~*~Chapter Twelve~*~
They had no sooner pulled Roman's car into the garage when Roman got a phone call. "Peter," Roman said as he turned off the engine and stared at his phone.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Answer it," Letha urged.
"What's up?" Roman said into the phone after answering Peter's call.
"I need you to get over here. Right away," Peter replied.
He didn't say anything else. The line went dead. "Uhhh- Peter wants us to come over. I think something must be wrong," Roman said to Letha.
"We should go over then. I will call Norman so he can watch Cass," Letha stated.
Roman wanted to argue, but when he saw her determined look, he thought better of it. "Okay," he unwillingly agreed.
~*~o~*~
After leaving Cassandra with Norman, Roman and Letha arrived at Peter and Miranda's cottage. The front door was opened by Peter. "Come in," Peter said, a very serious look upon his face.
"What's going on?" Roman asked. He stepped through the doorway with Letha right behind him.
Peter led them to the living room where Miranda was seated upon the sofa.
Letha took a place on the sofa next to Miranda. "Something's wrong; I can feel it. what happened?" she asked gently.
"Miranda's stepfather Bryce is to blame," Peter said. "He raped Miranda and she got pregnant."
"Oh my God!" Letha gasped.
She gave Miranda a hug. "I am so sorry," she said as she held Miranda in a comforting embrace.
"Where's the child now?" Roman asked.
"Bryce stole the baby. It's the little boy we've been dreaming about - Declan," Peter said. "We have to find him."
Roman nodded. "We will save him," he said. "We'll find this asshole Bryce and we will destroy him. In the process, we'll rescue Miranda's child."
"Do you hear me, Miranda? We are going to bring your son home," Roman said in promise to Miranda who was still crying brokenly against Letha's shoulder.
Miranda tearfully acknowledged Roman's vow, but she was still quite distraught. Letha did everything she could to comfort her. "We'll find Declan," Letha tried to reassure her friend. "The four of us... we'll bring him home."
Roman wanted to say there was no way on earth that Letha was going anywhere, especially in her pregnant state, but he knew she'd argue with him, so he was silent. He had no other choice.
"Let's go home," Roman said to Letha. "Miranda needs her rest."
"Thank you for coming," Peter said to Roman. He hugged his best friend extra tight.
Roman nodded and returned the hug, lingering a second as he pressed against Peter's warmth. Eventually, he pulled away, staring into his friend's eyes.
Peter walked Letha and Roman out to the front door. After they had left, he shut the door and returned to Miranda's side. She was sobbing quietly to herself. She couldn't stop her tears.
"It's all my fault" she said in a painful sob.
Peter put his arm around her, pulling her in close. "Shhhh... " he murmured. "It'll be okay. We will find Declan. We'll bring him home just as Roman said."
"Bryce will hurt Declan. I know he will."
Peter kissed her neck softly. "We'll save him; we will. I promise."
He lifted Miranda up in his arms, carrying her to bed. Lovingly, he set her down upon the covers. "You need some rest," he said as he lay down next to her, enfolding her into his embrace.
"Peter, I need you," she said as she clung to him.
"I know," he said. "I'd never leave you."
He kissed her tenderly, soothing the sorrow within her soul. Eventually, she fell asleep against his chest. It was the first peaceful sleep she had in weeks. She had relief in knowing that Peter, Roman, and Letha had agreed to do whatever was necessary to rescue her little Declan. Her baby boy was finally coming home.
