Chapter 97

It is a well established fact that lack of communication is and remained a very big threat to any relationship, be it family, business, boyfriend, girlfriend and or marriage. When there is gap in communication, both parties will have trust issues. This is because assumptions will set in, which sometimes bring about quarrels, most times to reconcile whatever issues that emanate from such takes a long time. The time it will take is determined by the effort and seriousness being put into it to see it resolved. The lesser the effort, the longer time it takes, and vice versa. This was exactly the point at which Olivia and Mike's relationship had reached. It was as if both of them were drifting further apart. Olivia was more into her family circle and her political career, the only thing that seemed to remind her of Mike was the pregnancy. She would ponder over it while alone, but as soon as her sister Mira, her Mom or her Aunty Mary came around, her mind would leave that thought. She had become a little at ease since she opened up to Mary. It did a lot of psychological and physiological work on both her brain and her health. She could see herself feeling good again as if she wasn't even pregnant. Her twin sisters, Mira contributed to making things simpler than she thought.

She had gathered courage while the had eaten the delicious meal that aunty. Lucy and Pat helped Mary to remove the remains on the dinning table, while Mira was with her on one of the seats. She told her there was something she wood want to discuss with their aunt and that she would like her to be present. She was still waiting for the appropriate time and space when Mira called their Aunt Mary attention for a private discussion. The three of them had to excuse themselves form Lucy and Pat who were helping to clean up the dishes. The went into their aunt's room, sat on the bed.

I am pregnant. Came Olivia's voice.

Miras phone feel off her hand, it was as if something shocked her. She tried to recall what they ate and the quantity of wine they had taking, she knew her sister could drink and smoke, without misbehaving. The measure of drink she had cannot be compared to what she would take on a very good day, so there was no way she would be saying things that were out of order based on the influence of alcohol. Mary did not say a word for up to a minute, she behaved as if she didn't hear Olivia's statement. It was not deliberate, it came out of surprise. There reaction wasn't out of order, because the manner and method which Olivia chose to pass the message was a strange one. It was like dropping a time bomb where all and sundry would see it. The expectation would be chaotic. Olivia felt that was the best way, she wanted to have every blame once and for all, she didn't want to bring sentiments into the discourse. She knew how her family loved her, and wouldn't want her to feel hurt. She watched both ladies one after the other, expecting one of them to speak, but the room remained silent. She was still standing there while her aunt and her sister sat on the bed. When it seemed it was taking ages for response to come, she excused herself from them with tears in her eyes, she walked towards the door to open it and walk out of the room. It was then that Mira, stood up and rushed to her, held her close to herself and returned to the room, this time she made her sit with them on the bed. Mira took out a white handkerchief from her hand bag, handed it over to her sister who used it to wipe away her tears. Mary their aunt drew close to her and hugged her. She told her she was sorry for not responding when she expected. 

Marys silence was caused by natural, she happened to have a flash back and wondered how and why somethings could repeat in same manner. She recalled that her sister in-law, being Olivia Mom, had same experience. She only hoped Olivia knew who was responsible. Although she knew that the twin were not wayward, she wanted to be sure of Olivia.

Is it the young man I met in the US? Mary asked.

Yes, he is responsible. She replied. I have never seen any other man. She added.

Olivia was trying her best to avoid the discussion taking long, hence her giving out information beyond the expected answer. 

Is he aware, I mean have you informed him? Mira asked

Not yet, he is having a challenge with his voice after the accident. Olivia replied.

Mira and Mary asked her few more questions about Mike, they wanted to know how responsible he was, this would help to know if they would suggest to the family that the union should be made formal or not. Olivia told them all that they needed to know, after that they encouraged her not to allow it stress her. Mary told her that there wasn't anything bad about it, after all, it would be to the advantage of the family peradventure Mike deny responsibility. The child would bear the Harts name. Mira held the sister and prayed it should be a boy. When the cane out to meet with Pat and Lucy who were already done with the dishes and we're comfortably seated drinking wine, Lucy looked at Olivia, she saw that she looked brighter and that she had put up a smiling face, she made gesture towards her which Olivia understood at once and responded in such a manner that correctly answered what Lucy wanted to know. Mary brought out more wine for them, she advised Olivia not to drink too much of t alcoholic wine, as she gave her more of the other types. They made merry and had fun to their satisfaction before returning home.

When they left, Mary took time to digest what happened in her room, she was more particular with Miras prayer, she thought it would be wise if they kept the pregnancy from Mike, till they had confirmed the child's gender. This would determine their next line of action. She would discuss it with his brother, making sure he understood the implications and the advantage in it. If the child happened to be a boy, he would be named after the family, that meant he would be a heir to the Harts Dynasty. It would be better since it part of his blood, than adoption she thought. If it be a female or a girl, the they would go for Mike's answers which would determine marriage and other options. Having given it enough thought, she decided to have a little rest, having enjoyed the moment with the ladies.

The four ladies kept on chatting and laughing all through the journey back home. It was obvious that Olivia had gone back to her usual self. She was most excited with the outing and being with the sister. Both of them sat together at the rear sit with Pat at one end. At intervals, Mira would whisper to her not to worry about anything, as she was and would always be there for her. She would hold her hands and rub hers in it making her feel loved. They finally arrived their gate, Chase and Alicia were standing there waiting. They needed not to go with them since Mary's house had some security agents aside the ones within the estate. The car was checked as a security routine before letting them in. Once in their apartment, Mira and Olivia left the there two ladies and went straight to their Mom. Lucy and Pat were left alone, Pat had been noticing there was something about Olivia, but she wasn't able to pick out what exactly it was. She felt something was really going on that she needed to know. She kept watching Lucy's movement and actions to see if she could pick whatever clue from her. She wasn't going to ask her nor Olivia, she would rather find out herself.

Mrs Hart was very excited when she saw her two beautiful daughter walk into her apartment, she hugged them, then she looked at Olivia's face, she noticed that there were no trace of worry or concern on he face anymore, she was full of smiles. She looked at Mira, searching her face for any clues, all she could get was total indifferent. She knew her daughters very well, she brought them up to become independent women, so their actions weren't a surprise to her. She would rather wait to hear from her sister in-law, instead of wasting time with the two ladies. Mira was the one to open up their visit to their aunts place, before Olivia joined in the story. Mrs Hart feigned ignorance as they told her how they had fun and what they ate. Mom would interrupt them once in a while to ask some questions which they would answer and continue with the story. Mother pretended to be sad that they didn't inform her, before going, she made them believe she would have loved to go with them. That made them feel so bad, and while the tried to apologize, sitting closer to her, flanking her both sides, she laughed and told them she was just playing with their intelligence. They could not eat again that night, rather they promised their mom that they would be there for breakfast. They left her with a goodnight kiss on both sides of her cheeks.