Chapter 8

Donna walked into the "Room for a Venue Caterers" and was remarkably on time for her appointment with Sergei the caterer host. Her appointment had been at two in the afternoon and her alarm on her cell phone just pinged two as she opened the door to the caterer's storefront pulling the double stroller with both children sitting quietly (for now ) in it.

"Mrs. Specter, how nice to see you," Sergei said kissing her hand gallantly. Donna thought OMG over the top isn't he? "Thank you. It is nice to put a face to a voice."

Sergei was a nice looking man about Donna's age. He was gallant in manner. He was as tall as Donna and strongly built. Under his suit, Donna thought he probably had some large muscles. He was not exactly her type, but she thought at least she did not have to deal with some smug little woman who had been a spinster and took it out on her clients by seducing them into the most extravagant and expensive outlays.

"These are your children. Oh they are adorable. I can tell this little one is going to be a beauty," he said to Amanda as she glared at the strange man laying his hand on her head. At that moment, Donna swore she saw Harvey's warning glare come from her daughter. Most people said Mandy looked like Donna; however, Donna could see that Amanda had her own red hair and light complexion but she had Harvey's eyes and at that moment Mandy was channeling her father.

Luckily Gordon did not wake up. Donna had just fed him before putting him in the minivan. She knew she had a least a couple of good hours before he woke up famished. The secret to keeping him satisfied for hopefully more than a couple of hours was that she not only fed from the breast but had fed him a couple of baby portions of baby oatmeal. She only hoped it worked because she did not want to have to take time out and feed a crying baby in the middle of the appointment.

Sergei was a man's man. He was known in the catering world as the "catch" for the opposite sex. He was not a homosexual which most people pigeonholed him since he was in the party catering business and unmarried. No matter how delicious looking he was, Sergei whose real name was Samuel Peach not Sergei Patronov was always charming to the female clients and totally masculine in his dealings with the male gender when they were occasioned to need his services. Sergei was taken with Donna from the minute she walked into his offices. She was beautiful with a mane of fiery red hair, porcelain skin lightly brushed with freckles. He loved the fact that Donna was tall, thin, but with a voluptuous bosom and long sensuous legs. Sergei nearly lost his breath while speaking with her and although she wheeled in a two child baby carriage Sergei wanted her from the moment he laid eyes on her. Donna was dressed to the nines today in her Victoria Beckham print dress which accentuated her figure and her best Fendi heels. Mandy looked like a little replica in her own designer dress, white socks and black patent leather Mary Jane shoes. Gordon looked like a little handsome replica of his father with a teeny tiny suit which Donna hoped would remain intact for his church dedication next month.

Sergei helped Donna get the children situated which meant that Mandy had to be taken out of the carriage and placed in a playroom. Donna sat in the playroom with Mandy while she left Gordon in the stroller sound asleep. Luckily he was only a couple of months old. If he woke up all he would do is cry not squirm and fall out of the carriage.

"Now Mrs. Specter, you said your friend's wedding colors were...?"

"They are teal, pale yellow and a light sort of magenta. I would like to have her shower cake frosting striped with those colors and the writing in Magenta. Now about the food itself I was looking over your menu online and I must say you do have quite a variety."

"Yes, I cater all types of parties and all cultures, so I can provide the unusual for any occasion. Let me show you our more extensive party menus." Sergei said as he brought forth his tablet from under the table where they sat.

"Rachel is a foodie, so I am attempting to make this a plethora of her favorite foods," Donna said.

"You are a most loyal friend. Now here's my ultimate package..."

The choices went on forever and since there really was no budget between the bridesmaids, Donna, and Rachel's mother, the sky was the limit. After about an hour, though, Donna's head was spinning, but she had chosen a half Thai cuisine along with some American dishes and a cake which promised to be a large sheet cake with wedding colors and writing saying "Congratulations, Rachel and Mike, December 14, 2017". Sergei was also supplying the liquor and his own bartender which Sergei had thrown in for free. Donna put the down payment on her credit card.

"Thank you, Mrs. Specter, I will collect the balance at the party on November 12th. I must say your friend is most lucky. Your husband is lucky as well."

"Why do you say that?" Donna said while outwardly acknowledging the truth she wanted to hear what Sergei had meant.

"Because his wife is beautiful, friendly, and his children are beautiful and well behaved I must say."

Donna laughed a little and letting Sergei take her hand once more allowed him to kiss it and stroke it slowly.

"Thank you, Sergei. You will contact me to confirm a week before the party, correct? Also you will be there yourself so I can introduce you to Laura Zane, the bride's mother."

"Yes. Surely. Thank you, Mrs. Specter, and have a lovely day."

_ After Donna left, Sergei started working on Rachel's bridal shower. He would be overseeing on the day of the shower and not have one of his assistants work it. He had to see Donna again. He felt he could not get enough of her. She had been flirtatious of a sort and had given him a couple looks of encouragement.

Donna could not have known that Sergei was in pursuit of her. Donna, although happily married to Harvey, was not aware that she had been flirting with a dangerous man. Donna knew how men liked to be handled and her power had not been diminished because she could now add mother to her list of titles. She still had her husband on the hook in and out of the office and she knew firsthand that Harvey was always proud that he could show her off. However, Donna may have not been paying much attention this time as she was concentrating intently on what Rachel's likes and dislikes were and trying to maintain some semblance of attention on her children. Once or twice Donna saw the nasty looks that Mandy gave Sergei, but she just thought it was because the place was not "kid-friendly" and that she had to be put in a corner for most of the afternoon.

Sergei on the other hand with his dark good looks and slight Russian accent (faked) made women swoon the minute he walked into a room. To most people he appeared capable and attentive but to those few for whom he fell hard, he could be demanding and suffocating. The fact that some of these women he pursued and conquered were married mattered little to Sergei as he liked the chase and the catch but cared little for the woman herself. As soon as the husband discovered the affair usually by an oft phone call or gossip leakage, Sergei disappeared into thin air. Never remaining anywhere long enough to either be threatened by a cuckold husband or implicated in a divorce suit. However, Donna was different. She had grabbed Sergei's unbreakable heart along with his erotic thoughts. In time Sergei would see how far he would get in his pursuit of Mrs. Harvey Reginald Specter.

Harvey's time with his mother was not going much better today than yesterday. However, this time Marcus was playing mediator and not letting things get out of hand. Also today being earlier their mother did not just have a chemotherapy treatment. So Lillian Specter was lucid and more than ready for combat.

"Harvey, can I at least see a picture of Amanda and Gordon?"

"Come on, Harvey. You can't really be that hard hearted," begged Marcus.

Harvey looked at Marcus with a quizzical look and then looked back at the pathetic woman lying in the bed. He decided to divorce himself emotionally from the situation and pretend he was dealing with clients. He reached into his suit pocket for his cell phone where many of his impromptu pictures were kept. He just took a couple of snapshots the other day so she would be seeing the most recent. He swiped through some pictures which did not show much but a lot of people for whom needed an explanation. He stopped on their wedding portrait which Harvey shot the other day and wanted to keep close to him. If everyone who knew the cold Harvey Specter knew that he was so sentimental that he kept a picture of his wedding portrait on his phone they would say that they definitely had the wrong guy.

"Here, mom, this isn't the kids but it is Donna and me on our wedding day. I thought you might like to look at that as well."

Gratefully Lillian took the phone from Harvey's grasp and smiled when she saw the portrait.

"Oh you are a beautiful couple, Harvey. Donna is so beautiful and I know she probably doesn't stand any nonsense from you."

"Remember she worked for me ten years before we got married, so yeah, I guess you could say she puts me in my place."

"Lovely."

Lillian handed Harvey's phone back to him and he swiped through some more photos. He finally found one that he snapped of Mandy while she was not paying attention. Mandy was a bit of a ham when she saw a camera around. She had been playing with her kitchen set the other day all dressed up in her little print dress and Mary Jane's. He had called her name and she looked back at her daddy and smiled the cutest smile. Harvey had snapped the picture just in time.

"Here's Amanda Elizabeth Specter all dressed up at almost 19 months old."

When Lillian saw the picture a tear rolled down her cheek. "She's beautiful. She has Donna's coloring, but she has your eyes and she looks just like you at that age."

"You mean you remember back that far?" Harvey had said thinking that his mother had never really given a damn about him.

"Of course, I do, Harvey. You are my firstborn and I still have my memories and pictures of both of you."

Harvey did not think his mom had taken anything with her to remind her of them. Harvey was beginning to think that maybe he had judged his mother too hard. Nah he thought. She's conniving...just like me. Maybe she's just trying to get me to feel sorry for her...of course.

Lillian handed back the phone to Harvey again.

He swiped one more time to show the picture of Gordon right after his birth. Donna was radiant, tired, and Gordon was asleep on her chest.

"Here's Gordon right after he was born," Harvey said as he handed the phone back one more time to his mother.

"He is so cute. He's what almost three months old now?" Lillian asked.

"Yes, he'll be three months old November 4th."

"Now I've seen their pictures I wish I could see them in person."

Harvey lowered his head in decision. Maybe everyone was right. Maybe he should just break that wall down. It was hard for Harvey because all the emotional walls he had erected had come tumbling down once he hired Mike and then for sure when he married Donna. It was almost his right to keep one wall up and solid.

"I'll think about it. Do you know when you'll be discharged?"

"Do you really want to know, Harvey?" Lillian asked looking at her son. She knew she had made progress but she did not want to push it. She had conversed with Marcus the previous night after he had made it to Harvey's and arrangements were being made for her to stay with Marcus and his family until she died. Lillian would not exactly stay in the same house, but she would stay in a facility that her money or her insurance could afford.

"Of course, I want to know," Harvey said insulted.

"Ok, I am just saying you didn't care before."

"Mom, I think we're getting through to him."

"Watch it Marcus. You'll be driving yourself to the airport tonight," Harvey warned.

It was a surprise to Lillian that Marcus was going home. However, she knew that everyone was busy with their lives. She only hoped that Harvey would not forget she was in the hospital and leave her here without some contact. She had been very lonely since John had died and her latest boyfriend had left her for a younger more, healthy woman.

"Well, please just don't forget I'm in here. I'm sure they will discharge me in a day or so. I can only take so many treatments before my body needs a rest."

Marcus began saying, "I'll talk to...

Harvey jumped in. "We'll talk to the doctor tonight. I'll see when he thinks he'll be discharging you."

Marcus looked at his brother and thought. Finally...

It was now 3 pm. Marcus' plane took off at 7. There was just enough time to get dinner and get him to the airport. Harvey had driven Marcus in himself and let Ray have the entire day off. Harvey would go back to work tomorrow and probably Donna would go in on Wednesday after she had time to pack the kids things for staying at their condo for a few days. Donna's sister, Julia, usually drove their mother in when she stayed at the condo. Once the children were school age and in private school the weekly schedule would be less hectic. It was a good thing that the children were less than two years apart because they would be in school at the same time.

"That's was really nice of you, Harve. I think mom really appreciated it," Marcus said as he and Harvey ate their dinner at Lumiere's a place where Harvey had taken a client or two for dinner. A long time ago Harvey had had a one night stand with one of the younger more attractive hostesses here, however, she had stopped working here a few years ago and once she knew Harvey was off the market she served more tables where the men were good looking but single.

"What do you mean? I just showed the pictures to her. I'm always proud to show off my kids. Just like you," Harvey said pretending that what he did meant nothing.

"Well, it meant a lot to mom. I also liked the way you took charge about talking to the doctor," Marcus continued.

"I was thinking about it. I could hear Donna in the back of my head saying that I should let the walls come down and work things out. Now I know you and mom had this arrangement that once she was discharged that you would find her a hospice up near you. I haven't seen how much of mom's insurance money or other will cover, but I know of a facility that I know I can afford. Plus it's one we represent. It's not my client, but I know the lawyer whose it is."

"You don't mind?" Marcus said incredulous that this man was the same man that only yesterday did not care if his mother lived or died.

"Marcus, I know you make a good living. However, I know that Kate isn't working right now, so let us and Donna take this on. We both make a good salary plus I know the place," Harvey said looking at his brother.

"Thank you Harvey. That's great news that I can take home to Kate. She'll be glad, too. Now we will be down to visit, so I'm not leaving everything to you."

"Glad to hear it. I'll call Dr. Tulane in the morning and get the specifics. All I want you to do until next week when we see you at Markie's Pee Wee Championship is know that I have got it under control and you have nothing to worry about."

"Thank you, Harvey."

Harvey said goodbye to his brother at the airport and then instead of driving all the way back to West Chester knowing that he would be in the office tomorrow, he texted Donna and told her he was going to the condo tonight and that he would see her in the morning. She had wanted to know what happened but she said he said he would tell when she came to the office. Her mother was coming in from her sister's and was going to stay with the children in West Chester. Besides Donna had some unfinished business with the caterer for Rachel's shower and wanted to come into the city by herself. Sergei Patranov had called her late Monday afternoon and they made a lunch date in the city for the next day.

Harvey did not like the sound of her texts, so he called Donna upon reaching his once bachelor pad. The only difference now was there were children's toys in a box in the corner of the living room and flowers on the counter and family pictures everywhere and magnets on the white refrigerator with reminders for appointments, events, and just chores.

"Donna, you don't happen to need a lawyer at your luncheon with the caterer, do you?" Harvey asked a little worried about seeing his wife with another man no matter how business the lunch.

"Harvey, it's a lunch between a client and a caterer. It's no different than when you wine and dine your clients," Donna said nonchalantly. Until Harvey had broached the subject, Donna was not worried. She was not worried for herself because she was Donna and could handle any man. However, she was worried about Harvey. He had made no secret of the difficulties he had seeing his mother again and knowing now that she could die any time. Moreover, Harvey was needy right now (when was he not) but his need manifesting itself in jealously really worried Donna.

"What time should I expect you?"

"The usual time. Why do you need me earlier?"

"Well, if you came in earlier, we could get reacquainted here before we hit the office," Harvey invited seductively.

"Darling it sounds lovely, but I am a little tired. The kids absolutely wore me out and I wanted to take as much time before driving in as possible. I can make it up to you," Donna suggested in a more sultry voice.

"Mmmm..." Harvey said as he contemplated. "Your mom said we could have the whole week by ourselves? Isn't Gordon going to miss you?"

"Well, I thought I would go home maybe early on Thursday and then you can come home on Friday and we'll all travel up to Boston for little Markie's football game on Saturday."

"I'll take it. I'll tell you all about mom and the situation when I see you in the morning," Harvey said missing her already. There were not many nights now that Harvey slept alone in his bed. Ever since he and Donna had married he never slept peacefully unless he knew he could look at her sleeping figure lying next to him and her hair sometimes lying on his pillow. He missed her warmth and he missed their desultory talks before drifting off to sleep holding hands or each other.

"Harvey, I love you," Donna said before hanging up.

"I love you, too. I miss you already." Harvey said quietly then hung up.