Heartache and Friendships - Chapter twelve, finale

Chapter twelve

Paul held Miranda in his arms until the police arrived a few minutes later. After shooting Miranda, Cadee’s mother had turned the gun on herself. Cadee held a crying faith in her arms and tried not to cry. Had she caused all this? When Paul walked over to the three teenagers standing in complete shock they embraced in a group hug. Paul took faith from cadee and held her against his chest whilst whispering “daddies here” over and over. A police officer lead them all out onto the verandah and asked numerous questions which nobody was really in the mood to answer. They were all still in complete shock. Cadee walked over and took faith out of her father’s arms so he could have some time to think. She walked into the kitchen and looked for a bottle to feed faith but there were none. When cadee walked back outside Paul frowned.

“Miranda was breastfeeding” he sighed whilst a tear stained the side of his face. Cadee hugged him and kissed faith’s tiny little forehead. “There should be 2 bottles in the cupboard where we keep all the nappies and that, just incase”

Cadee walked inside and got permission from one of the officers to go upstairs. The female officer smiled and accompanied her.

“What a beautiful little girl” she said sweetly to faith. Cadee let a tear roll down her face. “How old is she?” the officer spoke whilst taking a hold of faith so cadee could find the bottles.

“4 days” cadee sighed. “Came out of hospital this morning”

“Uhh” the officer spoke. “And the lady..”

“Miranda, faiths mother. The other woman was my mother. I don’t classify her as anything anymore. Not after today”

“Faith, that’s a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. Would you like some help to get that bottle prepared? I’ve had 4 daughters of my own”

“I’m fine…” cadee sighed.

When Paul sat at the kitchen table a week later he was surprised at how Shaun, Adam and cadee had reacted. Shaun had slumped into a deeper state of despair and only emerged from his room to eat or go to the bathroom. Cadee, how ever, had taken on Miranda’s responsibilities in regards to faith. Feeding her, bathing her and generally just watching over her while Adam helped Paul with the housework. He had all of Miranda’s funeral plans set, so now it was time to go and speak with Shaun. Try and get through to him. It was his mother after all, his only light.

“Shaun?” Paul spoke as he knocked on the door. He slightly opened it to see Shaun looking through his photo album; tears lingered in his eyes and on his cheeks. This had hit him hard. Shaun took off his headphones and wiped the tears from his eyes and cheeks.

“It’s alright to cry son” Paul said as he sat beside him. “I have been every night before I go to bed. Seeing you and cadee this way. And faith..”

“Every time you look at faith..”

“.. I see Miranda’s hair, and smile”

“It will get better dad” Shaun smiled through tears. Paul smiled back and hugged him.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you call me dad”

“Well your all I have now, as well as cadee and Adam… they’re awesome!” he exclaimed. “Maybe me and cadee was all just a lot of lust..”

“You should tell her that. Don’t leave her hanging” Paul spoke before standing up. “Oh and be civil, please?”

“I will, don’t worry..” Shaun stood up and went looking for cadee. He had to say his feelings were lust, but his heart was screaming liar. He had overheard cadee talking to Adam; she said he was all she needed. That Shaun was just a lustful idea. That’s all he was. He’d lost his mother and the greatest girl he’d ever had. When he approached her in the kitchen she was singing a cute lullaby to faith that was almost asleep.

“Cadee?” Shaun spoke. His heart was still screaming, begging him to stop.

“Yeah what’s up?” cadee answered so casually.

“I-I need to talk to you” he stuttered. He always did this when he was nervous.

“What about?” Cadee’s mobile began ringing on the counter.

“Hold that thought..” cadee ran to her phone and answered it.

“Oh Sarina, come over right now. Cause I want to make sure your okay babe” there was a pause.

“Okay, see you then babe. Mwa to you too” cadee put the phone down and smiled at Shaun.

“She was dumped. But anyways what did you want?”

“I-I…I was thinking our relationship before was built on lust, sooo”

“So we should act more like brother and sister? Good. I was going to suggest the same thing actually” she smiled and gave him a hug. He hugged her tightly back and let her continue singing to faith. He walked upstairs to his room and slammed the door.

“Men” cadee said to faith. “You can’t live with them, and can’t live without them” she smiled then began singing again. When Sarina arrived cadee hugged her tightly and kissed her on the cheek.

“I was such a fool cadee” she whimpered.

“don’t worry, you’ve got me” cadee said with a smile. Sarina looked into her friends eyes and smiled before kissing her. Her tongue parted Cadee’s lips, which caused a smile to spread on Cadee’s face before she kissed back. When they pulled away paul began to clap.

“that was beautiful.. but seriously..” he burst out laughing. “I expected as much”

“daddy!”

“sorry sweetie. Now, I’m going to beat you by telling adam first” he said as he ran off. Cadee followed after him and Sarina was close behind.

“I’m going to get you!” cadee screamed out as she tripped on the stairs, laughing along with Sarina who tripped on her on the way up.

Shaun could hear the fun and excitement but had no intentions on joining in. he played around with his razorblade in his fingertips until they were covered with a scarlet flood.

“Sorry cadee…” he whispered before pushing in, twisting then clenching his fist in pain.

“I’ll always love you..”