Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 11

Entering the living room, the two women seated themselves opposite each other, neither
knowing how to start.

Seeing that Alexis was fidgeting uncomfortably, Delphina said, "You don't need to be nervous, Alexis."

"Right. Of course. Sorry," Alexis said hastily.

"It's quite alright. I know this is a little awkward considering we aren't really friends. But....I don't expect our interactions with one another to change due to my.......due to my condition."

Alexis nodded, waiting for Delphina to speak more.

"I'm dying, Alexis. It's a simple matter of fact now," Delphina said calmly. "I've been watching you with my children ever since Mira was born, how you interacted with her and genuinely cared for her. All of my children - you have a bond with them that I never had until recently. And even now, it's subpar at best when compared to yours."

Alexis shook her head frantically. "Delphina, your children love you. They really do."

"I know they love me. But they adore you. Earlier, this adoration used to get under my skin. But now, I find it comforting, due to the request that I'm about to make."

"Request? I'm sorry, what request?" Alexis asked curiously.

"When the time comes, Alexis, I want you to step in and become a mother to my children. In fact, my lawyers have all the paperwork ready, so you could......so you could adopt them legally."

Alexis felt her eyes widening as she stared at the woman sitting in front of her. "Delphina! I......I mean.......I - "

Alexis inhaled deeply, composing herself, before she said, "Delphina, I care for you children deeply. I really do and I always will. But, Mike......I mean, he may want to remarry, he might fall in love with someone......someone who might be more suitable for this role."

"There isn't anyone else. And I'm not asking you to be Mike's wife. I'm asking you to be a mother to my children........the children you have been mothering all along anyway."

Ignoring Delphina's last statement, Alexis protested, "But your sister, surely you would want her to be the one stepping in. She's the closest thing your kids would ever have to you. And your parents - "

"Cordelia is not suitable to care for plants, let alone children. And I hate to admit it, but Mira's right. My parents are only interested in Marvin as is Mike's father."

Alexis frowned at that. "I don't understand how your parents could be only interested in Marvin.......I mean they have two daughters of their own."

"My parents have two daughters for the same reason why I have two daughters - because their first child wasn't a son," Delphina replied somewhat coolly. "I, of course, decided to try one more time in an attempt to save a marriage that was impossible to save. My parents, however, stopped after me. Francesc's was the best thing to happen to my parents as it gave them the chance to not parent us for at least 9 months."

Alexis remained silent, not knowing how to reply to that.

"Alexis, I asked for adoption to ensure that if anything happened to Mike as well......my children would remain with you. My parents could claim them, or want to claim Marvin at least, if you are only made a guardian. And honestly, I don't want you to be their guardian, I want you to be their mother. If I sign off my rights and you adopt them while I'm still alive nobody could possibly revoke it. And don't worry about convincing Mike, I'll handle him. Please Alexis, this would be the best solution for the children. I hope you are understanding me."

"Delphina, I'm touched. I really am. But, I don't think - "

"My children are going to be motherless in a matter of months. Please let me live my remaining days in peace, knowing that you have taken their responsibility. And anyway, Mike is worthless without you. You are my only hope."

"Excuse me?"

Delphina sighed. "You and Mike have an odd friendship, one that I don't understand. But, all I know is that he listens to you. You have been the one who's been co-parenting the kids with Mike all these years honestly. Now, I'm just asking you to do it officially."

"Delphina, I - "

"You know the memories of theirs worth remembering," Delphina cut Alexis off politely. "You were there when Mira lost her first tooth. You were the one who held onto a crying Ara as she got injections for breaking her arm when she was three. You were the one who noticed that Mira loved music and Ara loved art, encouraging Mike to enroll them into classes. You were there when Marvin took his first steps. The girls confide in you, they trust you. My children, Alexis........your children, they need you."

"Are you......Are you asking me to move into the house?" Alexis asked after a while.

"Eventually.......yes."

Seeing that Alexis was about to protest, Delphina quickly spoke up, "Look, I know that my actions over the years haven't earned me any sort of 'Mother of the Year' title and I'll spend the rest of my days reminding myself of the moments I missed, moments I'll never get back because I was too self-absorbed. But you......you have all these automatic instincts that I wished I could have found within myself the moment an infant Mirabelle was placed in my arms."

Alexis bit her lips, rubbing her hands together. How could she say no to a dying woman? Better yet - who says no to a dying woman? No one! But, Delphina was asking her to adopt the children! From being childless to a mother of three with a simple sign ....... Alexis didn't think she had it in her to actually do it!

"I know you love my children," Delphina said, her voice cracking slightly. "And I know your parents love them too. Everytime Marvin sees a car passing by he cries out 'Pa!' I, obviously didn't know what it meant till Mira informed me that this us what he calls your father."

Alexis laughed a little at that. The look on both her father's face and Marvin's face alike is positively priceless whenever they see each other.

"I do love your children," Alexis said softly. "And my parents, they absolutely adore the kids. Since I haven't been able to provide them with any grandchildren, they have chosen to live vicariously through your and Garrett's  kids."

"Then make them your children, Alexis," Delphina almost pleaded desperately. "Allow your parents to be actual grandparents to them. I'm giving them to you. Please don't say no."

Taking out the papers from her bag, Delphina thrust them towards Alexis.

"Please Alexis. Here are the papers. Read them over and let me know your decision by tomorrow. Just remember that this is my one plea.......my last plea. Just consider it at least."