Nerves flutter through her stomach as the cab door slams closed behind her. It's silly. It's just a dinner. But after so many years estranged, so long spent with the brunt of Harvey's anger and hurt directed at her, the fact that they are doing this means everything to her. More than he could ever possibly know.
The restaurant's atmosphere is lively as she walks in, warm and welcoming. The perfect setting for this meeting and she's not surprised in the slightest knowing both her son and everything she's heard about Donna. Absently, she wonders which of them picked it for this. Lily's eyes wander around, table to table until she spots them and her movements pull up short.
They sit next to each other, waiting for her to arrive and take her place opposite of them for this first meeting. It's too loud to make out what they are discussing across the restaurant but both of their bodies are angled toward one another, the bustle happening around them an afterthought as their focus is solely on each other. And the smile on Harvey's face takes her breath away. She's never seen her baby boy look so happy before. If she hadn't already been thrilled with this match, seeing his face so relaxed and content as he laughs at something Donna said would certainly have completely won her over.
"Am I interrupting?" Lily interjects, a hint of teasing to her tone as she walks up to the table.
"Mom," Harvey replies, standing instantly and that grin is still splitting his face. Only this time he's directing it at her, at her being there, and it still throws her off a little, forever grateful they've managed to mend their fences and move forward finally. A second chance she has no plans to waste. And Lily knows full well the stunning redhead that's standing beside him smiling demurely at her is more than a little responsible for that. "Of course not. You're right on time." Shifting his gaze from her to Donna, Harvey beams and makes formal introductions, though it's unnecessary.
Donna's hand shoots out in greeting and Lily can hear the authenticity in her voice when she says, "Lily, it is so nice to finally meet you. Officially," she adds with a tiny chuckle. "I'm so glad we were able to do this."
"Not as much as I am. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Donna. I've heard an awful lot about you. From both my boys." For years she'd been forced to glen nothing but crumbs from Harvey's life, often wrestled from Marcus, and in every tidbit of information, this woman's name had come up with adoration. This relationship might be new, but she's been the driving force of her son's life for many, many years.
"Well," Donna drawls as the trio takes their seats again, "I'm sure I don't need to tell you not to believe everything you hear. Especially from this one." She emphasizes the playful dig with a thumb in Harvey's direction and a soft chuckle at his indignant huff.
"Hey," Harvey protests, "I take offense to that."
Lily grins, eyes twinkling at the pair smirking at each other across from her. "Oh, believe me, I know exactly the type of man my son is. And I love him all the more for it." The faintest of blushes graces Harvey's cheeks as he smiles at his mother, melts her heart a little even as she adds, "But I would never imagine everything he tells me to be completely factual."
Donna's laughter rings out above the din of the restaurant around them and she gives Harvey a playful shoulder nudge, "Sounds like she's got you pegged."
Shaking his head, Harvey replies, "This was a bad idea. Now I'm going to have both of you ganging up on me, aren't I? Maybe I should have thought this meeting through a little bit more."
Even a few years ago, that statement would have stung, but the most miraculous part of this evening is that Lily knows he doesn't mean it. This is the start of a new era for all of them.
The next few minutes consist of pleasantries as they peruse the menu, Lily observing the natural ease Donna and her son possesses with each other. From the way his arm rests over the back of her chair, his thumb stroking absentmindedly over her shoulder, to the way he suggests the calamari appetizer because he knows it's her favorite which leads to an antidote from their years in the DA's office. They complement one another in a way Lily could have only hoped he'd find one day after everything she put him through as a child. It's so lovely to be permitted to witness.
"Now…" Donna starts in that compelling, no nonsense tone of voice of hers after their orders are placed, "I need you to tell me the most embarrassing Harvey story you can think of."
-:-
She waits until the evening is winding down, as they are finishing the last of the bottle of wine they'd ordered and there are merely crumbs left of their dessert, but it's been one of the best nights of her life and Lily can't hold back her gratitude.
"Thank you, Donna."
"For what?" The other woman questions, a puzzled expression shifting over her features.
"For persuading Harvey to forgive me. I know it wasn't easy for him, but he told me someone very special to him convinced him to and I'm so grateful you did. I might have stuck my foot in my mouth the last time…" A crinkle forms between Donna's brows and her eyes dart over to Harvey's, questioning and a bit confused (and maybe he hasn't told her the full story from the last time they'd had a similar dinner and Lily has done the exact same thing again), but there's also a twinkle in them, intertwined with such a depth of teasing and love as they gaze at each other across the table from her, sharing an entire conversation in the span of three seconds with only their eyes that Lily knows no matter what life throws their way the two of them are going to be just fine.
"But I want you to know, both of you to know," she adds, looking over at Harvey as well, "how perfect I think you are for each other. You two are meant to be together and it might not mean very much, but I want to give you my blessing."
Donna's hands reach across the table, squeezing Lily's between them as her eyes water up and her voice is a bit husky with emotion as she assures, "That means a lot."
Harvey's right hand moves to rest on Donna's back, anchoring them together as his left covers both his mother's and Donna's on the table. His eyes are a bit glossy themselves as he tells her, "I love you, Mom."
"I love you, too, Harvey."
-:-
It's not until they're leaving the restaurant, hugging goodbye and promising to make plans to visit again in the very near future, potentially even Donna and Harvey coming up to Boston for a weekend, that she presents him with the weight that's been burning a hole in her pocket all evening.
As Donna takes charge to hail them a cab, giving mother and son a moment to themselves as well, Lily slips her mother's ring into the palm of Harvey's hand. The puzzled and confused expression on his face as he turns it over, looking a bit bewildered is priceless and a moment she's sure to never forget.
"You told me Donna was the one, remember? And you might have fumbled that first attempt at a proposal, but I wanted to make sure you have this for when the real deal comes along." Lily's voice is gruff with emotion, tears just beginning to well as she whispers, "She's a keeper, Harvey, and I am so, so very happy for you."
His arms wind themselves around her in a tight hug, his fist gripped around the engagement ring at the base of her spine as he murmurs into her ear, "Thank you, Mom. For everything."
Two years ago she never would have believed she could hear those words come out of his mouth. But somehow, by some miracle of fate and the influence of the woman beaming at them from a few feet away, cab secured, they've actually done it.
This is their fresh start.
And it's only the beginning.
