Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 27

Could have been worse, Delphina thought to herself as she watched her sister leave. Shaking her head, she started climbing up the stairs with the intention to talk to Mira. Her eldest had seemed very angry this morning and so, Delphina wanted to make sure that Mira was alright.

"Mira, could you tie up my hair in a French braid today? Like how Nana Faith does it?" Delphina heard Ara ask as she neared Mira's bedroom. Stealthily, Delphina opened the door and peeked in. The girls were lying on Mira's bed, talking in low tones, both oblivious to their mother's presence.

"Of course I will give you a French braid," came Mira's reply. "Oh and, I spoke to Dad last night.......He asked me to tell you that now we can call Lexi's parents Nana and Papa even when Mom's around. Apparently, he had a talk with Mom and I guess, she's okay with it now."

"Why do you think it makes Mommy mad when we call Lexi's parents Nana and Papa?" Ara asked, snuggling closer to Mira. "Cause they are like a Nana and a Papa, and they are always telling  us how much they love us!"

Mira shrugged delicately and closed her eyes. "It's complicated, Ara."

"Nana Faith and Papa Will like to play with us," Ara mused aloud. "And Papa's also very good at playing tea-party!"

Mira smiled fondly and said, "Well, he's had a lot of practice with me."

"And and and, they always give us extra hugs and kisses, and tell us how much they miss us," Ara continued, happily. "Also, they don't......."

Mira opened her eyes as Ara trailed off with a melancholy expression on her face. "Also they don't what?"

Ara looked away and bit her lips, hesitating to say her next words. "It's nothing."

"Oh come on, tell me," Mira prodded, gently poking Ara's side.

"Nana and Papa don't hug and kiss Marv more than us. And they aren't as mean to us as Grandfather Charles or Grandma Esther and Grandpa Edgar are," Ara whispered, as if she would be punished for saying these words out loud.

"I get it, princess. Don't feel bad about it.....it's how they are. Just remember that Nana and Papa would always love us equally and honestly, that's all that really matters," Mira whispered back, kissing the top of her little sister's head. "Let's get a little more sleep before Dad wakes us up for breakfast. You wanna stay here with me?"

Ara nodded and hugged her older sister, closing her blue eyes immediately.

Sighing sadly, Delphina turned around and came back downstairs. Entering the kitchen, she saw that Mike was already seated at a stool beside the kitchen island, seemingly staring into space.

"Cordelia's gone," she announced as she walked towards the coffee machine. "You want a cup of coffee?"

"No thanks," came a distracted reply as Mike rubbed his eyes. "Thank God she's gone. Bloody lunatic."

Delphina rolled her eyes, not wanting to pass any sort of comment on her older sister. Instead, she walked over and took a seat beside him, drinking her beverage in peace.

"Are you feeling better today?" Mike asked after a minute of silence.

"Yes."

"Enough to spend the afternoon with Faith and William?" Mike asked cautiously. "Because if we go there today.......you have to be nice to them."

Delphina gave him an irate look and answered, "I'll be nice. Besides, there isn't any if about going there today. We've already told Alexis we are going. Anyway, the girls are excited about the visit and I just heard them talking about how much Nana Faith and Papa Will love them."

Mike swallowed a groan and straightened his back. "Look, I already told you - "

"It's fine," she interjected. "Since Alexis is quite technically their m-mother now......it just makes sense. Just cause I don't like it, doesn't mean I can't get used to it."

Mike stared at her with an open mouth before looking away. "Okay then. Uhh...... should I start preparing breakfast?"

Delphina shook her head slightly. "It's still early and the girls have already gone back to sleep. I suggest you go and catch on sleep yourself. I'll make breakfast today, okay?"

"You sure?"

"Yes, Michael."

"Thanks. I haven't actually been sleeping all that well in a while. Miller keeps telling me that I'll eventually fall sick if this continues," Mike said, yawning slightly.

"Why, you don't look tired at all, " Delphina teased with a small smirk on her face. "Are you sure you aren't exaggerating your condition just a little bit?"

Mike couldn't help but laugh as Delphina mimicked her sister perfectly. "I can't believe Cordelia actually asked you that. The woman has no decency."

"She is what she is," Delphina said, suddenly glad that Mira was a much better older sister to Ara then Cordelia ever was to her. Guess, she had Alexis to thank for this as well.

Smiling ruefully at the thought, Delphina continued, "Go, get some sleep. I'll wake you up in a few hours."

"Alright," Mike smiled at her, kissing her on the forehead as he left the kitchen.

Delphina took a deep calming breath as she prayed to God to give her enough strength to tolerate seeing her children being affectionate with the Millers today. It was going to be a long day.