Fight for You

by Charisse Spiers

  I stand with Maggie Kate and sit on the floor, placing her in my lap as I crisscross my legs to form our little family circle. Piper does the same with Alyvia Klaire. "Daddy, I think you should open it."

  I smile at Piper as she hands me the envelope. "What do you want, Maggie Kate?" I run my fingers through her long, blonde hair.

  "Brudder."

  "You want a brother? Well, let's see if you're right."

  I slide my hand under the edge and start tearing it open. I remove the small, glossed square from the envelope and hold it in front of me. The two legs are straight up and they're spread eagle, revealing the genitals in the center proudly. Yep, he's a Hayes. Shit. Even if the penis and testicles weren't clearly visible from him advertising them for everyone to see, the text- It's a boy!!!!- gives it away.

  I stare at it. I've never been so proud to see another dick before. That's my son. I helped create him. I'm not scared anymore. I can do this. I can raise a man. I know that because I have the help of a loving woman by my side that won't steer me wrong. We're going to raise a quality man.

  "Daddy, what is it?"

  I look up at Piper gleaming. A tear falls from her face when she takes in my reaction. We had this conversation once when we discussed trying for another baby. I love my kids. They complete me. Now, I can’t imagine my life without them. I didn't mind risking another set of twins. We can care for them and we want them. When we talked about it, I promised I would never bring it up again, because if God would have given us another girl I would have taken it proudly, but she knows this is something I need to finally lay him to rest. "Hadley Korbin Hayes it is. It's a brother."

  "Good job, Daddy. You nailed it," Piper says winking.

  The doorbell rings throughout the house. I stand, lifting Maggie Kate as I do, turning her around to hold her against my body vertically. "I'll get it. It's probably Marlin or Kaitlyn bringing Maggie and the new baby over."

  I walk to the door and open it. Alyvia I recognize instantly, but the girl a few years younger I don't. Alyvia has her nails in her mouth, chewing like she's trying to quit smoking and needing a fix. "Alyvia? You never said you were coming today. Who's this?"

  She holds up her hands as she blurts out. "Haddox, I swear on my fucking life I didn't know. You have to believe me. I wouldn't have kept that shit from you."

  I hold my hand over Maggie Kate's ear, trying to drown out the string of curses flying from her mouth. "What are you talking about Alyvia? Watch your mouth when my kids are around. I don't want them repeating stuff like that."

  "Haddox."

  I look over at the other girl. She looks familiar, but I've never seen her before. She has the same hair and eye color as me, but her cheeks are fuller and her nose smaller. Her hair falls to her shoulders in layers. She's about my height and she's thin, but muscular like a gymnast or cheerleader. "Do I know you?"

  "No, but I'd like for you to. I'm your sister...and I'm Alyvia's too."

  I stare at her, blinking. "I don't have a sister."

  She looks nervous. "You do, Haddox. We share the same mother. My dad is Alyvia's dad. She never told me about you until she got sick. Alyvia was already in the city. She wants to see you, Haddox. She wants to talk to you, but she's scared you'll never forgive her for leaving, so I've come as her mediator. I want to get to know the brother I didn't know I had."

  What kind of fucked up world do I live in? I look at my daughter, trying to make sure I'm not having a dream, then back at her. "How old are you?"

  "Twenty-two. My name is Henleigh Layne." Her last name matches Alyvia’s.

  “Alyvia, is this your sister?” She nods, still chewing on her fingernails.

  My mother left when I was six. I'm now thirty. "Do you have any proof? You expect me to just believe I have a sister and my mother wants something to do with me twenty-four years after she left?"

  She nods and opens her purse, pulling out a small book. “I also share her name. My middle name is Rebecca. She used to be Rebecca Hayes, but now it’s Layne. It has been for years.” She hands it toward me, her hands shaking.

  I take it from her, my heart now pounding at the recognition of the name, and open it. Maggie Kate is still remaining quiet in my arms. It's a picture book, filled from front to back with photos. As I look at each one, my heart starts beating faster. The kid in all the photos is me. The woman is the same woman that was in the family portrait back home. Each one we both look happy. They start from the time I was an infant and the last photo is the day she left. Now that I stare at myself, I can remember it.

  It was the perfect day. It was sunny and warm. She took me to the park that day. We did everything. I remember the slide was my favorite because the humps as you went down made my stomach flip. I look up at the Henleigh. "Why now? Why after this much time?"

  "She said she wanted to before, but so much time had lapsed she didn't think you would forgive her and that you were probably happy with your life the way it was, without her interfering. Now she's sick and she's dying. She doesn't want to die without explaining everything and at least trying to salvage some form of a relationship. She was scared of how you would react and she can't travel very far right now, so she wanted to make sure you would give her a chance before she risked what little health she has left. I decided to be her voice until you decide. I know you probably want to, but I am begging you not to slam the door in my face. Please, give me the chance to get to know my brother. Too much time has lapsed already."

  I look at Alyvia and she is void of all emotion. Her face is pale. She looks scared to death. I don't know how I feel right now. Three years ago I would have said fuck her. I would have sent that girl packing and never looked back, but if she’s telling the truth, she’s just as innocent as me. Not only is she a missing piece of my family tree, but she's also Alyvia's family, and Alyvia was family before I knew anything about Henleigh. I never knew my family growing up. I don’t want my kids to go through the same thing I went through. They deserve to be loved.

  I look at my daughter in my arms. She lays her head on my shoulder, remaining peaceful. She's one of the few people that changed me. At some point you have to be the bigger person. Revenge doesn't solve anything. I look at them both standing before me. "I can promise I'll listen, but I can't promise anything more."

  I step inside and let them both enter my home. I'm an example for two kids and soon to be a third. This is the time for me to be a man if I want to raise a man. The only way to move forward is to let go of the past that binds you. Defeat it before it defeats you...

  There is no right or wrong way when it comes to romance. Every love story is slightly different. That makes each one beautiful. Love is worth experiencing, no matter what forms it comes in. Whether dark or light, each is special. The pages are blank and ready to be written. Don’t turn away just because it isn’t traditional. The beauty is in the story itself. XOXO- C.

  Note from the author- Thank you so much for giving Haddox and Piper’s story a chance. Unlike Fate, their story is a little more raw and gritty, but it needed to be told. No two love stories are the same. If they were, they would be boring. Haddox and Piper have been screaming at me for a while. I hope you enjoyed their journey. Again, thank you to the readers for giving my writing a chance. Each time you read my work, you’re giving me the chance to continue doing something I love. For that I will always be grateful. I feel that I need to say to all the readers that writers wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you so much for the support as you continue to give my books a shot. If you don’t mind and you liked the story, I ask that you please consider leaving a review on the site that you purchased it from. It doesn’t have to be lengthy, just something telling other readers that you enjoyed it and possibly why. Also, if you want to know more about what happened with Henleigh before her appearance in the epilogue, look out for her novella, Beautiful Secrets, coming soon. XOXO, C

  Books currently out:

  Accepted Fate (Fate, #1 – Breyson and Kinzleigh, 1)<
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  Twisting Fate (Fate, #2 – Breyson and Kinzleigh, 2)

  Lasting Fate (Fate, #3 – Breyson and Kinzleigh, 3 Finale)

  Trailer Links for current books out – Music and photos purchased for personal use. For entertainment purposes only.

  Accepted Fate –

  http://youtu.be/PC5yzEKFMSo

  Twisting Fate –

  http://youtu.be/4sewkKjRuJI

  Lasting Fate –

  http://youtu.be/YcJJdt_23b0

  Upcoming Books:

  Fate series:

  Fated For You (Fate, #4 – Konnor and Presley)

  Fate by Choice (Fate, #5 – Braxton and Adalynn)

  Fate Reincarnated (Fate, #6 – Ryland and Macie)

  Conflicting Fate (Fate, #7 – Preston and Madileigh)

  Fate by Forgiveness (Fate, #8 – Riggan and Sayler)

  Home Plate by Fate (Fate, #9 – Briar and Londyn)

  Fate by Coincidence (Fate, #10 – Simon and Angelique)

  Finding Fate (Fate, #11 – Maddox and Natalie)

  Chasing Fate (Fate, #12 – Fisher and Karsyn)

  ***I may skip around writing the Fate series, because the number only represents the order in which they were conceived. I only have to write Fate, #4 before Fate, #8 and Fate #5 before Fate, #7 because of the heroine not yet being introduced. Otherwise, they can be written however, because they will all be geared as standalone, so if you want a particular character’s story written, tell me. I like feedback from readers. To get a proper introduction to the characters for Fate, #4- Fate, #12 I do recommend reading 1-3 first. Otherwise, they are completely geared as standalone. ***

  Fight Standalones:

  Beautiful Secrets (Fight For You Novella, # 1.5 – Henleigh)

  Rescue me from darkness (Fight Standalone, #2 – Reese and Alyvia)

  Shadows in the Dark series of standalone:

  Marked

  Love and War

  Other Standalones:

  Southern spitfire and speedways

  Fairytales and fireflies

  Hearts series:

  Salvaged Hearts (Hearts, #1)

  Mended Hearts (Hearts, #2)

  All upcoming books can be found on my Goodreads page:

  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7443394.Charisse_Spiers

  Social Media:

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/charissespiersauthor

  Twitter:

  @cspiersauthor

  Google Plus:

  https://plus.google.com/+CharisseSpiers

  TSU:

  https://www.tsu.co/charissespiersauthor

  Contributors:

  Jessica Grover – Editor

  Elizabeth Thiele – Personal Assistant

  Clarise Tan with CT cover creations- Illustrator

  Beta Readers: Heidi Sturgess, Bryttany Currey, and Christine Snyder

  Acknowledgments:

  First and foremost I want to thank my amazing boyfriend, Patrick. You will never understand how much your support means to me. You are an inspiration in writing that I never thought I would have because of your love and support. I will forever be thankful to have you in my life. I know my schedule gets crazy and the month before I release a book I am buried in my iPad and Laptop, but you don’t say anything to complain. Know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. I love you with everything I am and I’m so glad to have you with me through this amazing journey.

  Jessica Grover, my editor and friend, the way we met is ironic, but I’m so glad we did. You have become one of my best friends and you do so much for me. Know that I am always grateful for everything that you do. I’m thankful to have you in my life so much more than you will ever know.

  Elizabeth Thiele, my PA and friend, you are also special to me. The amount of gratitude that I have for you I’ll never be able to express properly. Both of you will always be in my heart. I have expressed through all books how important the two of you are, and at this point words just don’t touch it anymore. The only thing I can do is to continue to show you from day to day. The two of you will remain with me until the end, because not only are you helping me, but you’ve become close friends.

  I know that I haven’t named each and every person that has impacted me in my writing, but know that I’m truly thankful for each and every friend, reader, and beta. I could write forever thanking everyone, but at the end of the day the important people know who they are, because I believe when someone is important to you, you should always tell them their worth. Know that I value each person that contributed in my books as well as friendship.

  XOXO, C