Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 23

Alexis and Mira sat together in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Ara and Marvin made their entrance. Marvin lunged at Alexis and she quickly pulled him up onto her lap for a proper hug. Ara, on her part, twirled around in her blue gown with a plastic tiara on her head.

"I'm Cinderella!" Ara exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.

"And the most beautiful Cinderella ever," Alexis praised, moving a hand to feel Marvin's gums that were completely swollen.

"Can I take all my princess dress up things with me when we see Nana Faith and Papa Will tomorrow?" Ara asked excitedly.

"Don't call them that," Mira shushed her sister. "You know we don't call them that when Mom's around."

"Sorry!" Ara gasped, her cheeks turning red. "I forgot!"

"Forgot what?" Delphina asked as she entered the room, Mike just behind her.

"Nothing," the girls replied together, identical sets of ice blue eyes warning each other to stay quiet.

"Mira has made a decision about school," Alexis said, assisting in changing the subject as Delphina took a seat opposite to her on an armchair. Alexis knew that blowups had occurred between Mike and Delphina in the past, whenever one of the girls had slipped up and had used Nana or Papa in reference to her parents.

Shooting a grateful look towards Alexis, Mira nodded. "Uh yes.....I want to go back if you could arrange it with Principal Rogers that I can return on the weekends."

Mike sighed in relief - he had been hoping that Mira would choose this option. He tried to read Delphina's expression and he couldn't help but get the feeling that she seemed disappointed.

"Mom, are you okay with this?" Mira asked for she too had seen the frown on her mother's face.

Delphina immediately smiled at her eldest and said, "Of course. It would be wonderful to have you home on the weekends. Maybe on the days that I'm feeling better, we could go out - just you and me."

"Okay," Mira said, trying not to get her hopes up given past experiences.

"Ow," Marvin suddenly cried out, pressing his face onto Alexis's chest.

Feeling his gums once more, Alexis hugged him tighter and rocked him slightly. "Ow is right, Marv," she cooed at him. "I'm sure teething hurts. No wonder you're so snuggly today."

"Clingy," Delphina corrected. "He wanted to be held either by me or Mira all day. It was simply exhausting."

"That's because you aren't used to cooperating," Mira flippantly replied, regretting her harsh words immediately.

"Maybe," Delphina said quietly, biting the inside of her cheeks.

"Maybe...... everyone needs to have an ice lolly before dinner tonight," Alexis mused aloud, changing the subject once more as Mira looked somewhat remorseful with her remark.

Ara clapped her hands and even Marvin perked up slightly - ice lollies were always a hit with Ara and Marvin no matter their moods.

"Did you bring red ones?" Ara asked, her blonde curls bouncing.

Alexis stood up with Marvin still in her arms as she gave Mira a pointed look. "I brought red ones and green ones and blue ones. Let's go and check them out, okay?"

With that she made her way towards the kitchen, carrying Marvin as Ara skipped along the way.

Mira instantly turned towards her mother and began to say, "Mom, I didn't mean - "

"Mirabelle, I know I'm not the world's greatest parent, but I do know that you rarely say things you don't mean," Delphina cut her off coolly. "I meant exhausting because I haven't been feeling very well today, not because I was irritated at having to snuggle with Marvin."

"I'm really sorry," Mira apologized, earnestly.

"Apology accepted," Delphina replied, although she was quite certain that Mira wouldn't have apologized, despite feeling bad about her words, if it hadn't been for Alexis's unimpressed look. "Now, I believe it's time for us to enjoy some ice lollies before dinner."