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Donna Meets Lily -
Chapter 32 -
Audacity
Harvey opened the door to his childhood home. His mind was suddenly filled with memories of his childhood. They were not good memories. Since Donna had returned to California, Harvey had decided to take a few days off to find himself again. Louis was left as temporary managing partner but again Louis assured Harvey that he would contact him if the firm's life hung once again in the balance. At least Mike was there now, so Harvey felt a little reassured that Mike would not allow Louis' hunger for power do something stupid.
When he crossed the threshold to the kitchen and the now cold fireplace, he suddenly remembered one of the passion filled nights last winter that he spent here with Donna. Here where his mother had thought he would like to make new memories. Here where his father had told his mother to leave the house to Harvey. Here where his brother, Marcus, had lived with his own family keeping it safe and full of love for Harvey's time.
The last few days he had spent with his secret wife to everyone but Lily and Bobby were not as happy as they should have been. They tried desperately to be happy in each other's company, but each knew that separation was imminent although it lended a heightened passion to their love it also lended a sorrow. Five months! Five months at least, Donna said. She's not even sure if she would be here for our wedding celebration which was when we would celebrate our love for each other in front of all our friends and families. Then, maybe we would have revealed we already had been married , maybe not.
Oh, Donna! The promises I made when I left you at the airport I meant. I support you in this endeavor because I want to see you attain your dreams. You deserve this chance. I don't like being separated but I have to accept it if I accept that you are my wife. I know I did not promise that I could get away one of these weekends during our separation, but I promised I would try.
Harvey's cell phone rang.
"Hey Harvey, it's mom," Lily said.
"I know it's you, mom. What's up?"
"Are you in Boston?"
"Yes," Harvey frowned. "How did you know I would come here after Donna went back to California."
"Just a hunch," Lily said. "I know we may have not been close for twenty years but I still know my son. I thought you would want to come back here to find who you are again because of all the complications between you and Donna."
"I swear you and Donna are more alike than I care to think," Harvey said shaking his head. "You and she are omniscient...at least she used to be when it came to me."
"Harvey, are you physically feeling well?" Lily asked with concern. She had talked to Donna before she left and Donna thought maybe Harvey was having trouble with his head again because he stumbled twice when walking through the office. Of course, Harvey had fluffed it off saying he was fine and that the carpet was to blame, but Donna knew that path like she knew herself and there had never been any wrinkles in it to cause someone to stumble.
"Of course, mom, why do you ask?"
"No reason. I just wanted to make sure you were physically well."
There was a few moments of silence on the line. Harvey, never much of a talker anyway, was quiet and pensive.
"Say, Marcus and his family are coming for dinner tonight and I'm sure they would like nothing better than to see you. How about it?"
Harvey was near tears at the invitation. He felt so alone. He knew he had his biological family back. However the one person who had been a part of him from the first night they met was causing him the most pain. Harvey never believed in love at first sight, but he had come to believe the night Donna and he had met in the bar after his big win as an ADA was as close to love at first sight as it comes.
"Ok, mom. I would love to. What time?"
"Around 7:00 pm. By the way, I made your favorite dessert."
"Strawberry pie. You didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did. Now do you like Chicken Parm again or do I need to adjust the menu as well."
Harvey laughed with his mom's sarcastic quip. "No, I do love your Chicken Parm. See at you seven."
"Good. Can't wait."
Meanwhile Donna had started shooting the first scenes of her movie. The producers still had not worked out a title, but they made sure everyone pampered her while on the set. She had her own trailer and wardrobe consultant and hair and makeup people. Donna came on the set at 5:00 a.m. and was dressed and ready to shoot by 6:00 a.m. and if she was lucky they would get a break for lunch at 12:30 p.m. and then wrap up by 7:00 p.m. The staff were amazed at Donna's stamina and affability. They never knew that to work 11-12 hour days was the normal daily routine in her former position. Donna had never been spoiled herself except that Harvey would give her carte blance (almost) with his corporate card and augmented her salary by taking directly out of his own.
After about a week, she, her co stars and the crew were traveling to Santa Monica, San Diego, and Las Vegas for some location shoots. She arrived in Las Vegas and was to rise at the usual 4:00 am and her stomach lurched. She stuck her head in the toilet and proceeded to vomit the contents of her stomach from the night before. Donna felt much better after throwing up and decided she had probably caught a bug. As she ran her hand down her belly she noticed that it was not flat. In fact, the swelling had actually grown a little bit.
I can't be pregnant, can I? If I am I can't be that far along that I would feel swelling, would I? Oh Lord, what if I am? What does that mean for the movie shoot?Harvey will kill me if I find out I'm pregnant and don't return home. What am I going to do?
After these fleeting thoughts, she shook her head and shook off the thought of being pregnant. She dressed for the studio and was done just in time as the car pulled up in front of her hotel to take her to the location shot in the middle of the dessert.
They were filming this movie disjointedly like most movies were made now. Sometimes the first scene was shot last or the last scene was shot first. It all depended now on budget and availability combined with the director's vision of the interpreted work. The scenes in Las Vegas were not amounting to many, but they were an integral part of the picture. This part of the plot was where Monica having just moved to Las Vegas to take an executive job finds herself saying goodbye to her current husband. Monica's husband, Trevor, had traveled to Las Vegas to beg her to come back to him and Los Angeles wherein he promises things will change. The plot ends with Monica saying a painful goodbye to her husband by not giving up her dream job. She did not want him to change just because she had. This job was the type of which she had dreamt all her life-kind of like Donna's plight only Donna very much wanted to stay married to Harvey-her dream man.
They had been shooting now for five hours. It was now getting toward noon and although she was protected by an enormous sun umbrella and constantly given water Donna thought she was going to faint.
"Ok, Donna, we need you for a shot," the director said. Hurriedly the makeup and hair people went to where she sat to make sure all was still in place. Donna's hair had so much hairspray in it she thought birds could live in their peacefully and she never would have known.
Donna came out from under the umbrella and fell to the soft sand. The director, and most of the crew ran to her to see what happened. It was finally Mark Briello who played her husband decided to pick her up and carry her to her trailer.
"Donna...Donna..."
"Harvey?" Donna had said coming out of her fainting spell.
"No, it's Mark. Not Harvey. Do you need me to call him for you?"
"No, Mark, I'm ok," Donna said sitting up. Mark was still holding her hand and patting it. She carefully removed it from his grasp.
"Are you ok?"
"I think I'm pregnant," Donna blurted. She had not intended to say anything to anybody until she knew for sure but the fainting spell had dictated Donna's brain and tongue.
"Pregnant?" Mark asked. Mark Briello was a handsome man the same age as Donna. He was also married but his wife was in show business as well. She was a lighting director and she was working on a movie being shot not far from where they were in Las Vegas.
"That's great! My wife and I just became parents last year," Mark stated to Donna smiling widely showing a perfect set of beautiful white even teeth.
Donna laughed for a minute and then asked him. "If you don't mind my audacity, Mark. Are those real?" She pointed to his chompers.
Mark laughed. "No, they are capped and some have been replaced altogether. My own teeth were ruined from smoking which I gave up when I got married. How about those?" He pointed to her full bustline.
Donna taking the question in the right spirit answered unequivocally 'yes, they are'.
"They are awesome by the way. Just like me," Donna said.
They both laughed so hard that the director came in and told them to get back to work.
Harvey came in the door of his mother's house earlier than the appointed time. He carried presents for his niece and nephew, of course. Harvey found he enjoyed spending time with Lynnie and MJ. He loved spoiling them. Somehow he wanted Donna to get pregnant right away. They both knew they may not be able to conceive because Donna was in her forties like him. However, there had been no signs of that yet. Coupled with Donna's new career, having a baby was probably the last thing she wanted.
After the scrumptious dinner and decadent dessert his mother had made, Harvey spent a little time with his niece and nephew. He had a tickle fight with M.J. on the floor to which his mother kept admonishing them. He then listened to Lynnie tell him about how a boy was mean to her in school because he did not like the way she looked at him. Harvey imparted some wisdom to them both. Lynnie and MJ gave their Uncle Harvey the best hugs he had ever received.
After Marcus and his family left pleading an early day the next day, which was Saturday, traveling to the seashore, Harvey sat on the couch in Bobby's Man Cave. Lily looked at him for a moment before she walked into the room. The couch faced the television on the far side of the room, so she was standing behind him. She approached him with soundless steps. She saw that Harvey's head was hung, his smile which had been bright while he played with the children had left his face leaving it sad and unquiet. His hands were in the pockets of his Docker's and his legs were crossed at the ankles.
"Are you ok, honey?" Lily asked placing her hand on his shoulder.
Harvey turned his head to look at his mom. "Yeah, I'm ok. I just miss my wife and I am trying not to be mad at her."
"Donna will be back in time for your wedding, right?" Lily asked quietly. She had spoken to Donna a few days ago but Donna had not revealed too much of her itinerary these next few months. This was probably because Donna did not know herself.
"She's says yes, but she isn't sure. What am I going to do?" Harvey said quietly rising and turning to the left side window. The air conditioning made the house very chill on this very muggy late July night. Harvey had worn a light sweater over his white t-shirt.
"Well, why don't you plan on going out there every so often while she can't get away?"
"Because I have a firm to run and I'm neglecting it enough by not being there right now. Earlier this year I neglected it for my head injury."
"By the way, you haven't had any symptoms of a reoccurrence, have you?"
"That's the second time you've asked me within a short period of time. Is there a reason? Do you see something, I don't?" Harvey asked turning around swiftly giving his mother the same look when he cross examined a witness on the stand.
"No reason. I'm just concerned..."
"No, mom, that's not it. Why are you asking me again?" Harvey began to get alarmed.
Lily sighed heavily and said, "I talked to Donna a few days ago and she said she noticed you were stumbling again. She wanted me to keep an eye on you because she knew you would deny any symptoms as nothing."
"Because they are nothing, mom. I stumbled because of the carpet in the building. It's old and well worn and needs to be replaced."
"Not according to Donna. She's just concerned."
"Then if she is so concerned, she should have stayed with me and not gone flitting back to California to make her movie."
"Harvey! Listen to yourself! I'm going to ask you one question and I want you to be totally honest," Lily said rising herself and turning her son to face her.
"Mom, not now. I am really not in the mood for this totally emotional talk."
"Do you love your wife?"
"Of course, I do. That's why being apart from her is so hard."
"How do you love your wife?"
"Why are you asking me this?"
"Because I think you need to analyze why and how you love your wife and how you want to love her."
"Mom, I am not in the mood for an emotional and philosophical argument on how and why I love or am in love with Donna!'
"Harvey listen to me! Please." Lily said quietly begging him to see how much he really needed to talk with her.
"Mom, I really appreciate you wanting to help. However, I think I need to do some analysis myself."
"Harvey, please?"
Harvey stood there looking at his mom. Her hair was graying yet she retained such a youthful figure. Her fingers which grasped each of his upper arms were a bit crooked and knarled stemming from arthritis and holding brushes and charcoal while creating beautiful and not so beautiful drawings and paintings.
Harvey and Lily sat down on the couch and turned to face each other.
"Ok, why do you love Donna?"
Harvey looked far away for a moment and then said, "Because she understands me. She makes me laugh and she makes me upset. She's beautiful and sexy and sassy and she knows how to hand me shit. She's a challenge and I love a challenge."
"She also has always supported you in your career. She was your secretary for many, many years and she was always at your beck and call."
"She was also my friend and my family for many years. I could always come to her if I needed to talk except when she was the problem like when she went to work for Louis. She's incredibly wise and smart and sharp. No one gets around her."
"How do you love her?"
Again, Harvey thought about the question before he answered.
"She is the only woman for me. I have had plenty of women, but I always came back to her. Especially when I realized how jealous I get when she's with any other man. She broke up with her boyfriend she had late last year because she said she couldn't picture a real life with him."
"But she could with you," Lily quietly stated.
Lily continued, "When you love someone Harvey you want the best for them. Sometimes what's good for them is not always in our best interest."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you promised Donna you would support this dream of hers. Why can't you focus being happy for her and allowing her the freedom long enough to enjoy this for as long as it lasts. Donna always comes back, right?"
"She has, so far, no matter how mad she has been with me."
"Do you think your love for Donna is selfish?"
Harvey rose at that statement and turning around vehemently admitted. "Of course it is! I need her. Not only do I need her to do her job, but I need her support of my endeavors and to be my sounding board and my conscious when I think I've been crossing the line."
"Well, in this instance, do you think you could allow Donna's love for you to be a little less selfish and share some of that enthusiasm for her that she has for you."
"I promised I would never let anything happen to her. I obstructed justice so she would not have for certain gone to jail on a felony fraud charge. Did she ever tell you about that?"
"Yes, she did. She was so grateful and happy that you cared that much for her that you would risk your position as an officer of the court just so she would not go to prison."
"I could never have stood it if she had gone there. I can't take when she's scared or when someone hurts her. She's given so much to me that the last thing I want to do is hurt her, but I know I have. I am having a hard time not allowing her to be happy."
"See, you already know what you have to do. So figure out how you want to approach this and then call Donna when you're ready and give her the most supportive, loving call you have ever given anyone."
Harvey smiled. He came over to his mother and gave her a tight hug.
"Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome, Harvey."
August 14, 2017
Dear Diary:
It is now been almost a month since I came back here to shoot this movie. I love the work and so far the "dailies" have come back with great reviews. Mark is a hoot of a co-star with a great sense of humor. He and I have a relationship much like Harvey and I did before we actually fell in love.
Harvey called me last night. He sounded so different. He was full of support and praised me for being such a great actress that the movie needed me. He would be ready and waiting for me to come home and marry him all over again.
I suppose I ought to tell him that my pregnancy was confirmed by Brenda's doctor out here. I'm about four months along which explained the swelling of my belly. Why I never noticed I didn't get a period doesn't surprise me. I went off the pill about a year ago thinking I didn't need to worry about it, but it took this long for my body to betray me and allow us to conceive.
I plan to tell the powers-that-be that I am with child. I hope that doesn't cause a ruckus about shooting this movie. I know have a sex scene coming up, so I had better tell them to do some body doubling or something. Plus Harvey doesn't know I was going to be nude in a scene or two. I didn't know either diary until I saw the rewrite the other day.
Well, I need to eat something soon or I will be puking up my guts for another three hours.
Goodnight, diary. Goodnight, Harvey. Goodnight little Sweet Pea.
Donna was not on the shooting schedule for the day, however, she decided to confront the director and producers with her pregnancy. She wanted to confirm that everything was all right and that they could shoot around it. By the time she had arrived at the studio, it was 4:00 pm and almost quitting time.
"Cathy, Darrell, could I speak with you for a moment?" Donna asked between takes of a shot that did not require her presence.
"Sure. Give us a minute. Mark's doing terrific and we don't want to stop his pace."
"No sure. I'll be in your office," Donna said turning around in that direction.
"Ok, be there shortly," Cathy said.
Donna entered into the trailer that stood for Cathy and Darrell's offices. They shared the office. Cathy's desk near the door and Darrell's desk diagonally across. Darrell Brannock, the director, was one of which Donna had had some knowledge. She had watched the oft interview with him on television and thought he was a fair type of boss but insistent on his vision being portrayed. He did not like surprises and he did not like ad libbers unless he called for ad libbing.
Donna sat on the edge of the couch where she could face both their desks. She was a tad afraid of Darrell's reaction because this child was a surprise for her as well. Cathy, being a mother herself, would be more compassionate. Cathy was the Executive Producer and a fair person or so Donna thought.
Cathy and Darrell walked into their trailer and took their respective seats behind their desks.
Darrell asked first, "Ok, Donna, do you want to tell us why you've come here on your day off?"
Donna looked at Darrell and then at Catherine. "Well, I just thought you should know that my fainting was not because of it being too hot in Nevada. It was because I'm pregnant."
Darrell and Cathy looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Oh my God... this could not happen at a worse time," Cathy said.
Donna who was not expecting this reaction asked, "Why? I thought most of the major photography was over except for the sex scene I have to shoot tomorrow."
"Stand up, Donna," Darrell commanded. "Turn to the side. Smooth down your blouse over your belly."
Donna did as commanded. She felt the round little bump and smiled. However, Darrell was not smiling when she turned back.
"Oh my God, you're showing! How far along are you?"
"The doctor said about four months. I have irregular periods, so that's why I didn't know sooner," Donna pleaded as she saw the look of outrage on the director's face.
"Well, you know this goes against the contract you signed," Cathy said.
Donna's head turned to face Cathy so quickly Donna's vision blurred.
"What contract?"
"The one we had your agent, Ian, give you before you agreed to shoot the movie," Cathy said. "Now, personally, I am happy for you. My two children have brought me nothing but joy. However, the timing is horrible for this."
"Can't you shoot around the bump? It's not that big yet," Donna said.
"Donna, you did understand that this sex scene involved you being completely naked and actually having sex with Mark, right?"
"No, I read the script and that is not called for. Besides I am not a pornographic actress. I am a Shakespearean theater actress. I never needed to do that kind of acting. Despite what you think to what that contract obligates me, real sex with another man on screen was not for what I signed!"
"Nonetheless, that's what I vision for the scene and as you know I get my way."
"There's only one thing to do," Cathy said. "Since this breaks your contract in that you will have your appearance change, you need to get rid of this baby or we can delay shooting for a few months wherein the lost time and money will be taken out of your pay and you can have the baby, lose the weight, and come back to finish."
"I am not crazy about either one of those options. My husband is a lawyer, you know, and I know contracts can be broken in other ways. I also know that you can be countersued for items like neglect and substandards of a working place or labor abuse or any other ground that a lawyer can find. So I am not getting rid of my baby or delaying my wedding celebration or my life in any way! I am grateful for the opportunity you afforded me, but I quit!"
Darrell rose from his seat and said, "Well, expect legal papers from the studio for Breach of Contract. Your husband is a corporate lawyer. What does he know about Hollywood anyway?" Darrell sneered at Donna.
"My husband is "the best closer in Manhattan". He may not be well known here but he has many clients in show business and, especially, sports business. I know exactly who they are since I was his secretary for the last 13 years. You don't know a lawyer until you see Harvey Specter at work."
"Expect those papers, Mrs. Specter. Have a good trip back to New York!" Darrell exclaimed as he slammed the door behind Donna before she had even stepped off the trailer's narrow step.
Donna never felt more exhilarated or elated since she found out she was pregnant. The first thing she did was cancel her lease with her landlord who understood all about fickle Hollywood actresses. She called her agent and broke all ties with him and then she called Brenda, her friend.
"Brenda," Donna said shaking with relief, stress, and excitement as she held the phone to her ear.
"Donna! I'm surprised to hear from you. How's the shoot going?"
"It's not. I quit. Before you say another word, I know all the legalities; but I don't care. My doctor's appointment at your OBGYN gave me some wonderful results. I'm pregnant!"
Brenda screamed on the other end of the line simultaneously with Donna sharing her joy.
"Does Harvey know yet?" Brenda asked.
"No, I didn't find out until last week. I was going to coerce him to see me this weekend and spring it on him, but now I don't have to. I quit the movie and I'm going home to be with my husband and resume my job as Firm Operations Manager!"
"You're going to get sued you know for Breach of Contract."
"Let them try, Harvey knows people out here. Hell, I know people out here. I'm not worried. They sue for money. It's not criminal this time. Do you know I was expected to abort my child because it didn't fit into their movie schedule? They also expected me to have real sex with my co star! Can you imagine what Harvey would do when he saw that?!"
"Did Ian not tell you to read the contract carefully before you signed? I'm surprised you didn't let Harvey see it. They are going to sue the pants off you and you will never find work here again after this! You do realize this, don't you?" Brenda was vehement. She was so sorry for her friend. Donna was such a talent and this would have been a breakthrough for her. Instead it will be the end for her.
Donna shook her head as she spoke.
"I don't care, Brenda. I have a husband whom I love and who loves me and finally came around to supporting me on this venture. I'm going to have his baby which makes me the luckiest and happiest woman in the world. My husband is a lawyer and he is the best. If he can't fight it, we have connections here to find the best damn lawyer to fight or settle. Above all, I'm going home to him and I'm going to resume acting in the theater in New York which is my real love and resume what I'm really good at. Working at Pearson Specter Litt as its Firm Operations Manager. Nothing you can say will stop me. Thank you for your help, Brenda. I'm just sorry it was all for naught."
Brenda was fairly crying at the other end of the phone. She was not crying for the losses that her friend were to suffer but that she finally realized what would make her happy and that it was all she really had. Donna had so much beside her talent: a firm which appreciated and loved her work and herself; her husband who loved her so much he had finally realized what it meant to love someone; and now a baby an achievement that Donna had thought may not happen.
"Then go Donna. I will be in your corner no matter what that stupid studio or stupid Ian say."
"Thank you, Brenda. I'll keep you posted on Sweet Pea."
"That's his name, Sweet Pea?"
"For right now, we're definitely going to formalize it later."
"Love you, Donna," Brenda said from her heart.
"Love you, too, Brenda," Donna hung up and thought how happy and surprised Harvey would be when she suddenly appeared at the house in Boston: barefoot and pregnant.
Donna knew, as she usually did, that Boston was where Harvey would be.
Before Donna boarded her plane to Chicago with connections to Boston, Lily called her.
"Lily? Is Harvey ok?" Donna asked feeling her stomach drop to her feet when she saw who was calling.
"He's fine for now. He has missed you. I was just wondering what's happening. I wanted to check on you myself."
"That's sweet of you, Lily. As a matter of fact, I'm great. I'm coming home for good!" Donna said excitedly. She knew Lily would be happy for her pregnancy plus her own mother would be happy as well.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Harvey will be so happy. You do know he's here in Boston, right?"
"Of course I do. He didn't call me but I had a feeling he would be up there frequently after I left."
"Yes, he is more sentimental than he likes people to know. You knew that, though, didn't you?"
"A long time ago. One of the reasons why I love him. His heart is always in the right place and he does what it takes to do the right thing for deserving people."
"Of course he does. So when does your plane land? I want to meet you at the airport and bring you to the Boston house myself."
"Well, the connection into Boston won't land until at least 1:00 am. I was just going to call an Uber or a cab," Donna said.
"Nonsense! I am off tomorrow and so is Bobby so we'll both come and then we can all surprise Harvey."
"Well, I have surprise for you, too, but I want to wait until I see you first."
Lily with a mother's instinct knew Donna was to tell her she and Harvey were expecting, but Lily wanted to wait until Donna told them for sure. She did not want to spoil the joy she could hear in Donna's voice.
"Ok, I'll see you around one a.m. I won't tell Harvey either," Lily said and then hung up as Donna said her plane to Chicago was boarding.
Lily did not think to ask Donna what she meant when she said she was coming home for good.
.