Six Months Previously - Vaccination Day

''Cade, Cade, Cade!'' A little girl squealed as Cade walked through the front door. Her blonde pigtails swinging she slammed into his legs with a fierce hug, causing him to drop his bags of shopping.

''Hey monkey slow down!'' He laughed as he scooped the little girl up into a hug. Madeline had been born only a year before their mother died so she didn't remember her, and their father had always worked long factory shifts so Cade had raised her pretty much alone. Not that he had minded of course, as he adored the little girl and she thought the world of him.

She nuzzled into his neck ''Cade I was so brave today at school, I had my injection and I didn't even cry! Jasper Smith cried but not me! I got a gold star, see?'' She pointed proudly at the sticker on the front of her school blazer.

''Well done Maddy, I'm so proud of you! I had mine too today at the hospital and Dad got his at work, so we were all brave!'' Cade replied, lowering her to the floor and picked up the bags of shopping and apples which had rolled across the floor.

''So now we won't get sick right?'' The little girl asked, her face clouded with worry.

''Of course not baby, we will all be fine now we have had the vaccine. Now come and help me cook this pasta for tea and we can practise your spellings.'' He said as she skipped ahead of him through to the kitchen.

After dinner, Cade lowered his hands into the soapy water, scrubbing the inside of the pans he had used. Madeline had settled in the living room in front of the TV watching a cartoon, so he moved quietly around the kitchen, tidying as he went.

He looked up as his father walked in, looking dishevelled as though he had just woken up.

''Hey dad, I saved you some dinner.'' Cade pointed to the plate on the worktop. ''You might wanna microwave it''

His father rubbed his eyes before grunting a thankyou. They both waited in awkward silence as the microwave hummed before pinging it had finished.

Cade breathed in slightly ''Look Dad. I know you're working long hours and you're tired but you can't just come home and sleep, leaving Maddy downstairs on her own for hours. It's lonely for her and not safe, she could get into the medicine cabinet or the drawer with the knives.'' He frowned as he waited for his father to reply.

His father exploded and threw his plate across the kitchen ''Well what do you expect me to do?! Give up my job? Who do you think pays for this house and everything in it!''

Cade moved to clear up the plate, his hands shaking with rage. He ignored the fact that it was actually him who bought the food and cooked every night and him who paid for all Madeline's clothes and school trip, plunging him further into debt on top of his student loan.

He spoke calmly ''Look, Dad, I'm not asking you to give up your job but maybe ask the school if Maddy can go to a club or maybe to a friend's house until I get home?''

His father walked out the kitchen before muttering ''We don't need anyone else sticking their nose in our business, I can look after my family just fine''.

Cade watched as his father walked upstairs back to bed, his eyes flicking back to Maddy who was still watching tv but had her hands placed firmly over her ears.

That night Cade tucked Madeline into bed and kissed her on the forehead.

''Cade did you help anyone at the hospital today?'' She asked with a yawn.

''Not today Maddie, I'm still learning remember but one day I will be a proper doctor and I can help people every day.'' He replied with a smile.

''When you're a proper doctor, can I come and see you after school and not come back home?'' She asked s

''Maybe sweetheart, we will have to wait and see. Now get some sleep, you look sleepy'' He pulled the covers up around her chin and tucked her teddy in beside her.

Maddy gave another yawn and nodded ''I feel a bit poorly too, I have a headache''

''You get some rest and I'll see you in the morning. Good girl, Remember I'm taking you to the zoo at the weekend!''

The little girl smiled as he left the room.

Cade awoke the next morning hunched over his desk, he had fallen asleep studying again. He stretched his arms above his head, his neck feeling sore and stiff. He trudged down to the kitchen, in need of coffee. While waiting for the kettle to boil he pulled Maddy's school uniform out of the dryer and draped it over the back of the kitchen chair, ready for once she had eaten her breakfast. He placed a bowl and spoon, along with a box of cereal on the table. He spent a few moments drinking his coffee in silence.

Checking his watched and seeing it was after 7 he headed to the bottom of the stairs to shout Maddy down for breakfast but stopped at the front door. His father's work boots lay by the front door in the same place as last night. He frowned, his father should have left for work hours ago. Cade sighed, he must have overslept. He hoped he wouldn't react too badly and frighten Maddy before school.

He climbed the stairs and knocked on his father's bedroom door. He listened but heard no movement, so he pushed the door open. His father looked to be asleep, but Cade's fear rose as he approached him and couldn't see the rise and fall of his chest. He tentatively reached out slowly and touched his cheek. It was ice cold. Blood rushed in his ears as he checked for a pulse. His father was dead.

Moments passed as his mind raced with mixed feelings of grief, guilt and relief. He pulled himself together and left the room, shutting the door completely behind him. He didn't want Madeline to go in there, he felt sick at the thought of having to tell her but right now he would say nothing. She had a spelling test today, so he would send her off to school before reporting the death.

He walked back along the landing to the white door covered in pink butterflies. His hand lingered for a moment on the door handle before he slowly pushed it open. He put his head around the door and gazed towards the little girl's bed.

His stomach lurched.

So Cade DID have the Vaccine!  How do you think Zara will react now she knows?

Bit of a tear-jerker, poor Cade! What did you think of the lovely little Maddy? I have added a picture below of her.

Please let me know your thoughts on how the story is so far!