute and her father's unwelcoming behavior. All she wanted to do, right now, was grab Harvey's hand and go elope.
She was a bit surprised that Harvey had taken to all of this elaborate celebration well. He normally spent celebrations even ones in his favor alone and brooding in a corner with a drink in his hand. Donna's continued feeling of just wanting to run and hide continued as she watched her family. She realized her family did not exactly feel the same way about Harvey although she always talked of what a good man he really was. Even her mother was not blinded by Harvey's charm and good looks. Roberta Paulsen did feel, however, and knew firsthand that when push came to shove Harvey's first thought was to protect her daughter at all costs no matter whether it was from selfish reasons or just for the fact that all Donna did because she was a kind and empathic person.
Soon the dinner was served and drinks distributed. A part of the floor had been cleared for dancing and some old members of Gordon's band who still played were employed to play at Gordon Specter's son's engagment party.
"Shit! I can't believe it!" Harvey said as he stood up in surprise.
"Are they the original members of the band your dad played with?" Donna ask knowing the answer by the look on Harvey's face.
"Now here's some people whom I really want to introduce you. Wanna come?" Harvey asked holding out his hand to Donna.
"I would love to," Donna said and took Harvey's hand and immediately left the table with him.
Harvey and Donna practically flew over to greet the old guys who used to play with his dad. They all greeted Harvey with hugs and slaps on the shoulder and told him how proud Gordon would have been of him and his bride if he could see him now.
"Who dug you guys out of your old musician homes? Marcus? Mom?" Harvey asked wondering how they all had been found. From what Harvey knew most of the men had retired to either their homes or nursing homes. He did notice that one of the guys was younger than the rest probably around Harvey's age.
"I'm George. I will be playing a tribute to your dad by playing my sax right here. My father is Otis," George said introducing himself and shaking Harvey's hand enthusiastically.
"Oh thank you, George. Hey Otis, good to see you" Harvey said rushing over to the drummer and hugging him.
"Thanks, guys. Let me introduce you to Donna," Harvey proudly said as he presented Donna to his late father's bandmates.
"Oh no need. We know your beautiful bride. Who do you think got us all together?"
Harvey's eyes welled with tears. He should have known it would be his future wife who would have found them. She alone knew how much his father's music and bandmates meant to Harvey.
"I had a little help from Lily," Donna admitted.
"We can see why you would want to marry her. She's kind and absolutely easy on the eyes, Harvey" Larry said as Harvey embraced him. Each member then enveloped Donna into a welcoming hug and mentioned how Gordon adored her and had contemplated marrying her himself if his son did not come to his senses and do it. Donna was overwhelmed at the affection these men held for Harvey. They had known him since he was a little boy who had skipped school just so he could accompany his dad to recording sessions and sneak in clubs underage so he could witness their combined musical brilliance.
"We'll catch up later," Harvey promised as he led Donna away from the band and back to their seats.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As per any party schedule there was a little digestion time between dinner and dessert. Many couples took this time to hold each other and dance close or to burn some calories and do a little jitterbugging. Donna always knew what a good dancer Harvey was having no real talent when it came to music but an innate sense of musicality which lent the reason why he was always a great dance partner.
As he and Donna danced to a jazz tune in each other's arms, Louis and Sheila found them.
"This is some party. Your father was a musician? I never knew. Is this one of his we're dancing too?" Louis asked holding Sheila in his arms and swaying to the music.
"Yep, it just happened to be called "Boppin' with Donna", Harvey said and looked at Donna as he said it.
"That's so great! He must have been a wonderful man and it so great that you had known him, Donna," Sheila said seemingly holding onto an over enthusiastic Louis.
"Yes, he was a great guy," Donna agreed looking at Harvey and letting him know that she thought he was a great guy too.
"Well, we're going to dance our way over to Mike and Rachel. How about that? We're going to be fathers! Mike Ross and Louis Litt!" Louis chuckled as he and Sheila danced their way over to Rachel and Mike. Sheila gave a little wave removing her hand temporarily from Louis' shoulder. Donna and Harvey waved back and then the tempo of the music slowed and they put their foreheads together and just absorbed the love between them.
"I love you," Harvey said looking into Donna's eyes now. "How about we go find an all night pastor or JOP and get married now?" Harvey wiggled his eyebrows at Donna attempting to entice her to accept her sudden need.
"You know, counselor, I thought about that earlier. However," Donna said placing a hand on Harvey's chest as they continued to dance slowly. "I have reconsidered my options and you are NOT getting off that easily. It seems you have taken to large celebrations well all of a sudden, so I am planning a huge wedding, at a church, and inviting all these wonderful people here tonight and I am getting your dad's guys to play our reception. What do you say? It will be the social event of the year. All the biggest law journals will report it and then you'll be THE Harvey Specter for a whole other reason," Donna said raising her eyebrows.
"We'll be THE Specters," Harvey corrected her and smiled his huge Cheshire Cat smile which he could see had alleviated some of Donna's tension.
After the dancing, they gathered at the cake table where a huge sheet cake slathered in white frosting with dark red and dark blue trim where written in the center said "CONGRATULATIONS HARVEY AND DONNA". Donna and Harvey stood behind the cake posed with a knife/server in their clasped hands. They blinked at the flashes from cameras and cell phones snapping at their eyes.
Harvey murmured, "I guess we'd better get used to this."
"I got news for you, Mister. Our wedding cake is going to reach the ceiling," Donna said smiling at Harvey.
Then in a lowered voice, she said to Harvey. "We're going to have to set a date soon. These guys are like hungry wolves. They seem more eager for us to marry than we. They won't last if we don't say something soon."
Harvey smiled and laughed. "How true."
The cake was then cut and served by Harvey and Donna who wound up with matching blue icing partially covering Harvey's tie and Donna's dress because Harvey's niece Lynne had rushed up to the table to help. She threw her arms to hug Aunt Donna and accidentally upended a plate.
Looking up to see if Aunt Donna was mad, she offered, "Aunt Donna, here's a napkin."
"Thank you, Lynnie," Donna said as she took the napkin.
"You're not mad. I got frosting all over your beautiful dress."
"No, of course not. It was an accident and it was bound to happen. Tell you what, though, help Uncle Harvey. He's going to be a walking piece of icing by the looks of it." Donna could not help laughing. Somehow there was blue frosting on Harvey's tie on the shoulder of his jacket and even on his face where an overhappy long lost Aunt Dorothy had kissed Harvey squeezing the piece of cake between himself and his aunt.
When Lynne asked to help, Harvey said, "Where you've been all night? I haven't seen my favorite niece since I got here. Of course you can help me, but I want a kiss from my favorite niece first. Right here," Harvey pointed to the blue icing that had landed on his cheek.
"That's silly, Uncle Harvey," Lynne said. "I've been here all night." She kissed him on his cheek and then licked her lips where the icing had been.
"You smell so good, Uncle Harvey," Lynne noticed.
"Yeah?" Harvey said while Lynne helped hand out plates of cake. "I am wearing Aunt Donna's favorite aftershave. It drives her nuts!" Harvey stage whispered in his niece's ear.
"Uncle Harvey!"
"Yeah, Uncle Harvey. Don't put thoughts into a 10 year old's head. Especially a female. I was a little wild at 10 years old," Donna said out of the side of her mouth.
"I bet you were." Harvey said his brown eyes twinkling.
Marcus Jr. then came up to the head table for his piece of cake and complimented Aunt Donna on her beautiful gown and then said how stupid his sister was to have messed it up with blue icing. Donna pulled M.J. behind the table and crouched down next to him.
"It was an accident, M.J. I bet you have had your share of silly accidents, too."
M.J. who was a throwback in looks to more of his Uncle Harvey than Marcus looked at Donna with big blue eyes and agreed.
"You are so pretty, Aunt Donna. I am glad you're marrying Uncle Harvey. Maybe you can have kids and we can finally have some new cousins to play with," M.J. said.
Donna kissed his cheek and took his hand and said, "Yes that's the plan. Go eat your cake now M.J. before you have to go home. It's getting late."
"I was hoping we could stay here forever," M.J. said with a big smile. Now he looks more like Marcus.
"If we stayed here forever, Uncle Harvey and I couldn't get married and have kids so you would have a cousin, right?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot. I was just having so much fun."
"I know, honey. So was I. I'll say goodbye before we leave, ok?"
"Sure. Love you, Aunt Donna," M.J. said. He put down his cake and gave Donna a big hug. Donna could not help it. Her eyes started to well.
After M.J. returned to his parents with his cake, Donna popped back up and then sat down behind the table as there were no more guests to be served. Harvey was chewing a large piece of cake and forking up to feed himself another bit.
"Everything ok?" Harvey asked looking at Donna's standing tears. He thumbed away the one that started to fall.
"M.J. is quite a little charmer. He's what seven?"
Harvey smiled. "Yeah we Specter men start early."
Donna smiled and said, "Oh wait until we have kids. I think we should have all girls and all like me to drive their dad crazy."
Harvey leaned into Donna having finished his cake and whispered in her ear. "Sounds good to me".
"No, we have to have at least one boy. I would kind of like to have a little you running around. Think of the girlfriends I would have to protect him from."
"He will handle them."
Donna looked back at Harvey with her eyes drawn up and her mouth shaped in a "O"
"Yeah like you were good at that."
"I had my fair share of good women."
"The only good woman you've had is me because I'm Donna," she said kissing him soundly on the mouth between bites of cake.
"And I know how Donna you are," replied Harvey in his most seductive voice.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The evening was coming to a close and for the most part with the exception of the rift between Donna's father and Harvey it had been a success.
The last more feisty of the dance couples were back on the floor still dancing including Harvey and Donna. Harvey just wanted the excuse to hold Donna close. He was not terribly upset that he and Donna's father had not worked out just what rubbed each other the wrong way but he promised Donna he would have it out with his soon-to-be father-in-law soon. The gesture was not lost on Donna and she was happy that at least Harvey was proving to be the bigger man. For Donna's brother and mother, their discomfort with the situation did not seem to weigh as heavy on their shoulders as they knew Donna had always known what was best for her even if it meant she had had to wait for Harvey to make the right move.
As they slowly turned around again, Harvey's text tone dinged.
"Who could that be?" Donna asked. "Mostly everyone we know is here except..."
"Paula," Harvey stopped and looked down taking his cell out of his jacket pocket.
Donna stood there in the middle of the floor with Harvey. She impatiently waited to see what emergency she had cooked up to bother Harvey on the night of his official engagement to her. Harvey looked up with a horrified look.
"What is it? What does she say?" Donna asked. "Harvey?"
"It's Paula. She's having cramps and is bleeding a little. She's on the way to the hospital and asked me to meet her there."
"Well, go, Harvey, that's not good to be bleeding when your pregnant," Donna said not liking the fact that Paula seemed to have the worst timing but knowing that Harvey would need to be there if it concerned his child the "if it his" being a given and unspoken between them.
"Are you sure, Donna?" Harvey said holding the side of her face in his hand. He stroked her cheek with a thumb and kissed her. "What's everyone going to say? They are going to think we had a fight."
"Don't worry. I'll make up some excuse. Just go. Paula will need you," Donna said to Harvey knowing it was the right thing to say but not feeling it in her heart. This is where her acting skills were handy. Donna was still able pull the wool over Harvey's eyes when necessary. She did it for him because he would never forgive himself if anything happened to this baby. He felt guilt posthumously for their child, so she did not want to add to his regret in that respect.
Harvey pulled her to his body and enveloped her and held her so tightly that she thought Harvey might not come back to her.
"I love you, Harvey."
Pulling back out their embrace just far enough to see her, he again took her face in his hands tenderly boring his dark brown eyes into her dark emerald ones, "And I love you. If it were anything else, you couldn't pull me away right now, but..."
"No, go, Harvey. I will be here for you."
He kissed her again tenderly as if he would never kiss her again and then swiftly left through the big double doors of the banquet room.
Donna sat down in shock. I'm not crying. I'm not giving Paula Agard the satisfaction. Do your worst you bitch! Harvey's mine and he will be for sure once I can prove that baby is not Harvey's!