Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 34

Alexis sat directly across from Mike with Mira on her right. Alexis and Mira stole glances at each other, neither all that certain as to what sort of answer the other's face was searching for. Mira looked somewhat curious, while Alexis looked apprehensive. With plates filled with food, Faith and Will engaged the children in small talk as they enjoyed their meal, intently listening to Ara's Valentine's Day plans as she dominated most of the conversation.

"I think I'm going to need more glitter," Ara said in between bites. "And some fancy paper. Nana, can you take me to that store beside your office that has all the glitter and paper?"

"Certainly, sweetheart. I'm sure we can work something out. Maybe I can pick you up after school someday this week or the next and we can get whatever you need," Faith replied, smiling at the excited girl.

Ara's eyes instantly brightened. "Really? Mommy, I know you said you'd pick me up everyday now.....but please, can Nana do it one day?"

"Maybe Mommy would like to come with us," Faith offered. "Lexi too. Or we could wait until Mira comes home this weekend and have a girls' day out?"

Mira moved some casserole around on her plate. "You don't need to include me on this outing, Nana - I'm not really into the art store. Besides.…I have to find a dress for Spring Fling and Mom promised to take me if she was feeling better and we should probably do it soon…er…"

"I can't make it either Mom," Alexis intervened quickly as Mira trailed off. "I have to finish finalising the designs and the models for our Spring cover. I'll be busy all week."

"Oh okay. Anyway, who are the models for this year?" Faith asked conversationally.

"I was thinking of going with actors this time, Stella Black and Rodney Groome to be exact."

"Rodney Groome!" Mira screeched suddenly. "The singer-actor Rodney Groome?"

"Yes," Alexis answered, smiling slightly at the teenager - who she knew was a fan of the actor.

"Oh my God! I'm a huge fan!" Mira gushed, confirming Alexis's thoughts.

Smirking, Alexis replied, "Rodney was our senior by one year when we were at Francesc's, you know - well, two years senior to your mother though."

"You guys went to school with Rodney Groome?" Mira asked, her mouth hanging open.

Mike snorted and gave his daughter a bored look. "Oh yea, we did. In fact, your Lexi here had even dated him for a few months before deciding that they were better off as friends. In my opinion, he's just an oversized buffoon."

"What!" Mira screamed, turning towards Alexis and ignoring her father's little quip in the end. "Please tell me you are still in touch with him as more than a work related thing."

"We do send the odd text back and forth, and even try to meet once a year when neither of us are too busy," Alexis replied, winking at the girl. "That's how I'm sure he'll do the cover if I ask."

"And you never told me! Can I meet him, please?" Mira all but begged.

"Of course. If it's alright with your father, I could arrange a meeting when you'd be home during the Summer holidays."

Mike frowned at Alexis as his daughter looked at him intently, batting her eyes at him like she used to when she was a little girl. "Daddy please?" she pleaded. "Can I?"

Scowling, Mike looked over at Delphina as she sported an amused grin on her face. "Delphi, please don't tell me you have a thing for that idiot too."

"He's a handsome man, Mike," Delphina remarked, smirking at him. "He was a sight even when we were in school."

Mike rolled his eyes but turned to his elder daughter and said, "If you want to gawk at him like some silly girl, Mira, then far be it from me to stop you."

Mira grinned as she gave Alexis a giddy hug. "This is going to be so fantastic! I can't wait to tell my friends!"

"I don't care about this Rodney guy, but can someone tell me if I'm getting glitter this week?" Ara asked with an exasperated sigh, her plastic tiara sitting at a tilt on her head. "My valentines won't make themselves, you know."

"Yes Ara," Delphina said with a laugh. "We can go get glitter this week. Fancy paper too."

While Ara silently cheered, Will looked over at Mira and grinned. "So….. Spring Fling means it's a dance right? And with a dance, I'm presuming you'd be going with a date?"

Her pale cheeks blushed slightly. "I guess.…I mean, if someone asks, then yes. If no one asks, I guess I'd just go with my friends."

"I'm certain someone will ask you," Delphina said with a warm smile. "You're too beautiful not to be asked."

"You mother is quite right," Will agreed. "Just make sure he's a proper gentleman, and keeps his hands to himself."

"Papa!"

"Dad!"

"William!"

Mira, Alexis and Faith had all exclaimed at the same time. "Don't embarrass the girl, Will," Faith added with narrowed eyes.

"What!" Will exclaimed back. "Mike, sympathize with me for a moment, won't you? You don't want just any schmuck taking your daughter to a dance, right?"

Mike chuckled, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Your Papa has a point, Mira. You can't just let any boy take you. You deserve to be picky. You're a Watson, after all."

"You act like there's a line of boys banging down on my dormitory door," Mira snarked, frowning at her father.

"Boys better not be able to even reach your dormitory door," Mike warned.

His daughter groaned and turned towards Alexis. "Lexi, tell Dad to quit being.…you know.... him."

Alexis gave Mira a reassuring pat on the back, rolling her eyes as she glanced at Mike. "It'd be no good, sweetheart. It's a genetic defect he can't control."

Delphina nearly choked on her juice, swallowing her laughter as she could see the look of horror her husband was shooting in Alexis's direction.

"Did you just insinuate that I'm defective?" Mike asked, affronted.

"Only in the same manner in which you referred to yourself as charming."

Mike set his jaw in a wry smirk, slightly shaking his head as he saw Alexis raise her impeccably manicured eyebrows in his direction. "Well played, Miller. Well played."

Ara turned to her sister and asked, "This is one of those things where only Daddy and Lexi know what they're saying, isn't it?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"Yep," Mira replied, satisfied that the attention had been diverted from her.

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Note:
Stella Black and Rodney Groome are not actual Hollywood actors.

~Mia♾️✨