"She's been released."
"Thank you Graham." Belle put the phone down and put a hand to her mouth. Adam rubbed her shoulders. "She's out. She's been released. You know where she'll go first."
"I'll go get the kids from school." Belle nodded. "You stay here with Charlotte. She'll be up soon." Belle nodded and Adam kissed her cheek before leaving. She knew there was no way Miranda would know about Bria, Lucas, or Charlotte but she still worried about Bae and Hannah. Bae was eighteen and Hannah was fifteen. Bria and Lucas were twelve and little Charlotte was three. Bae was going to be going off to college and that made Belle worried. Bae was eighteen and Miranda could legally see him again and if he was at college, then Belle and Adam couldn't protect him. She was taken out of the thoughts when a little girl made her way into the kitchen.
"Hi Mommy." Belle turned and smiled at her youngest.
"Hi sweetie. Did you have a good nap?" Charlotte nodded.
"Where's Daddy?"
"He had to go get your brothers and sisters from school." Charlotte looked at her strange then looked at the clock.
"It's not time yet. The little stick not at the three." She said scrunching her eyebrows.
"I know but we have to talk to them so Daddy went to get them early." Charlotte nodded and snuggled into her mother. Belle held her tight and hoped she wouldn't have to deal with Miranda for quite some time. The door opened and Bae and Hannah ran in with Bria and Lucas tailing them. Hannah spoke first.
"Is it true? Was Miranda really released?"
"Yes, it's true." The door burst open again and this time it was Henry who ran in. "Henry." She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tight and rubbed her back. Henry finally grew a pair last year and asked Hannah to be his girlfriend, they've been together ever since.
"It's okay. Everything will okay. I won't let her near you." He declared looking at Adam and Belle the whole time. He kissed the top of her head. Hannah clung to him. "It's okay. Hannah, I swear I won't let anything happen to you." After hearing the story of Miranda three years ago, Hannah had told Henry everything.
"Here's what's going to happen," Adam started, "We're going to keep going on with our lives as if nothing has changed except for a couple things. I'll be informing the high school that she's been released. I'll also inform the daycare and middle school. There's no possible way Miranda could know about Bria, Lucas, or Charlotte but I'm not taking any chances. Henry, I'd like you walk Hannah home every day. If you can't let me or Belle know the day of so we can figure something out. Hannah, if you're with friends let us know before school lets out otherwise we'll assume you're coming home. Bae, she can legally be near you now. I'm not going to tell you what to do but just… let me know if you're going to see her…"
"I'm not seeing her. I don't want to see the bitch that didn't want me and tried to kill my family." Bae said crossing his arms. Adam just nodded his head.
"Bria, Lucas, if a woman comes to school and knows you two and you haven't seen her before tell your teacher! It will most likely be Miranda. Please for the love of God don't go with her."
"Dad, you've taught us 'stranger danger'. We know not to go with people we don't know."
"I'm also adding Emma and Graham to the pick-up list. I don't want any of you going with anyone except me, your mother, Aunt Ruby, Emma, or Graham. I think that's all we need to do. Go on up the your rooms and do your homework." They all left the room and Belle went over to Adam. She saw his eyes swimming in their own tears and wrapped her arms around him. "I have no idea what to do. I wish Mom was here." Belle tightened her hold him as her own eyes filled with tears. After Granny died shortly before Charlotte's birth due to a massive heart attack, Adam had felt as if he had no idea what to do and he was in the country alone again. Belle rubbed his back.
"We'll get through this. We'll get through this together. I'm not letting Miranda touch my children or you." Belle said as she gently ran her hand down the back of his head. He took a shaky breath against her and hugged her tighter. He felt a weight on his leg and looked down. He found Charlotte hugging his leg.
"Don't be sad, Papa." He bent down and picked her up. "I love you Papa."
"I love you too my special girl." Adam always deemed Charlotte special and not in the way where she has something but more in the way that she's gifted. She was the only one in her three year old class that could recite the alphabet forwards and backwards. She was a very smart child and Adam wondered if she was being challenged enough at her daycare class. There was a knock at the door and Belle and Adam looked at each other. Belle slowly and quietly went
"It's just Emma and Graham." She opened the door and allowed them in. "What are you guy doing here?"
"Well, Miranda was released today and my son is missing. I'm taking a guess and saying he's here with Hannah." Emma said.
"Yup, he must have come over right as the bell rang. It wasn't too early I picked them up." Adam said. Emma nodded and walked up the stairs to get her son. Belle sat on the couch and put her face in her hands.
"We've put a private detail outside your house. It's one cop and he's in an undercover car so Miranda will never know the house is being watched. I've informed all three schools that no one besides the people on the list are to pick up the kids and they must show picture I.D." Graham informed them.
"Thank you so much Graham." Belle said getting up and hugging him. He hugged her back and rubbed her back.
"Don't worry. Miranda's not getting near those kids on my watch." Belle smiled and pulled back. There was only thing on everyone's mind besides Charlotte, when will Miranda make her appearance.