Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 36

Alexis stood in Garrett's kitchen, wincing along with Hailey at the echoing sound of heavy suitcases banging against every step of the Greene household. Grinding her teeth slightly, Hailey took a sip of her coffee while Layla and Karlos sat at the kitchen table eating their cereal, oblivious to the noise. "How hard is it, I ask you, to pick up a suitcase?"

"Maybe they're heavy?" Alexis offered to the irritated mother.

"Together, they could carry them down one at a time."

Garrett walked into the kitchen, catching the last half of the conversation as he grabbed a mug and the coffeepot. "They're never going to carry them, love. Best we get used to the noise."

Hailey sighed, placing her mug on the counter as her two nearly identical brunette boys barreled into the kitchen, taking their seats at the table, both of their curls bouncing on their heads comically.

"Isaac, did you even brush your hair?" Hailey asked, exasperatedly.

The 15 year old grabbed an empty bowl and the box of cereal, shrugging at his mother. "I ran my fingers through it when I got out of the shower. Does that count?"

"Not exactly," Alexis replied with a laugh as Hailey groaned.

"Did you guys pack everything?" Garrett asked as he kissed the top of Layla's head. "Socks, underwear, uniforms, homework assignments..…"

Jay nodded, pouring cereal into his bowl and took the pitcher of milk from Isaac. "We even double checked this time."

"You better have," Hailey warned. "If I have to send you something you've forgotten later this week, you best be expecting me to come along as well, screaming at the top of my lungs. You understand me?"

"Yes Mom," Isaac and Jayden chorused with mouthfuls of cereal.

"I'm driving you boys and Mira to school today," Garrett informed, nonchalantly.

"I call shotgun," Isaac declared instantly.

"Hey no, I never get to ride up front," Jay grumbled, narrowing his hazel eyes at his older brother.

Garrett stiffled a laugh and dragged a hand over his face. "Why are you both arguing when you know that Mira's going to take the front seat at the end anyway."

The brothers looked at each other and shook their heads - Mira always got to ride shotgun no matter what argument the boys presented.

Karlos finished his cereal first, returning his empty bowl to the sink. He hugged Hailey tightly, wrapping his tiny arms around her waist as he sighed. "Thanks for breakfast, Mommy. It was delicious."

She ran a hand through his sleek dark brown hair and gave him a smile. "It was just cereal, buddy."

"I know," he replied, grey eyes full of adoration as he looked up at his mother. "I love you."

"Love you too. Go get your shoes and your coat, alright?"

He nodded, scampering off as Alexis turned a curious gaze towards Hailey.

"We told Karl about Delphina yesterday," Hailey explained quietly, leaning against the countertop as Garrett moved, standing next to his wife, their shoulders touching.

"How did he take it?"

"He said 'I love you' at least twenty times to me yesterday," Hailey replied, still whispering so that Layla wouldn't hear them. "Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the extra sentiment.…but he's never had to think about parents dying and I guess this is his way of coping?"

Garrett wrapped a reassuring arm around Hailey's shoulder, pressing a kiss to her temple. "He'll be fine."

"Yeah Mom, he'll be fine," Jay said, echoing his father as he flashed her a smile.

"If you want, Jay and I could wind him about something to distract him," Isaac offered, ocean blue eyes twinkling mischievously.

Hailey pointed a finger at the two of them, shaking her head. "Don't you dare."

"Just offering, Mom," Isaac replied with a laugh, standing up from the table and depositing his dirty bowl into the sink. He grabbed Layla's empty bowl as well before turning around to face her. He reached his hands under Layla's arms and picked her up from the table, giving her a brotherly kiss on the cheek as she smiled at him. "Are you going to miss me, beautiful?"

"I always miss you," Layla said with a heavy sigh, as she looked up at him with her sad hazel eyes. "How many days 'til you come back?"

"I'll be back in March for Easter – way sooner than you think it is. And we'll get to celebrate Jay's birthday together cuz it's the day after Easter this year. Right?"

"Right!" Layla beamed. "It's also Mira's birthday that day, no?"

"Yes, she and Jay have the same birthdate, princess. We'll celebrate them together, like we always do," Isaac replied and rubbed noses with the 4 year old, eliciting a laugh from her. "Now, Ara and Marv will be here to play with you in a while, so you won't get time to miss us too much."

"I know, but I'll still miss you," Layla replied, dropping her head on Isaac's shoulder. "I really don't want you to go."

"I know you don't, love," Isaac replied, sweetly. "Come on now, let's get you ready for the day so Mommy can get Jay and I out of her hair."

Jay watched as Isaac carried their sister out of the kitchen, while he finished up the last of his cereal. He looked back over at his mom as he picked up his empty bowl and walked towards her. "Could you and Dad maybe have another girl - a sister that loves me more than Isaac maybe?"

Garrett and Alexis chuckled as Hailey smirked, kissing her son on the forehead as he himself laughed a bit.

"Layla loves you," Hailey promised. "As for another sister - sorry, but that ship has sailed."

He laughed again, kissing his mom on the cheek. "I figured as much."

"Come on now," Garrett said, rolling his eyes. "We're going to be late if we sit around here much longer."

"You know Jay," Alexis said, rounding the table to stand beside him. "If it's any consolation, you'll always be my favorite out of you four."

"I know," Jay said with a cheeky smile and wrapped an arm around Alexis as she did the same, the two of them walking out of the kitchen.