Chapter 43 - Harvey/Anastasia

Harvey"He's in SVT. Charge to 7 joules".

That is what I hear by my side as I come out of sleep. Last time I checked, I was sleeping on Ana's bed, not a hospital. So I open my eyes to confirm.

"Back at sinus rhythm. Push 0.65 grams of adenosine, and fluids" Ana murmurs in her sleep.

I chuckle to myself and wrap my arm around her. I rub her side softly as I touch her. Ana snuggles against her pillow before opening her eyes. She looks at me and smiles.

"I thought we agreed on no work for 16 hours" I remind her

"What?" she asks as she yawns

"You were saying something about SVT and Aden... something"

"Adenosine?"

"Yeah, that"

"Must've been muscle memory" she chuckles and moves closer to me. She closes her eyes as she gets comfortable against my chest. And my heart explodes.

"I haven't slept this good in ages. You should come over more often" she suggests

"We could do this every night" I suggest.

"Harvey, I just moved in Boston..." she reminds me

"That means you haven't formed strong relationships with people yet so it's the perfect time to move a couple more states over" I explain.

She sighs, "Let's not fight about this now, please. I'd hate to ruin this moment by getting up and being mad at you" she shuts me down

"Ok. I'm just saying that I'm ready when you are" I state

"Noted" she replies, brushing it off.

Ana's phone starts ringing from the nightstand. She doesn't pull away from me as she reaches over to grab it.

"Morgan" she answers, placing the phone in her ear

"Dr. Morgan, good morning. My name is James Reed. I am an attorney with Rowan & Reed in Manhattan" I overhear the voice on the other end.

Ana taps on my chest to get my attention and points at the phone as she puts it on speaker. We both sit up.

"I'm calling regarding the passing of your mother, Alicia Hardman. I've been retained to handle her final affairs, and your mother named you as a party of interest in her last will and testament" he reveals

"She has?" Ana asks, surprised

"Yes. As such, you're required to be present at the initial reading and opening of the will, which is scheduled to take place this afternoon, at our offices here in Manhattan"

"This afternoon? I am out of state currently" she informs him

"It's fine. I can get you there in time" I whisper to her

"Unfortunately, we cannot move the appointment"

Ana takes a breath and looks at me. I nod. "Ok. I will try to be there"

"Thank you, Dr. Morgan. Have a good day"

"You too".

She hangs up and looks at me. "She included me in her will...? And she had lawyers in Manhattan take care of it?" she asks me confused

"Maybe she didn't trust Daniel as much as you think she did" I suggest

"Well... Then I guess tonight's family reunion time. Will you come with me?"

"Of course I will" I reassure her and kiss her hand.

"Thank you. I'm gonna go get ready for the hospital and then--"

"The hospital? You just--"

"I have to arrange some things, including your niece's discharge papers. Then we can be on our way to New York. One hour tops, ok?" she insists

"Fine" I reply.

I kiss her and let her go get ready.

AnastasiaHarvey and I showed up at Rowan & Reed a few minutes before to the meeting. The person from the front desk directed us to the waiting area. I see my sister sitting by herself there.

But Harvey grabs my attention, "Hey, I gotta use the bathroom. I'll be right back" he whispers

"Ok, sure" I reply.

He kisses my head and goes.

I approach Sarah and sit a seat away from her. "Hi" I smile

"Hi" she replies weakly.

"It's ok, you don't have to pretend. I know that you don't know me, and I can only imagine what things dad has told you about me"

"Yeah, he does talk about you lately. He says you're a pain in the ass" she admits

"Oh, I'm sure" I chuckle. "Where is he, by the way?" I wonder

"In the bathroom" she answers

"Oh, shit..." I whisper to myself. I just hope they remain civil.

"How have you been doing?" I ask her

"Better than the last time we saw each other at the funeral. I've been in Boston the past couple of months so space is doing me good" she explains

"Right, you are studying in Harvard" I remember, "You must be excited that classes have started"

"It's nice" she says, but there is hesitation in her voice. A knot lunges in my throat. I've seen this film before...

"Was that your first choice?" I keep my voice calm

"Practically yes. I would like to study veterinary medicine, but I had attended prior studies that were fitter for law school, so I went with the safe choice"

"Of course. And do you like law school?"

"I'm doing good"

"No, no. I asked if you like it" I insist. "I'm only asking you this because I know that doing a job that you don't like is insufferable. On the other hand, I love where I am professionally. Do I get tired? Of course. Do I have bad days? Hell yes. But it's part of the package, and most of the time the good days outweigh the bad ones. Because I love what I do" I explain to her.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my business card with my number on it. "I know exactly what position you are right now. I've been there and it resulted in this... But I can tell you that it is so worth it. Because real love is loving someone for they are, and not for what is expected of them. I've lived it, I've felt it, and it's nothing compared to what he calls love.

"You don't hurt the person you love, you don't cheat them, you don't mock them, you don't stop loving them in a blink of a second because of who they are. This is your life, your path, not his. So if you ever need anything -and I mean absolutely anything-, call me and I'll take care of everything" I put the card in her hand.

She looks at it for a moment before putting it in her pocket. I breathe out relieved.

"I see the sisters are making up..." Daniel's voice brings me chills

"We've never had a falling out to make up for. We were simply talking" I reassure him

"And what was the subject of your conversation?" he asks in his soothing voice as he sits

"It is non of your business" I return the same smile.

With the corner of my eye, I see Harvey coming back too.

"You had to bring him too, didn't you?" Daniel asks

"I did. Because I wanted him to see you get your face smashed one more time" I answer

"There is truly no better sight than that" Harvey adds.

That moment we get called in the conference room. The four of us stand and follow the secretary. 

Sarah and Daniel walk in first. Harvey holds the door open for me and walks in last. "Reed, good to see you man" he greets the lawyer on the other side too

"It's good to see you too, Specter, as long as I'm not against you" he chuckles

"That depends on what you're about to tell us" he points out lighthearted

"We can get started if all the parties are ready" he looks at me and Daniel.

We nod, and Reed opens his file to start reading. Harvey gives my hand a firm squeeze.

"I, Alicia Morgan Hardman, residing in the County of New York, State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish, and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, revoking all prior wills and codicils made by me"

"I am the wife of Daniel Spencer Hardman, and we were lawfully married on 8/19/1986. I have two daughters with him, Sarah Allison Hardman and Anastasia Lucille Morgan".

I turn to Harvey. This is the first confirmation I have that she knew I changed my name. That means she really kept tabs on me. He nods like he read my mind in that moment.

"I give all my personal property, jewelry, furnishings, and tangible household effects not otherwise disposed of in this Will to my youngest daughter, Sarah Allison Hardman".

Daniel looks at Sarah and smiles as he holds her hand. My hand is shaking as my turn comes. Harvey gives me a firm squeeze and I take a deep breath.

"I give any investment accounts, and any interest I may have in property not specifically mentioned, to my oldest daughter, Anastasia Lucille Morgan, absolutely and outright. Additionally, I own, as a tenant in common, a fifty percent (50%) undivided interest in the real property located at 278 Willow Crest Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591. I hereby devise and bequeath all of my interest in said property to my oldest daughter, Anastasia Lucille Morgan, outright and free of trust".

My hand relaxes as I realize that now I own half of my parents house. I co-own the house with my father. This should be fun.

"I direct my Executor to distribute the residue of my estate as follows:1. $1,000,000 to the New York Public Library Foundation2. $2,000,000 to the National Women's Law Center3. $2,000,000 to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America4. $2,000,000 to the Global Fund for Women.5. $2,000,000 to the Malala Fund.If any named organization no longer exists or has merged, I authorize my Executor to direct the gift to a similar organization serving the same general purpose".

"I give $1 to my husband Daniel Spencer Hardman".

I cover my face to keep myself from laughing.

"I give the residue of my estate, including any remaining money, bank accounts, and any interest I may have in property not specifically mentioned, to Sarah Allison Hardman, absolutely and outright".

Reed finishes and puts the paper down so we can see the signatures on it from him, mom, and the two witnesses.

I look at Daniel who's getting progressively redder in the face. I smile and bite the inside of my lip as the three of us take turns signing the necessary papers.

When we leave the conference room, he looks like he's going to explode. Harvey and I head to the elevator, but Daniel catches up to us and reaches for my arm.

"Back off" Harvey warns him as he rips his hand away from me before he could touch me

"How much do you want for it?" he asks me

"What?"

"For the house. I'm willing to buy your half of it" he tells me.

"Oh... In that case, I want $100,000,000" I demand

"The property isn't worth that much" he chuckles

"So what? It's mine, I do anything I want with it. You want it that bad, you gotta pay up" I insist.

"Anastasia, the house is the last piece I have from our family..."

"And who's fault it that?" I shoot back at him.

At the same time, Sarah walks passed all three of us and leaves by herself. Daniel calls for her but she ignores him.

His entire posture changes in that moment. His shoulders drop. His lowers his head. The way looks at me almost makes me feel sorry for him. Defeated, lost...

I sigh, "But if you want it that bad... Convince Monica Eaton to settle with Pearson Hardman, and drop the charges against Harvey. You get a 45% discount for each of those" I state

"That still gives you $10,000,000" he points out

"I mean it's my property, I gotta make some profit too" I reply.

He shakes his head disappointed, "If Alicia could see you now..."

"After all the shit that's come out about you since she died -the embazzlement, the cheating, representing your mistress, trying to ruin my life again-, you really think it's me she's gonna have issues with?" I genuinely wonder.

He presses his lips together and doesn't answer.

"Pay up $100,000,000 or close the cases I mentioned and pay up $10,000,000. Otherwise, I'll be moving in the house by the end of the month" I tease

"You would never come back there"

"I wouldn't come alone" I take Harvey's hand, "We were talking about moving in together just this morning, weren't we?" I remind him, skipping the part where I had brushed it off

"Yes, we were" Harvey smirks and leans down to kiss me.

"So, the choice is yours, dad. Just know that I can't wait to move in and for all three of us to live together. I already have some renovation ideas in mind" I lie and act excited.

I get in the elevator and Harvey follows me with the biggest grin on his face. As soon as the doors close, I burst out laughing.

"Did you see his face? Just the possibility that all three of us could be living together--" I laugh my head off. "Not that I'd ever live with him, I'd rather--"

Harvey cuts me off with a kiss. He wraps his arms around me, picking me from the ground. He breathes me in like I'm his oxygen. He kisses me slowly and so passionately, I melt underneath him.

"What was that for?" I giggle like a teenager when he pulls away

"Nothing, I just love you" he replies

"I love you too".