Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 13

Delphina entered the guest bedroom - her bedroom for now - that night, feeling confident that Alexis would say yes.

Just as she finished gulping down her medicines, Mike entered the room hesitantly. "Ara and Marvin are asleep. Mira's reading 'Alice in Wonderland'. Are you sure you're okay in here? I'll be fine if you want to take the master suite."

Delphina shook her head no. Divorce or no divorce, their marriage was long over in her eyes and so it didn't feel right to sleep in the master bedroom.

Mike lingered near the doorway for a few seconds before asking, "So, what did you say to Miller that couldn't be said in front of me?"

Delphina sat on the bed and said, "Close the door. I don't want Mira to know of it just yet."

"Should I be scared?" Mike joked, closing the door behind him.

She laughed. "Hopefully you'd be relieved. But, you might also be a little upset over it."

"Delphina, what have you done?"

"Today I asked Alexis to adopt the children and move into the house after I'm gone. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but my lawyer has already gotten the paperwork ready. I have signed over my rights to the kids and I've also handed over the papers to Alexis today for her to sign. She'll tell me her decision tomorrow."

Stunned, Mike started at his wife with his mouth hanging open. "I....you.... I.....I mean......"

Delphina watched him stutter, mentally counting till five for his outburst that was sure to come.

"Are you out of your fucking mind woman!?" Mike bellowed at her. "You want Miller to just swoop in and replace you as my wife! You've completely lost it!"

"I asked her to take my place as the children's mother. Not your wife."

Mike threw his hand up in the air and glared at her. "Miller. In this house. Everyday. You may as well have asked her to be my wife!"

Delphina glared right back at him and said, "I don't really recommend women to marry you for the sheer reason that I've had the pleasurable experience of being your wife for the past 14 years."

"Well, it certainly hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows for me either, sweetheart."

Delphina rubbed her eyes tiredly and said, "I'd appreciate it if you could please consider the fact that she's the last person I ever wanted to take care of my children. But, despite being the last choice, she's the best. You've seen her with the kids, you know she's more than suitable for this role. You said so yourself today -  that she'd be a good mother."

"That didn't mean that you could invite her to be a part of our everyday personal lives, making decisions with me about our children."

"Mike, don't you already make decisions with her about our children? And don't bother answering, cause I know it's a yes. All I'm asking is for it to be official. I want to die in peace, knowing that the children won't be left motherless."

"Delphina, don't talk like you're dying tomorrow."

"Just because the doctor said three months, doesn't actually mean three months!"

"Delphi......"

"This is important to me," she said, her voice cracking. "Cordelia is out of the question. My parents would be incredibly biased towards Marvin and let's not even discuss your father. The children love Alexis, they need her.......especially Mira. She's been in this moody phase this entire past year and while you're her father - you aren't really capable enough to deal with an emotional teenage girl alone."

Mike closed his eyes and leaned against the bedroom door. He hadn't felt this helpless in his life since his mother's death. He wasn't all that upset about Delphina's request to be honest. God knows he relied on Miller more than he'd ever admit out loud. Delphina was right -  the children did love Miller and some days responded to her better than they did to him.

"You are asking Miller to essentially give up her life," Mike said finally. "Appealing to her inner sacrificing qualities was very cunning of you, my dear. But, when Alexis Miller makes a commitment, she doesn't back out of it, even if she becomes miserable in the process."

"I know," Delphina replied simply.

"Delphina, what if she meets someone? She'd have to choose between her happiness and the children - and you know exactly which she'd pick. It won't be fair to her," he tried to explain.

Sighing, Delphina shook her head. "Mike, what if we'd gone through with the divorce and I hadn't fallen sick? What if I had found someone else later on? Wouldn't that have been the same thing? If the opportunity ever arrives, I'm certain Alexis would find a way to make it work. That person, whoever he may be, would have to accept that Alexis has her own priorities. You know she'd never be with someone who wouldn't accept her relationship with the children."

"What if I meet someone?"

"The same principles would also apply to you, Mike! Would you be with someone who wouldn't accept the fact that you have children? And if she can accept that then she'd also need to realize that those children have a mother.......and yes, I mean Alexis," Delphina replied, exasperated. "However, I'd probably check to see if she was on drugs or not......I mean which sane woman would want to be with you, right?" She added teasingly.

Mike groaned and Delphina had to laugh at that.

Approaching the bed, Mike kissed his wife on the cheek and said, "This is the most mental idea you've ever come up with. In all the years that I've been married to you - this one takes top spot."

Delphina rolled her eyes and said, "I actually happen to think this is my most brilliant plan till date. Please Mike, think of it as my last wish."

Nodding, Mike started walking towards the door. Her last sentence drained him of all the energy he had left in him and he didn't have the strength to argue anymore.

Just as he reached the door, however, he turned back to look at his wife, who was now lying on the bed. "Delphi?"

"Yes Mike?"

"I do love you," he managed to say without losing his composure. "That much never stopped."

Delphina smiled sadly and said, "I don't think loving each other was ever our issue. Our problem was that we were never in love with each other."

Mike took a deep breath as the truth of her words hit him. "Right. Ummm..... if you need anything, just give me a call. Okay?"

"Okay. Goodnight husband."

"Goodnight wife."