DANGEROUS SIBLINGS (complete)

CHAPTER 10

Harvey stared at Ruby who was fast asleep. It had been a hectic week for her. After she returned from the summit, she had two exams to write so she had been studying like a maniac day and night. She was now sleeping soundly since it was weekend and there was no exam until the next Tuesday. He checked his watch and it was around seven in the morning. He kissed her lightly on her forehead before crawling out of her bed. He went to her bathroom first and he washed his face before leaving for his own. He instructed the maids to not disturb Ruby since she needed her beauty sleep.

He took his shower, changed into casual jeans and a t-shirt before going down to the dining where breakfast awaited him. When he arrived he was alone. His breakfast was served and he ate it peacefully. When he was done he met Grace who asked him to join her. He didn't know what she wanted to talk about but he was nervous. He just couldn't tell her about his feelings towards Ruby.

'Come and sit down child,' she said and he sat down next to her on the couch.

'Do you want to talk about something with me?' he asked nervously.

'Yes. I am going to be straight with you and i want you to be honest with me,' she said and he knew exactly where this was going.

'Okay, i will be honest.'

'What's your relationship with her? Don't tell me about all the bullshit excuses you have been throwing ever since you were kids,' Grace asked seriously.

'I am in love with her, not as my sis but as a woman,' Harvey said it out and felt less burdened.

Grace wasn't really shocked when she heard it bit she wasn't expecting Harvey to say it out like that plainly.

'Oh s**t, you are one honest man. '

'I am sorry, i never intended to keep it away from you. I really love Ruby and please don't....' he couldn't finish as tears were already streaming down his cheeks. The thought of being separated from her was painful. He couldn't live without her anymore.

'Oh baby, please don't cry. I didn't say anything yet,' Grace was shocked to see Harvey crying. That kid has never cried before and this was serious. 

'Harvey what happened?' Ruby asked at the top of her lungs as she came into the lounge upon seeing Harvey crying.

'Baby, its nothing,' Grace answered as she saw the look on her daughter's face.

'Mom, why is he crying? You didn't do anything to him right?' Ruby asked as she sat down next to Harvey.

Grace was shocked to see how protective Ruby was towards Harvey. This was huge trouble.

'Ruby behave, she knows,' Harvey said and Ruby's face paled.

Ruby looked at her mother and she wanted to drown. She had no idea that the news was out and here she was drilling her mother questions.

'You didn't scold him right? It wasn't his fault mom. I love him,' Ruby blurted out and Harvey looked at her.

The two looked at Grace as she remained quiet for a while. She was still processing the issue but when Ruby began to cry that's when all hell went loose. Ruby was a strong girl and tears were something she never showed. She was Harvey's role model and seeing the two crying made her heart ache.

'Come here my babies,' she said opening her arms.

The two didn't take too much time, they were already in her embrace.

'I am not mad at you. I am just taken back by the situation. I love both of you and i want you to be happy. Are you happy?'

'Yes we are,' they both answered at the same time.

'That's all i want to hear from you.'

'Thank you mother,' Grace said while hugging her mother tightly as tears flow down her cheeks.

Grace wiped her baby's tears away and hugged the two closely.

Ruby was happy that her mother wasn't disappointed in her and she was happy for her. There was going to be obstacles ahead but as long as she have her family and Harvey, she was confident that she was going to make it.

'We are sorry mom for being like this,' Harvey said.

'Don't apologize for being in love. Now Ruby have you had breakfast yet?'

'No, i was about to have it when i came up on you,' Ruby answered.

'Then go and have some food. I will take a walk with Harvey,' Grace said and Ruby smiled at her mother and Harvey.

'Okay.'

Ruby left the two in the lounge and she went to the kitchen where she told the maid what she wanted. She went to the dining where the maid served her breakfast. While she was eating, so many questions were running through her head.  She was wondering what exactly her mother was talking to Harvey that she wasn't supposed to hear. She just hoped that she wasn't going to make anything difficult for him.

Harvey couldn't believe that it all went simple like that without any quarrelling. He was now walking around the compound with Grace.

'I never thought that one day we will be talking about this. I am not angry at you for what you two have. I just want to see my baby happy and you make her happy. So take care of my baby for me,' Grace implored him.

'I am complete with her mom. I will make her happy and take care of her,' Harvey said feeling relieved that he wasn't going to be reprimanded.

'You better. I wouldn't want to see my baby all angry and that. She scares me whenever she does that,' Grace said and Harvey agreed with her on that.

'She scares a lot of people,' Harvey said and began to laugh.

'Let's leave her moods now. So have you spoken to Janet yet?' Grace asked.

'Yes, she knows about me and Ruby,' he told her.

'That isn't good. Let me talk to your dad first and we will see what to do next,' Grace said and he felt relieved because there was no way he was going to see Janet again after their last encounter.

'Thank you. I will go back inside now. I have to meet my friends later,' Harvey said.

'Okay. Please tell them hello,' Grace said with a smile.

'I will do that.'

'Tell Ruby that i would like to see her if she is done eating,' Grace said.

'I will do that.'

Harvey left Grace to let walk and he went inside the house. He found Ruby just finishing her breakfast and he walked up to her. She smiled at him as he approached.

'It looks like the talk went well,' she said as she stood from her chair.

'It went well. She wasn't to speak with you outside,' he told her as he took her hand.

'It's time i guess. I will see you later then,' she said.

'Okay. I will call you later,' Harvey said.

'Greet the boys for me,' Ruby said.

'I will.'

'And tell Brian that if he hurts my friend, i will skin him alive,' Ruby warned.

'I will pass along the message,' he said and gave her a peck on her cheek.

Ruby walked outside towards her mother who was now resting. Ruby approached her mother and sat besides her.

'You are done eating?' Grace asked her.

'Yes, i am. What do you want to talk about?' Ruby asked as if she didn't know.

'How long have you been together?' Grace didn't beat around the bush.

'It's been a while.'

'Do you love him?'

'Yes, i love him a lot, i have never felt like that before,' she confessed.

'You should have told me Ruby. I am your mother and you shouldn't hide these things from me. I would have supported you either way. Your happiness is what is important and i will never let anyone jeopardize it. If i had known i wouldn't have have allowed that arranged marriage talk to happen,' Grace said sounding worried.

'I am very sorry mom, i should have told you sooner,' she apologized.

'And another serious issue. You aren't pregnant right?' Grace asked with her eyebrows raised.

'I am not, you can be at ease,' Ruby said with a chuckle. She couldn't believe her mother at all.

'Be careful my baby. I don't want any grandkids yet before any official ceremony.

'I will bear that in mind mom. I will not disappoint you,' Ruby promised.

'Let's change the topic since we talked about this. How were the exams?'

'They were bearable,' she answered.

'That's good. Make sure you concentrate.'

'I will do so mom, you know i don't slack off,' she assured her mom and Grace smiled.

'I know baby.'

'I have to meet my friends for a study group. I have to leave,' Ruby said.

'Okay baby. Drive safely and pass my greetings to your friends.'

'I will. Love you,' Ruby said and kissed her mom goodbye.

Ruby smiled as she left her mom outside, it really went well and now she felt better. She changed her clothes, took her books and went to the basement where her car was.

It took her an hour to reach Nancy's house. Nancy was already waiting for her with a huge smile on her face. 

The two friends hugged each other as if they haven't seen each other recently.

'You were late. What kept you?' Nancy asked her.

'Had a heart to heart talk with mom. She knows about me and Harvey,' Ruby answered her friend.

'That's huge, let's go inside and talk about this,' she said and dragged Ruby inside.

They went into her study where they sat down and waited for the maids to bring some fruits and juice for them. While they ate Ruby narrated the whole thing to her.

'Your mum is a genius. I respect her more now. Now i can be at ease that she supports you. Let's just hope your dad will be like her,' Nancy said as she popped a grape in her mouth.

'I hope so too. For now i will concentrate on my studies and leave everything to her,' Ruby said as she sighed. Just thinking about it was enough to give her a headache.

The boys arrived some time later and Nancy the blabber mouth spilled everything to the boys.

'I have respect for her. I wish she was my mom,' Jack said smiling.

'She is yours too. What are friends for?' Ruby asked.

'That's true. I will thank her on our behalf when i see her next,' Jack said.

'Now let's all do what we came here for,' Alex said as he put books on the table.

'Let's do that.'

The four of them began to study. It was stressful but bearable.

Harvey watched as his friends played pool. It was no use studying, they were tired and all he wanted to do was rest and play.

'I am so stressed at the moment, i don't know what to do,' Brian said suddenly.

'What happened this time?' Owen asked.

'Is he still ignoring you?' Harvey asked.

'Yes, why can't he pick up?'

'He is writing, same as Ruby. You would be shocked if you see the kind of state those four are in. Ruby just sleeps whenever she is home or ignores me studying. You have to wait till they are done then you can pester him all you want,' Harvey advised his friend.

'It makes sense if you put it that way. I guess i have been selfish. I will wait till after exams and start from there. It's not like he is going anywhere,' Brian said enlightened.

The other two smiled upon seeing how cheerful Brian was. 

'Let's go on that trip after exams. It will be a great relief for all this stress,' Owen said reminding them of the plan that made back then.

'I will talk to Ruby about it and we can all chip in and see where we will end up,' Harvey said.

'Good idea. Let's enjoy this day then and study tomorrow,' Owen said and the guys laughed. They were busy playing when exams weren't over after all.

Harvey began to concentrate on the game of pool once more with his friends. Going home early wasn't an option since he had a feeling that his dad would be furious once he learnt about his relationship with Ruby.