Chapter 14

The difficult night soon turned into the difficult day. Donna wanted to confront her husband first thing in the morning and tell him everything she wanted to tell him, but she had momentarily forgotten her promise to Marcus and Kate as they had made coffee and left very early for their shopping excursion. The children had still been asleep and Donna was feeding Gordon at the kitchen table.

"Have fun, you two. Don't worry about the kids. We'll be fine. Harvey's here and they love their Uncle Harvey," Donna said as she fed a spoonful of oatmeal into Gordon's little eager mouth.

A little later after everyone had been fed and dressed, Donna sat with Gordon on her lap, Amanda settled on Harvey's lap and their nephew and nieces sat on the floor while they all watched a cartoon version of "A Christmas Carol". For some strange reason it was one of Harvey's favorites. Last Christmas she and Amanda were in the hospital recovering from an auto accident and Amanda from pneumonia. That's when Harvey told her that she was pregnant with Gordon. Looking at his little cherubic face and big dark eyes, Donna could hardly believe what a difference a year could make.

Well, it had not been quite a year yet and Christmas was still some weeks away. Donna remembered that the final fitting of Rachel's wedding gown was coming up soon because the wedding was now only two weeks away. Donna wondered if Harvey would believe her when she said as Matron of Honor she had to be there. Plus she was helping Laura Zane with the last minute details. It was a good thing that Rachel had decided on a smaller affair than first envisioned because the whole affair would be lopsided considering that Mike had no family with which to celebrate.

"Harvey, are we going to talk today?" Donna asked. There had existed this uncomfortable silence between them that had not been present for a long time.

"Not in front of the children and certainly not in front of Marcus and Kate. We'll talk eventually. I'm going to put Amanda in her bed. She's fallen asleep." Harvey rose and took Amanda to her bedroom. The other three were still immersed in the television show. Donna placed Gordon in his bassinet which he seemed to be outgrowing and let him crow there while she played with him.

When Harvey returned he wordlessly picked up his son and decided to have a little father and son time while they watched the end of the program. Donna sat back and then decided she would get a cup of coffee from the pot she had just made not too long ago.

Donna sat at the kitchen table and carelessly looked at the newspaper which had arrived that morning. Suddenly she heard the TV shut off and Harvey's voice saying: "Hey kids let's go toss the football around?"

All three children were eager to go outside with Uncle Harvey even Regina and Fiona.

"I'm going to take Gordon outside, ok?" Harvey asked coming around the bend to ask Donna.

"Sure, just remember to bundle him up and don't accidentally throw him instead of the football," Donna joked.

"I think I can tell the difference between my son and a football," Harvey smirked. He then left the room.

Even later that day Harvey and Donna still had not talked. When Mike and Rachel and arrived after dinner and to share a bottle of Donna's favorite wine, they noticed the huge barrier between husband and wife. Mike and Rachel had, of course, known Marcus and Kate so all had enjoyed each other's company. The older children needed some attention for the first hour of the evening before it was their bedtime, so all joined in a game of Twister with them. Finally after Donna had gotten Gordon down for the next few hours, it was Amanda's turn. Rachel offered to read her a couple of books, so Donna could stay with the adults. Rachel cornered Donna in the kitchen making some light late night snacks.

"Donn?"

"Amanda asleep?" Donna asked not turning around to face Rachel. Donna knew what was coming but did not want to face her just yet.

"What's going on between you and Harvey? Did you have a fight?"

"That bad, uh. We just thought we were being so clever," Donna said facing Rachel as she stood leaning against the counter.

Donna took a swig of her wine and then noticed Kate had ventured into the kitchen as well.

"Is this where the wronged wives club meet?" Kate joked.

"Oh, great! You can tell Harvey and I have had a fight," Donna said as she noisily pulled a chair out from the table and plopped herself into it.

Rachel and Kate joined her and then when Marcus came looking for his wife, Kate whisked him away with her hand.

"I'm taking the guys to the bar, ok, ladies?" Marcus asked making sure he was not going to piss off any of the wives or almost wives.

"Go ahead, Marcus. We don't mind, do we?" Kate asked before Marcus' blonde head disappeared.

"No," Donna said quietly. She thought maybe Harvey would either come home drunk or in a better mood.

"No, of course not," Rachel said.

Harvey ventured once into the kitchen to leave the baby monitor in the kitchen with Donna. He said nothing to anyone as he left.

"Whew, what the hell happened?" Rachel wanted to know.

"Was there a blizzard overnight?" Kate asked at the cold shoulder Harvey had given his wife. Not even a kiss goodbye.

"Harvey's pissed at me," Donna said succinctly. "I don't think he has been this pissed at me since I was sleeping with Stephen Huntley three years ago."

"Who's Stephen Huntley and why were you sleeping with him?" Kate asked. She had not ever really known that Harvey and Donna's relationship had been just a working friendship up until three years ago. Since Harvey had always seemed over-the-moon about Donna and not afraid to show it to she and Marcus she assumed they had been in a physical romantic entanglement for the last 13 years.

Donna set her straight and then Rachel piped up and said," You know Harvey reverts to the old Harvey when he's not happy. He is usually so pleasant now and smiling and lets his love for you exude his being. I asked him a question about nothing and he nearly bit my head off."

"Yep, shades of old Harvey. I've been fighting with it now since late yesterday when I came home from the city," Donna confessed.

"Yes, what was all that about? You had an appointment with the seamstress about your dress? Why would you lie to him?" Rachel wanted to know since she did not have Donna's back when Harvey had called her the previous day.

"You mean you didn't?" Kate asked. "What's going on Donna? I thought I was only kidding when I ribbed you about another man?"

"Yes, I know you did, Kate. It really is stupid. So let me tell you..."

Donna told her sister-in-law and best friend how she became involved again with Sergei Patronov. She just wanted a catered party for Harvey's birthday in January. It was really innocent and Donna had had no intentions of anything with the oversexed caterer. However, Sergei had thought differently and she told them about what had transpired when she went to his shop the previous day and how he continually seemed to stalk her. He had left two voicemails today, but Donna never retrieved them. She was now scared to tell Harvey because she knew he was in such a state that he might just overreact and kill Sergei or just not believe Donna at all.

"Well, you have to tell him that's all there is to it, Donna," said Rachel

"I know. I have wanted to speak to him but he doesn't seem to want to talk to me."

"I don't think you've had much opportunity today, sweetie," Kate said. "You babysat our brood not to mention been busy with your two little ones and then made dinner and now you're entertaining us all. There's just been no time."

"I guess you're right," Donna agreed.

"Donna, one thing is for sure. Harvey loves you and once he knows what's going on with Sergei and the stalking he'll see your side. I think he would forgive you just about anything," Rachel said placing a comforting arm on Donna's as it lay on the table between them.

"I'll second that," Kate said as she raised her glass. "Hey, Donna, do you have any more of that wine that I'm not allergic to?"

"Sure. It's in the smaller refrigerator where we keep the wine and cold beer."

While the girls were hashing things out and advising Donna, Marcus took Harvey and Mike to a strip bar.

"Marcus, this is a strip joint. I didn't think you were allowed to do anything like this anymore," Harvey remarked looking incredulously at his younger brother.

"Rachel will kill me if she finds out I'm in here," Mike said.

"Well, then she won't find out," Harvey said.

"What about Donna?" Mike asked.

"Donna knew how many women I slept with until I decided to marry her, so I don't think she'll question me coming here. Besides with what's she's been doing lately I'd say it's only fair," Harvey said opening the door of the joint.

Mike looked at Marcus and then pulling Harvey back out of the joint stood on the street in the cold November air and decided to find out what in the world Harvey was talking about. Harvey looked at both his surrogate brother and biological brother and thought he was not going to say anything about what was happening between him and his wife. Besides Harvey was just a little drunk and did not care at the moment that up until late yesterday afternoon he had been a happily married man.

"What? You're chickening out now because of your wives or soon to be wife in your case buddy," Harvey said pointing a finger at Mike.

"Well, no one tells Harvey Specter where to go or with whom to go with...not even Donna...my wife," Harvey said as he hiccupped his way into the darkened strip joint.

Marcus and Mike looked at one another and thought the same thing. We'd better keep an eye on him.