Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 19

Mike walked down the stairs of his home with the intention of talking to Mira after Delphina was done putting Ara to sleep. As he walked towards the kitchen, to get a glass of water, he suddenly a heard a faint knock on his front door. Confused, he walked over and slowly opened the door, to find Garrett carrying his sleeping daughter.

"You've got to be kidding me," Mike said, closing his eyes.

Shrugging as best as he could, Garrett walked past Mike and climbed up the stairs to Mira's bedroom. He gently laid her down on the bed, stepping back as Mike draped a blanket over her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Closing her door behind him, Mike leaned on it and dragged a hand across his face. "I knew I should have cut down that damn tree ages ago......" He muttered to himself.

"Don't give her too hard of a time," Garrett said as they came back downstairs. "If my house is the place she goes to when she's upset, she could do worse."

"I swear she's trying to kill me," Mike grumbled.

"Just be glad my son is terrified enough of you to tell me when she sneaks over."

"Yes," Mike smirked slightly. "Let's hope he doesn't grow out of it."

Garrett chuckled and glanced up the stairs. "I think as far as Mira's concerned, Jay might always be a little afraid of you."

Mike shook his head and said," Jayden...... he's a good kid. I mean, he puts up with Mira, which makes him better than me most days. She's been all over the place this past year. And now to find out that her mother is actually dying......."

"Yea," Garrett replied quietly. "We told Isaac and Jay about Delphina's condition. Can we.....I mean, should we tell them about her request now or later?"

"Later, please," Mike said tiredly. "My kids don't even know about Miller being their new mother yet. I think we'll just tell Mira about the legal parts. Ara is too young to understand everything. We'll tell her about Miller moving to the mansion and taking care of the kids only, I guess."

"That seems like a good enough plan," Garrett agreed.

Silence fell between them before Garrett spoke up again.

"Look, I know you've sorta replaced me with Alexis as your best friend," he jokes lamely. "But we still are friends, you know. So, Hailey and I are always going to be here for you and the kids whenever you need us. If you want a break just ask. Or, don't ask.....just showing up is fine. Okay?"

"Yea, thanks," Mike mumbled.

"No thanks necessary," Garrett said softly. "And also, know that if Alexis is willing to help you......then you'll be just fine. She has this way of making everything better."

"I know," Mike whispered.

As Garrett went home, Mike let out an exhausted sigh, not wanting to deal with his eldest in the morning.

Turning around, he saw Delphina coming down the stairs, holding a handkerchief in her hand as she dabbed her eyes with it. Approaching her, Mike reached out and gently pulled his wife into an embrace. Delphina turned around in his arms, burying her face into his chest as her tears soaked through his shirt.

"Ara.......she was saying......I mean, she was just being a child......but, I didn't know how to.........how to answer her questions," Delphina said through her tears. "Maybe I shouldn't have moved back in. Maybe it's too hard for them to see me everyday."

"They need to see you everyday, Delphi......for as long as they can," Mike protested as his own tears threatened to fall.

Composing herself, Delphina nodded and wiped away her tears, pulling back from him. "We should probably go and talk to Mira. She might have calmed down by now."

"She's asleep," Mike simply said, not wanting to wind up Delphina any more by telling her about their daughter's little adventure. "We can talk to to her tomorrow."

Leading Delphina towards her room, Mike ensured that she took all of her medicines properly, before she sat down on the bed.

"Mike?" She asked, looking at the floor. "Will you.....will you stay in here with me until I fall asleep? Please?"

Mike took a long breath and exhaled slowly, shutting the door behind him. Quietly, he walked over and helped Delphina to lie down on the bed, covering her with the comforter.

He shook his head slightly to clear his mind, before walking around to the other side of the bed. Lying on top of the comforter, he moved so that there was still a fair bit of space between them as he turned off the lights.

Both of them were staring at the ceiling when Mike heard Delphina stiffle a cry.

Slowly, he reached out for her hand in the darkness, lacing his fingers with her frail ones. He squeezed her fingers lightly, their conjoined hands filling the empty space between them.