July 14, 2025
It had been four years since Scottie had set foot in the United States.
After Harvey confessed that he had seen his ex — the one he was still madly in love with, even after ten years without a word from her — it hit Scottie like a sledgehammer. That night, she checked into a hotel and stayed there for nearly a week before arranging with Darby to start her new job almost six months earlier than planned as she eventually settled in London. She never spoke to Harvey again, nor did she hear from him, but she knew he was alive — all her belongings were delivered to her new apartment in Marylebone a few weeks later. From that moment on, he vanished from her life and Scottie rebuilt her world with Steve, a London-based accountant who was everything Harvey wasn't — loving, devoted, and completely in love with her — as she had no idea what had become of her former fiancé, and she had made peace with that. Returning to New York had never been part of the plan, but when her childhood best friend — whom she hadn't seen in almost a year — announced she was hosting her baby shower in the city, Scottie had no choice but to go back. She wasn't afraid of running into Harvey, enough time had passed, and she felt no particular attachment to him anymore as the years had taught her that you never fully forget your first love, but she had accepted it. She didn't hate him — far from it — she just hoped he was happy, he deserved that much. Once she landed at JFK, she quickly hailed a cab and headed straight to her hotel, too jet-lagged to do anything else as the next morning, though, she woke up refreshed and ready to embrace the energy of a Saturday morning in New York as she wandered the bustling streets and made her way to F.A.O. Schwarz. She should've thought to buy a gift for the baby shower sooner, but not knowing the first thing about baby toys, she kept putting it off. So now, standing in front of hundreds of shelves and displays, she was completely overwhelmed. The store had just opened, and she was practically alone — no salespeople in sight — so when she heard a voice in the next aisle, she quietly stepped closer, waiting for the woman to finish her call.
«What? No, we're good, we're just walking around… I think he has a new toy idea... Yeah, again»
«Mama?»
«Yes?»
« — ture»
«Yeah, it's a voi-ture, voiture — well done, baby»
As the young woman chuckled, Scottie paused a few steps back, quietly observing while she waited for her to be available to answer her questions. The woman was tall, with long red hair that fell to the middle of her back. She was wearing simple black leggings and an oversized light blue men's shirt, but as she shifted slightly to browse the toys in the aisle, Scottie noticed the leggings rode higher than expected, hugging a small, rounded belly. Beneath the open shirt, a matching black crop top revealed a slim strip of pale skin. She was pregnant — that much was now clear — but she was also already a mother. A soft, high-pitched voice chimed up beside her, and as the woman stepped back from the shelf, Scottie caught sight of a little boy clinging to her side, half-hidden behind her legs. Great, perfect — a mom — she could help.
«Alright, keep me posted... I love you too, bye honey»
As soon as the woman ended her call, Scottie stepped forward, clearing her throat gently to get her attention.
«Excuse me?»
As the woman turned with a small smile, Scottie had a feeling she'd be the right person to ask.
«Yeah?»
«I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to buy a gift for a baby shower, and I don't know anything about it... Maybe you could help me?»
«Ah yeah, no problem. It's over that way, but come on, we can look together»
«Thank you so much»
«No problem»
As the woman flashed her a big smile, they both began walking down the aisle where there was a series of wooden cars and garages, clearly for a little boy.
«Congratulations, by the way»
«Thank you» smiled the woman.
«How far along are you?»
«Twenty-two weeks»
«Which means... Sorry, I don't know much about this» giggled Scottie.
«Let's just say I've passed the halfway mark»
«That's already something» chuckled Scottie.
«Let's say that, yeah — sorry, by the way, it's going to be a bit slower, but he has little legs» snorted the redhead.
«I understand, no problem — how old is he?» smiled Scottie.
«He turned three last month — he's a big boy now»
As she held his small hand in hers, the woman lifted it gently to his face, brushing his cheek with her finger as the toddler looked up at his mom with a wide, joyful smile — a sight that instantly intrigued Scottie. There was something strangely familiar about him, and while he was blonde, with big, expressive chocolate-brown eyes, and undeniably adorable, something about him unsettled her. She couldn't quite place it — a flicker of déjà vu that tugged at the back of her mind. Just as she found herself staring, trying to make sense of the feeling, the little boy suddenly pointed behind him and murmured something in his high-pitched voice, looking up at his mother with earnest eyes.
«Mommy, voiture?»
«We'll be back, my love, we'll just help the lady, then we'll choose your car, alright?»
As he nodded, the redhead turned her attention back to Scottie, who smiled at her and quickly murmured.
«Do you know what it is yet?»
«A little girl» smiled the woman.
«One of each, then»
«Yeah. My husband was so happy — our son looks like him, and he hopes she looks like me»
As the woman gently caressed her belly, Scottie's gaze dropped to the large diamond ring glinting on her finger as it was impossible not to notice — bold, elegant, and clearly expensive. In that moment, Scottie found herself imagining the woman's life: a rich, loving husband, the adorable little boy at her side, and probably a daughter just as beautiful waiting at home — it all seemed picture-perfect. Lost in those thoughts, she continued chatting with the woman, their conversation light and easy, until a few seconds later, the redhead came to a stop in front of an aisle and murmured something under her breath.
«There we are»
«Alright, I'm definitely lost» chuckled Scottie.
«Well, if I can give you my advice — go for sensory toys»
«Sensory toys?»
«Yeah, they're all the toys where kids can participate using their five senses: touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight — it's really the perfect thing to stimulate kids and promote their development. If you want to be the cool aunt with the genius idea, get a sensory toy» chuckled the woman.
«Alright, I trust you — what about now?»
«Humm… let me think, first»
For a few seconds, she silently scanned the shelves, her eyes moving thoughtfully over the rows of toys, and then, with quiet confidence, she reached for a box, turned back to Scottie, and handed it to her with a gentle smile.
«That»
«Alright…» muttered Scottie .
«It has a bunch of elements that help develop the baby's senses — different textures that are nice to the touch, soft teethers for their gums, a removable rattle, high-contrast colors, and even a little mirror to help with visual development. The future mom can attach it to the stroller, and it's easy for tiny hands to grab. Plus, it's super cute. My son didn't have the octopus version — his was a dinosaur — but he loved it. I actually picked one up for her too, something pink with butterflies and flowers. That kind of thing. I think this one will be great»
«Alright, I trust you, then»
As Scottie held the box in her hands, she thanked the redhead once more before heading toward the checkout while the woman and her son moved away, heading back to the section where Scottie had first approached them, likely to pick up the wooden car the mother had promised. They disappeared into the aisle, still chatting quietly and despite the odd sensation that had washed over her the moment the little boy looked up at her, Scottie dismissed it and continued on her way. After a few minutes, she stepped out of the store and spotted a café right across the street. A moment of quiet indulgence seemed just what she needed, so she decided to go in for a drink and a scone before heading back to her hotel to get some work done. After ordering, she found a quiet corner and sat down, scrolling through her phone while she waited. The café was peaceful, only a few hushed conversations filling the background and as she was absorbed in reading an email, she suddenly heard the door open, followed by the soft voice of a child.
«Daddy»
Turning her head, Scottie spotted the same redhead from the store walking in, her son running ahead, and while it wasn't entirely surprising that they'd ended up at the same café — after all, it was right across from the toy store and not much else was open at this hour — what truly caught Scottie off guard was who the little boy ran to. She gasped softly as she watched the scene unfold while the child dashed toward a man standing just a few feet away — a man in a sharp three-piece suit, his dirty blonde hair neatly styled to the side, and a chiseled jaw that had remained as distinct in her memory as his deep brown eyes. And then, that smile, the one she would've recognized anywhere. There he was, after four years. There was Harvey, standing before her in the flesh, and she had always thought they would meet again one day, but she never imagined it would be like this. For a few seconds, Scottie sat frozen, watching the scene unfold in front of her as the little boy ran as fast as his tiny legs would carry him, arms outstretched, toward Harvey. In one swift motion, Harvey scooped him up, cradling him with such tenderness that Scottie almost felt the love radiating off them. The child laughed joyously, completely carefree, as Harvey showered him with kisses while the happiness between them was undeniable. Then, Scottie saw Harvey turn to the redhead, lean in to kiss her gently, and caress her belly with a tenderness that was unmistakable. The gesture was so full of affection, so natural, it made Scottie's heart twist. So this was her... the greatest love of his life. The one for whom he had endured everything — the one he seemed to have given up so much for? Scottie couldn't believe it. Though they were at a distance, the café was nearly empty, and she could still hear fragments of their conversation, as Harvey's voice was so soft, almost unrecognizable, but the warmth in it was unmistakable.
«Did you find something?»
«Voiture» said the little boy.
«Voiture?» muttered Harvey looking at the redhead.
«Car» translated the woman.
«A car, baby? So cool — and did you find something for your baby sister?»
«Lapin»
Scottie watched as Harvey looked at his wife, rolling his eyes playfully as the redhead chuckled before whispering.
« You really need to learn French — It's abunny. Well, a Jellycat pale pink bunny — look»
As the redhead pulled the soft bunny from the bag, Harvey leaned down slightly, planting a gentle kiss on their son's head while he rested his cheek there for a moment, his smile soft and full of affection as he looked up at his wife. The warmth between them was palpable, a silent, shared joy that radiated from the simple, quiet act.
«It's so cute — well, she'll be so happy with your gift, baby»
Scottie felt a pang in her chest as she listened, her heart tightening as Harvey's voice was so tender, so caring — so different from the man she remembered. He seemed like someone else entirely, perhaps the person he had always wanted to be but never could, the version of himself he had been striving for all these years. Who knew?
«How was your meeting?» asked the redhead, running her fingers through his hair.
«Pretty great, but go ahead — I'll explain everything to you later because you'll be late for your appointment if I keep talking. But babe, are you sure you don't want me to come with you?»
«Don't worry, honey. The Social Security office is just ten minutes away, and I just need to pick up this new card. He'll get bored and will want to move and run. Plus, I think he just wants to play with his car and with daddy now»
«Call me when you're done, alright? We'll meet you after» said Harvey softly.
«Alright. And get some work done, please, so we can really enjoy the weekend» chuckled the woman.
«Yes, chef — come on, give mommy a kiss» said Harvey with a playful smile.
«Bye bye, mommy!» waved the little boy .
«Bye bye, my baby. See you later — Bye honey»
«Bye babe»
After one final, tender kiss, the woman left the café, and Harvey walked deeper inside, the little boy perched on his hip and the toy bag in his other hand while they settled into a booth, the toddler now comfortably on Harvey's lap, as Harvey quickly ordered a coffee from a passing server. Once they were alone, the little boy eagerly asked to open the toy box and Harvey obliged, setting everything out in front of him. Immediately, the boy began rolling the toy car across the table, chattering to himself with innocent joy as in the meantime, Harvey scrolled through his phone, occasionally dropping unconscious kisses on the top of his son's head, his affection clear in the gentle gestures. Scottie sat there, torn as she felt this overwhelming urge to go up to them, to speak to him — to somehow bridge the distance of the past four years or she could just finish her scone, leave without being noticed, and go on with her life. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to talk to him, to confront the moment and after finishing her food, she grabbed her cup and made her way toward the table a little further away, her ex-fiancé still unaware of her presence.
«Harvey»
In the span of a fraction of a second, Scottie saw her ex-fiancé lift his head and look directly at her. Despite everything — despite the anger she should have felt for how he had shattered their relationship — she couldn't summon the resentment. Not now, not when she saw the calmness in his expression, the ease with which he held their son on his lap, both of them smiling gently at her. It was as if all the years of hurt melted away in that moment, and she was left with an overwhelming sense of something she couldn't quite name.
«Scottie?»
«Hey»
«What are you doing here?»
«I came back yesterday for my friend's baby shower»
«Oh»
«Do you mind?»
As she pointed to the booth, silently asking if she could sit across from him, Harvey quickly nodded, his eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and something softer — perhaps hesitation — as he murmured, his voice quieter than usual.
«Of course»
«Thanks — I see everything's going well for you»
«Yeah»
«I had the chance to meet your wife — she's really gorgeous. I didn't know you were into redheads» chuckled Scottie.
«You met Donna?» whispered Harvey.
«Her name's Donna? Well, yeah. I was looking for a gift for the baby shower, and since I couldn't find a seller, I saw her looking for some car with your son and asked her for advice. She was kind enough to help me pick out the perfect gift because I was lost»
«Oh»
«Congratulations on the kids»
«Thanks» smiled Harvey.
As Scottie watched her ex-fiancé gaze at his son with such love, gently kissing his forehead and then his cheek, making the little boy burst into giggles, a smile tugged at her lips. The tenderness in his actions and the joy between father and son were undeniable as she couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her, even as she continued speaking.
«She told me he just turned three»
«He did, yeah»
«And it's been four years since we last saw each other»
«Scottie, we don't have to talk about this, you know»
«I'm genuinely interested. Plus, I'm engaged today, I've moved on, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know how things have been for you. You seem happy, and I'd love to know what's happened in your life these last few years»
As Scottie seemed genuinely interested, and with the years of distance between them now feeling like ancient history, Harvey began to tell his story with Donna, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, the kind that spoke of fondness and quiet affection. Meanwhile, the little boy on his lap continued to roll the toy car across the table, making engine noises with his mouth, fully engrossed in his little world, not caring about the brunette in front of him.
«Well, if you insist. After our... conversation, I told Donna everything — about you, our engagement, our history, all of it — and she felt guilty, thought it wasn't her fault that things ended between us. At first, she had a hard time accepting it, but I was persistent, I ran after her, not willing to give up. Eventually, she gave in, those two weeks of begging felt like ten years without her. Anyway, the day she finally agreed to get back together, I dropped to one knee and asked her to marry me right away. I didn't want to waste any more time, and apparently, neither did she, because she said yes immediately. We knew it was crazy — too fast, too spontaneous — but that's just how we've always been, her and I, from the very beginning. So, we had a simple wedding here in New York, just our families, then we moved in together and started our life as a couple. But barely two months into our marriage, we found out Donna was pregnant with Miles»
«Miles?» smiled Scottie.
«Miles, yeah» chuckled Harvey.
As the little boy looked up at the sound of his name, Harvey leaned down and kissed his cheek before rolling the car again, guiding his attention back to the toy. The tactic worked — within a second, the boy was once again absorbed in his play, chattering to himself as he created little stories around the toy car. Scottie, meanwhile, kept the conversation going, her voice steady as she continued to listen and respond, even as a swirl of emotions stirred within her.
«Like the jazz musician?»
«Yeah... He was a bit restless in Donna's belly, and the only thing that calmed him down was listening to Miles Davis. So, to thank the man who saved so many nights for Donna, we named him after him in his honor»
«That's cute»
«Yeah» chuckled Harvey.
«What about the other one?»
«Well, Miles grew up, and we loved being parents. He was so perfect that we started thinking about having a second one. We didn't want to rush it, though — we wanted to enjoy every moment with him while he was still little, but, well... looks like things moved quickly again, and Donna got pregnant with the second one»
«A little girl» said Scottie with a smile.
«Yeah, a little girl»
«You seem happy. I'm glad for you»
«Yeah. Deep down, I knew I was going to be happy with Donna. And when I asked her to marry me, I wasn't expecting anything more than happiness. We hadn't really talked about having a baby — at least, not so soon. Then Miles came along, and I realized my life could be even more beautiful than I ever imagined»
«I have to admit, I didn't imagine you as a father»
«Well, neither did I. Before Donna, I was convinced that having a child would just be an extra burden. I didn't think I'd be a good father because of my past with my own parents. And even when she told me she was pregnant, part of me was scared, our life was so perfect and fun, but adding a baby to that was…»
«A lot?»
«Yeah. But my fears didn't last long. The moment I saw him on the ultrasound, I fell in love with my son. Then, more and more, every time Donna's belly grew, with every little kick, every exam. And when they placed him in her arms, I knew it was the most beautiful thing that could ever happen to me»
«And now you already have the second one on the way» chuckled the brunette.
«Yeah, I can't wait to meet my daughter» smiled Harvey.
«I imagine»
«What about you?»
For nearly another twenty minutes, the two exes continued their conversation, Scottie watching as father and son shared an undeniable bond while Harvey showered his son with love, constantly cuddling him and dropping kisses on every part of him, almost unconsciously. In return, the little boy looked up at his father with pure admiration and affection as the scene was so intimate, so filled with warmth, that Scottie couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of awe. As they discussed the firm, Harvey's phone suddenly rang, and when he saw the name on the screen, his face softened into a smile, and without hesitation, he answered, his voice instantly changing to one of affection.
«Hey babe, you're done? ... Sure, yeah. We're leaving the café now, so ... No, he's fine, don't worry. What about you? ... And her? ... I'm glad, then ... Yeah, see you ... I love you too»
As he hung up, Scottie smiled, glancing at the phone's screen — a picture of the redhead, with their son in her arms and her rounded belly visible under her lifted top — as she chuckled softly before murmuring.
«I love you too?»
«Yeah» muttered Harvey, a bit embarrassed.
«It doesn't seem that hard to say when it's the right person, right?»
«It's even easy»
«I'm really happy for you, Harvey»
«Thanks, Scottie. It reassures me to know you don't hold too much against me»
«You know, even though I'm sad about how things ended, I have to admit it's also my fault. I always knew something was off, that you weren't fully yourself. I should've questioned you, tried to understand why, but instead, I was just happy you finally agreed to be more than casual. I even rushed into marriage without really considering if you were truly ready for that. But looking back, I can see now… you weren't meant to be with me. I mean, I never stood a chance against the greatest love of your life, huh?»
As they both laughed, Harvey sighed before responding with a soft smile.
«It was really nice to see you, Scottie»
«Same here»
«Take care of yourself?»
«You too, and take care of your little family»
After a final smile, Harvey stood up, quickly scooping Miles into his arms. He turned to the little boy, his face breaking into the same smirk that mirrored his son's, and whispered something to him softly.
«Let's go join mommy?»
«Mommy?»
«Yes»
«Yeah!» yelled the little boy.
After placing a final kiss on his chubby cheek, Harvey nodded at Scottie before leaving the café, Miles perched on his hip, his small arms clinging to his father's neck while the two of them chatted away as they made their way out, their voices fading as they disappeared into the street. In the meantime, Scottie sat quietly for a moment, her lips barely moving as she whispered to herself.
«Goodbye Harvey»
Scottie never would have imagined that a simple coffee could change everything. She had come to New York for a specific reason, but this unexpected encounter with Harvey opened her eyes to things she had never questioned before. Watching him leave the café with his son in his arms, a smile on his lips at the thought of reuniting with the mother of his child, Scottie finally understood — Harvey had always been in love with this Donna, and it was not something time could erase. Even after ten years of separation, even after their kind of breakup, that flame had never stopped burning, and in the few minutes she spent conversing with Donna, Scottie realized that the redhead had something truly special. With every word exchanged between them, with every glance shared, Scottie saw the obvious truth: Donna was the healing Harvey had been searching for all his life. She was gentle and calm, with a serenity that soothed the demons of Harvey's past, the ones he had never been able to calm on his own. She had a teasing humor that likely made Harvey laugh out loud, but more than that, she brought him comfort, stability, and tranquility — and, of course, that breathtaking beauty that must make his head spin. She was perfect for him. Above all, Donna had given him what he had always wanted: unconditional love. As Scottie realized, albeit reluctantly, that by seeing Donna and Harvey together, there had never really been any competition — Harvey had always been destined to be with the love of his life. With these final thoughts, Scottie finished her coffee, her heart feeling lighter, and walked away from the café as part of her was at peace now. Harvey was happy, and she could finally turn the page.
He was exactly where he was meant to be — with the greatest love of his life.