Hey Everyone!

I know, I know! Haven't updated, but I've been swamped with homework and work and school and catching up on all of the season premiers of all my television shows, since I don't have my fix of USA. Ugh, I am going to hate Thursdays...

Anyways, here's an update. It's a small chapter with only one scene, but this is a VERY important scene.

Just read and you'll understand.

Enjoy!

P.S. Not my Suits.

She sat at the coffee shop, lost in thought. Her warm cup of Joe was doing nothing for her freezing hands. Of course, she could blame it on the late October weather. But it might have to do with the nerves which caused her hands to be cold and clammy. Later on in the day, Karly Klades was going to testify against Gregory Hart, and the blond woman was absolutely terrified. Although the thought of Harvey as her lawyer comforted her, it still didn't calm the nerves it brought seeing Gregory again.

"Karly," the soft voice of Maxine Harris snapped her out of her trance.

"Sorry," the green-eyed woman said, "I'm just nervous."

Max smiled, "Don't be. There's no reason to."

"Thanks Max," Karly said smiling

A bunch of children in costumes ran by them on the other side of the window as they rushed to school. Karly's eyes rose in realization; it was October thirty first, which mean it was Hallowe'en. Now the women didn't have superstition, but her mother always carried around sage and a rabbit's foot. Was it a sign to not go through with court?

"Should we go through with this? Maybe we could reschedule? I mean, it wouldn't be so bad..."

Max placed her cup down, "Karly, don't freak out, okay? You can do this. Do not let Gregory win this. You are going to go into court, and you are going to win this sexual harassment lawsuit."

Karly let out a startled laugh, "Huh, yeah, sexual harassment."

Max's eyebrows furrowed.

"Karly, what did he do, exactly?"

The blond rung her hands together, avoiding Max's question.

"Oh Karly," Max said, reaching out to hold Karly's hand, "He didn't..."

Karly just licked her lips, "We were together before all of this happened. He thought that maybe things hadn't changed..."

"Why not go to the police?"

"It was too late when I told my father. It was his idea anyway. I don't want anything to do with that rat bastard, but my dad insists that we go after him. I just want this to end. We broke up that night. That was that."

The brunette's jaw dropped, "What? That night? Why didn't you tell Harvey?"

"Does it matter?" The blond said defensively.

"Yes, it does," Max said, "What would happen if that information blew up in court?"

"Harvey could handle it."

"Handle? Karly, Harvey may be good, but he is not Superman. They could use the fact that you two were a couple against you. You have to face the truth sooner or later."

Karly snorted as she grabbed her bag hastily, "The truth? If your so concerned about the truth, maybe you should take your own advice."

Almost instantly, Max remembered the letter in her bag, still sealed, still unread.

"When you find your truth, I'll think about revealing mine," the woman said before storming out of the coffee shop, leaving the cold October air behind her as she cross the street.

Max turned away from the door, and looked down at the bag beside her. She may be slightly agitated, but Max knew the blond was right. Who was Max to be preaching about finding out the truth when she had the chance to do it more than once? Reaching into her bag, she grabbed the almost-ripped, heavy envelope. With the butter knife sitting on the table, she sliced under the flap, opening the letter. She looked in, noticing there was several pieces of paper. She grabbed the letter. With shaking hands, she unfolded the sheets.

The paper still smelled like her mother, and almost instantly, Max got emotional.

She remembered her face; her warm, sun-kissed, slightly wrinkled face. She was darker than Max, and always teased her for it. Unlike Max, her smile was wide and brilliant, shining her pearly whites that unconsciously drove men crazy. She was loud and all-over the place, unorganized and frantic, but Max understood that it was structured chaos. She loved her wild, independent mother, and always wondered what she saw in her father.

She looked around quickly, noticing that it was still early for the morning rush to be in the coffee shop, so she settled into the booth in the corner, and began reading. As she was reading the words, she read them in her mother's voice and tone.

'Maxie,' the letter started, and Max smiled.

'When you're reading this, you'll know that I'll be long gone. But that's okay, because I know that by the time you're reading this, I know you'll be strong and successful, and be happy with where you are in life, and that's what I want. I want you to be happy, baby.'

Max quickly wiped the tears leaking from her eyes before continuing.

'Oh gosh, you were always happy. I know most moms say that, but whatever they say is bullshit, because they have never had a child as happy as mine.'

Max laughed. Her mother never punished her for profanity. Hell, her mother was a sailor when it came to potty mouths.

'I remember you as a child, always brightening everyone's day. If it was just a quick hello, or helping someone with their groceries, you always went out of your way to help people out. Maybe that's why I think you'll be a lawyer one day.'

"What?" Max whispered.

'That's why I took the job at Jackson Fortworth. Bringing you into work all those times wasn't just a coincidence, you idiot. I wanted to direct you in the right direction, and I am just hoping and wishing that you become a great lawyer. Maxie, you are so good at saving the little guy, or even defending the big guy when they need you to. You would never raise a finger at anyone, even if the little fucker deserves it. Sweetheart, you can talk your way out of murder if you wanted to. But I know that if you did anything wrong, you would own up to it. You always tell the truth, just like some hot, sexy, intelligent woman that I know. Oh wait, that's me.'

She laughed as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

'Now this is the part where I get serious. I don't want no if's, and's, or butt's. Ha, see what I did there? Okay, now no more playing. I want you to accept what I'm saying, and I want to hear you say 'Yes Mom' out loud. I don't care if your in a public place, or sitting at home, but remember that either I'm watching you from above, or I'm the ghost that's been haunting you. So I want to hear you. Do you understand?'

"Yes Mom," she said, feeling as she was sitting in front of her as a spirit rather than from up above.

'Good girl. Now here is where I tell you one of the most important things in your life.'

"Yeah?" Max asked.

'Love your father.'

"She was drunk when she wrote this," Max mumbled to herself.

'No, I'm not drunk. Relax yourself, alright? Don't make me bring the wrath of God on your ass, child. I may be dead, but don't think I still won't smack you around, alright?'

Max nodded childishly before she continued reading.

'Good. Now, let me tell you a story. I know you know all of my stories, so I'm going to tell you a different one. It is about how I threw away your father's heart... before you stole it back.'

She gasped.

'We were good together, your father and I. He was a hopeless romantic, and I was a schmuck for romance. When we first got engaged, your father picked out a ring that was obviously way too big for my hand, so he brought me to Tiffany's to pick out any one I wanted. Yes, I know I told you I've never been there, but if I told you that I turned down a twenty carat ring, I would probably never hear the end of it. Anyways, your father picked out one for me: a single, white gold band ring. I laughed at him, saying I didn't like wearing rings in general. But your father loved the fact that he was a taken man. So after some deliberation, we both would share that ring: he would wear it on his finger, and when he wanted me to wear it, I would weave it through a chain and wear it as a necklace. I know, it was cheesy, but we were young. It made sense to us at the time; sharing something so valuable.'

Max laughed, Typical move by mom. Putting her own spin on things.

'We were married for three years, six months and nineteen days before one day I woke up and felt sick to my stomach. I didn't need a pregnancy test or a doctor to prove that you were inside me. But the second I told your father, he emptied out the entire shelf of pregnancy tests at the drugstore. After a lot of water and a pile of positive pregnancy tests, your father practically dragged me to the doctor. The poor fellow, he had to tell the upcoming billionaire or jackass (which ever you prefer, baby) that he was having a child. He wasn't believing it for a minute. But there you were, five weeks old, literally a tiny thing. I cried my eyes out: I couldn't help it. From the second I saw you on that screen, I knew that you would be someone amazing one day.'

She wiped her cheeks.

'Gosh, that was so long ago. Now I may not have your memory, baby, but I will never forget that moment when your father and I were sitting on the couch, with me five months in, when he told me that he wanted a divorce. Pregnant women don't move fast, but I'm pretty sure your father got whiplash, the little shit. For a pregnant woman, I destroyed his home pretty good. I stormed out of the home faster than when I ran to that sale at Coach. That's besides the point. I loved your father so much, and for him to want to get rid of me because he didn't want an offspring just pushed me over the edge. I made up my mind that night, that if I could wait until you were born, we could make it work out. But I was so angry that I didn't want to stay. Your father chased after me, telling me it shouldn't be such a big deal. I told him to shove those papers up his ass and divorce me when the child comes, because he would never win against a pregnant woman. I said some things here or there that didn't affect him, but once I told him he could never see you...'

She turned the page.

'It was like something inside of him snapped, realizing that he had a kid, and it just absolutely broke his heart. He looked so weak, Maxie. He begged me not to, that he would do anything to see you, that he was sorry, that he won't ever divorce me... but I put my foot down. I told him that things have changed, and it can't go back.'

Max's trance was snapped when the waitress filled her coffee before going to the next table.

'Now don't forget baby, I was still thoroughly pissed when I said that, and he was pissed too. He told me that he was going to show the papers to my lawyer the next day, and that was that. I waited it out, because I knew the second he would look at you, he would forget about the divorce, and the whole argument. But no, he was a douche-bag, and decided to take up the last four months of my pregnancy to finalize everything. I had the ring last, and when he realized that, he went in full business man mode. He called all of his connections, trying to take everything I owned to find that ring. It meant a lot to him, and I knew he wanted it back: that's why I didn't give it to him. I hid it from him in the one spot that I knew that he would look last. I knew that if I had this ring, he wouldn't leave me.'

Max stopped reading for a moment to grab the napkin on the table to dab her eyes.

'But we destroyed our relationship. There was nothing left but hate. I wanted to be with him, Maxine, don't ever think I didn't. I loved your father more than anything. I still do. But there was too much damage; we couldn't fix it.'

"Oh mom..." Max said, feeling her pain.

'I know baby, I tried to make it work. But I couldn't change him. I made him into the heartless being he is now. I took the one thing he wanted most in the world.'

"The ring," the brunette said out loud.

'You.'

Her eyebrows furrowed.

'I thought your father wanted the ring. He did at first, but then I soon realized that the ring wasn't the only thing that was valuable that we wanted to share. I know I told you your father was in Moscow when you were born, but he was here, in New York. The second I went into labour, I called his ass up, screaming at him to get me to a hospital. Of course, this was literally six days after the divorce was finalized, but we seemed to forget that we were divorcees, and realized that we were soon to be parents.'

Max shook her head.

'You know this part now, since I've drilled into your head that you put me through nineteen hours of hell. But the only reason I got through it was your father. He was my coach, my guide, my leader. Now that I notice it, the reason you are so confident and a natural born leader in whatever you do is because of your father. You both could command an army. You always know what to say to people to convince them to do anything, and my darling, you certainly did not pick that trait up from me.'

She felt it. Max finally felt a connection to her father.

'As I was holding you in my arms, we didn't know what to name you. Now I know you're going to hate me, but I was going to name you Elouisania.'

"What the fuck, Mom?" She whispered.

'I know you're cursing right now, and I give you every right to. But I thought it was cute, calling you 'Ellie' or 'Ana'. Your father laughed and pulled you from my arms, holding you tightly. That was all it took for him to fall in love with you. He just held you, and looked into your hazel eyes; my eyes. Your father had those eyes he used to look at me with; adoration, care, love. I knew that he would never look at me like that again, since those feelings would be mixed with pain and sorrow, and I couldn't help but cry. He loved someone more than he ever loved me. Someone else stole his heart, and I was completely fine with it.

"Max," he said. "Her name is Max."

I couldn't help but smile.

"Maxine Penelope," I remember him uttering over and over again. He held you close and uttered sweet nothings. I ran your name through my head. 'Maxine Penelope Harris'. It was perfect. You were perfect. I wanted to take care of you so much that it sometimes drove me to insanity. Your father and I built a mutual respect for each other, and one day I just finally let him pay for whatever you wanted. So yes Max, every present I bought you, the house we lived in, even your university fund, was from your father's money. Being a secretary at a law firm pays well, but not too well, baby.'

She let out a deep breath. For her entire life she's hating the man, and yet he was the one who named her. Hell, he was the one who was supporting her and she didn't even know it.

'I know you feel guilty right now, sweetheart, but that night, we talked about the situation. After sharing our thoughts, we decided that it would be much easier on you if you hated your father, rather than be torn between two parents. We chose the lesser evil, baby. Julian is an only child of divorced parents; he knows how it hurts between choosing which parent to love. It was better for you to hate him, then for him to see you in pain. Forgive him, Max. He wasn't the one who wrong you. If you're going to blame someone, blame me, because I was the one who kept you away from him. I was the one who fed you all those lies about how he was an asshole. Hate me for all those horrible things I've said about him, because he isn't heartless; not when it comes to you.'

The brunette covered her mouth before the sob broke through.

'So please, I am begging you, Maxine. Start loving your father, because he has done nothing but love you.'

Max put the papers down on the table before resting her head on the cushion behind her. It was hard accepting the fact that everything she was told was a lie. With deep breaths, she took the papers again, reading the last page.

'I love you with every bone in my body, Maxie. Most people would think differently of me now that they know the truth, but I know how your mind works, Max. You'd understand where I'm coming from without a second guess. I see you growing everyday, and you are already such a beautiful and smart girl. I've given you advice many times in my life, but this is the one that matters. So listen up.'

And she did.

'When you love someone, regardless of who they may be, you must give it your all. I know you might get hurt in the end, but if you risk it; if you give it everything you had, you won't ever hate yourself for not trying hard enough. If that person can't handle your love, then that person wasn't meant to love you. Cherish them, care for them, be with them.

Do not be afraid to love them.'

Max wiped more tears away.

'Now you have to promise me that you won't give your father shit for not giving you this letter soon enough. I gave it to him, because even though I think he's a prick, he's the one prick in the world I could trust with my last letter to my beloved daughter. If I know your father, which I do, he would spend at least six to nine years waiting to give you this letter, since I told him to give it to you when he fully grieved over my death. But knowing your father, I know he will never fully grieve, so I am just hoping that you read this.

I love you Maxine, and don't you ever think I will leave you alone. I will be with you always, until the very end.

Mom.

P.S. If your father is still looking for the damn ring, ask your great-grandmother. She always did keep a message in a bottle.'

Max put the papers down on the table before crying into the napkin. She was silent, and he shoulders did not shake, but tears fell from her eyes as she thought deeply about the letter. She hadn't had communication with her mother for eleven years, and it seemed just like yesterday she was calling her, asking when she was coming home from work. Little did she know, that would be the last phone call with her mother. Max pulled her head out of the napkin, wiping her face quickly. At least her mother knew she loved her before she died.

She noticed the clock said six-forty five, and looking down at the last page, she saw the final sentence.

Great-gran? What does she have to do with anything?

Thinking about it for a moment, her eyes snapped up. She quickly folded the paper back into the envelope before putting it in her bag. She left a couple of dollars on the table before rushing out of the coffee shop. Sitting on her Vespa, she hastily put the key in the ignition before driving off into the rising sun.

She had to get home.

Changed your mind on Julian?

Review it!

xoxo N.