Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 55

Note: The underlined, italics section are a flashback.

............xxxxxxxxxxxxxx............

"I don't think you understand exactly what you're asking me to do," Mike said before he left to meet his in-laws at the funeral home.

Alexis walked around the living room of Mike's house, following the path of toys scattered about by Marvin as she picked them up to place in their proper place. "I'm asking you to be a decent human being, Mike."

The wake for Delphina Watson would be small and private, as an intimate gathering of close friends and family attended. The meeting regarding the planning of the wake was filled with less hostility than Mike originally anticipated, though it was hard to miss the looks on her parents' faces - looks of regret while laced with shame. All Esther McCoy could say over and over again was all the things she'd wished she'd had said to her daughter. Steven McCoy sat stoically in a tall chair, watching ice swirl around in his whiskey glass as he suppressed his regrets as a father who never found happiness as a father of daughters.

Cordelia, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. She flipped on her sorrow switch whenever she found herself in a situation that would earn her sympathy. She wallowed and wept when people called her to offer condolences. She wore a black veil in public, dabbing her eyes with the corners of a handkerchief even when there was nothing to soak - except of course attention. Mike didn't understand it, nor did he even try to begin to. All he wanted was the wake to be planned and executed, so that his children could have closure and they could all begin the process of moving forward. When he went with Delphina's parents and her sister to choose a coffin, Cordelia clung to his arm like a rash, and the only reason he didn't forcefully peel her away was becauy he was specifically told by Alexis not to make matters worse.

The wake also became a loud source of contention yesterday between Mike and Alexis - Mike wanted her there while Alexis wanted to stay away from it.

"It's not my place," she stated as she set the table at her parents' place, since the girls had requested to stay one more night at their Nana and Papa's place. "Me being there will only make things worse. Your father will be there. Your in-laws will be there. I don't think I should go - not with them around. However, Gary and Hails will be there to keep you sane."

"You know my father and the McCoys don't really like Garrett and Hailey much either," Mike pointed out. "If they can come, why can't you?"

"Because, them being there won't cause the same sort of scene that me being there would," Alexis hissed. "Me being there will only anger your father and your in-laws - which will then upset the children more than necessary - which you will feed right of off and ultimately pop a valve! This is your time to mourn. Your time for closure. You might not like this decision, but it's the right decision."

"Not to intrude," William said, poking his head into the room where the two stood, separated by the table, a battle of wills clearly taking place. "But we can hear you two shouting, and it's upsetting the girls."

Alexis set the stack of dishes down on the table, not breaking eye contact with him. "I know why you want me to go," she said, a bit calmer with compassion. "But it isn't what's best for the children - and neither is fighting over it."

In the end, Alexis didn't go, despite Mike's last pleading efforts. She buttoned up Ara's coat and gave her and Mira a kiss on the cheek each as a tired Marvin laid his head on his father's shoulder.

"You have your letters to give to your Mommy?" Alexis asked the girls, both of them nodding in reply. "Alright," she whispered, hugging them both, her worry for them etched all across her face. "Sit with your father, be nice to your grandparents and everybody else, keep an eye on Marv, and try not to fidget too much. I'll be here when you get back."

Mira adjusted the scarf around her neck. "What will you do while we're gone? Can't you come with us?"

"I wish I could, sweetheart. But, I have to pick up a few things for Ara that we didn't get a chance to pick up before she goes back to school on Monday, and I'll have to bring over my things from my apartment too."

"Will you bring Coco?" Ara squeaked as if it would be her sole, bright spot during this awful day.

Alexis smiled and nodded. "Of course, I will. Now, you be good for your father. Okay?"

"Girls, go ahead and get into the car. I'll be there in a moment," Mike said, knowing that the goodbye would take longer if he didn't intervene.

Mira nodded, taking Ara's hand as they walked towards the car. Mike watched as the girls climbed into the car, before turning his attention back to Alexis.

"Don't," she said quietly. "If I could go, you know I would."

"You can," Mike said, almost pleading.

"I can't," she replied, smoothing a hand over his wool coat. "Besides, Ara's expecting a white ball of fur here when she returns, and I couldn't disappoint her."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Please don't be offended if I hope you lose him somewhere between your house and mine."

"I'm going to pretend that's the grief talking," Alexis quipped. She gave Mike a kiss on the cheek, her lips lingering for a moment before she pulled away. "Gary and Hailey will take good care of you. Promise."

"I know," Mike whispered, resigned. "I'm expecting you to make this up to me, Miller."

"Because raising your children isn't enough?" she replied with a mocking glare.

"Touché, Miller. Touché."