Twisting Fate

by Charisse Reid

  I don't know how I have any tears left, but I do. It seems I always do when they are shed for him. "Breyson..."

  The door opens and the nurse comes in this time. We never look away from each other. It's as if time stands still. He does that thing he is so good at, where he connects our souls through the windows that are our eyes. I allow my soul to intertwine with his, to enjoy the feeling as they dance together, while our bodies sit in silence. Our hearts are synced, beating in the same rhythm. I'm allowing myself one more night to love him freely; one more night to let myself feel him in the most intimate way there is. This way is far more intimate than sex will ever be.

  After tonight I have to set him free. It'll never get any easier. He is my ultimate and only weakness. I'll send him away with all of my love. He's the only one that's really ever had it completely anyway. I never notice that the nurse checks me. "It's time to push. Call the doctor."

  Preston comes back in the room with the rest of the staff. "Are you both staying," the doctor asks as she walks in the room suiting up for delivery.

  The two of them look at each other. "Preston, I'm asking you to give me this. I'm asking you to set our differences aside for a day and wait outside. I'm asking you to be a man and to willingly let me have this moment to witness the birth of my son, privately. We may have to share her right now, but some things are not to be shared with another man."

  Preston looks at me and back at Breyson. "Okay, Breyson. I'll give you that." He looks at me one last time. "I'll be with Ryland in the waiting room if you need me. He turns and leaves the two of us to bring our son into the world. After today, so many things will change.

  Breyson

  I could lose everything after today. I heard it in her voice when I asked her not to give up on us. She's decided in her mind she isn't going to change her mind. For whatever reason, she thinks I'm better off without her. I won't walk away easily, but I have to live with the possibility that when this is all said and done I may have to if I can't sway her back. I'm not one to beg, but I was prepared to beg Preston to give me this. I need this to hold onto.

  "Take a deep breath and push, push, push. Come on, Kinzleigh, hold it. I need a big one this time. I can see the head." She screams in agony and she grits her teeth each time she carries out the instructions the doctor voices aloud. Her face turns red each time she pushes. I hold her leg back with my left forearm and allow her to use my other hand as a stress toy like the doctor instructed.

  "One more push and the head will be out. Great job, honey. Give me another push just like the last one." Kinzleigh looks exhausted, but she also is the strongest woman I know. "Dad, are you ready to meet your son? Look down here. Kinzleigh, chin on chest and bear down like you’re going to do a crunch. Ready, deep breath and push."

  I watch as she pushes his head out. It's full of blonde hair. I wipe my moist eyes on my shirt with my shoulder. "Give it a break and then one more push." The doctor suctions his mouth as if she's done this a million times. "One final push, Kinzleigh. Let's get this baby out." The doctor pulls on his head at the same time she pushes. In one swift motion, the rest of his body comes out. Kinzleigh lays her head back in relief.

  I can't describe the way it feels to watch the woman I've completely fallen in love with give birth to my child. It's a moment I'll never forget as long as I live. I thought I had experienced the best in life when I met her, but I was wrong. This is it. Life doesn't get any better than this. Something changed in me when I laid my eyes on him. I don't know what or why, but it feels like everything is falling into place.

  I look at Kinzleigh and I can tell she feels the same way I do. When he starts to cry, I smile and so does she. She looks more beautiful right now, covered in sweat, than I've ever seen her. I don't know how long she'll fight gravity and us before she gives in, but I'll wait patiently until she does. This isn't something you give up on. Your family is something you give your all for.

  The doctor lays him on top of her stomach and continues wiping him off. That cry is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Any man that doesn't cry when he hears his baby take its first breaths of air isn't a man. Knowing you helped create something like this is overwhelming no matter what age you are. The doctor gives me a pair of scissors to cut the cord and I do. I can't believe we made him. It may have been the wrong timing for him to be here since we are just out of high school and unmarried, but at the same time it feels like he couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

  The tech picks him up and carries him to the incubator. I follow, unable to look away. While they weigh him and clean him up I pull out my phone and take a picture, capturing a moment of time. The scale reads six pounds and 2 ounces. Even a few weeks early, he's perfect. The tech hands him to me all bundled up in a blanket with a cap on his head.

  I take him and hold him in my arms as close to me as I can. He feels so breakable. He looks up at me with his little gray eyes and my heart feels like it's going to burst in my chest. "Hey, Buddy. I'm your daddy. I love you." I kiss his forehead and walk over to Kinzleigh. She's watching us and crying.

  I lay him in her arms. "You did good, Beautiful girl. He's absolutely perfect. This feeling is indescribable." I place one arm around hers that is holding Bryce and the other on her face. I don't care what the consequences are I bend over and kiss the mother of my child. "I love you, Kinzleigh Berlyn Baker. I don't know why you're so scared, but I'll win you back. I'm here to stay. You may give up, but I won't. I'll take care of you both, Kinzleigh. I'll die for you and him. I'm not asking you to take my word for it. I'll prove it day in and day out until you accept that we belong to each other. Know that I'm not walking away from this. Walking away is easy and for cowards. Staying and fighting for what you want is what makes heroes. One day I'm going to be your hero."

  Watch out for the final segment in Breyson and Kinzleigh's story, Lasting Fate, coming November 2014

  Acknowledgements:

  I would like to say THANK YOU to all of my fans and followers. You have made this process amazing. Each review, each comment on social media, and each time you reach out to let me know that you liked the book completely makes my day. Never doubt that an author doesn't need to hear your thoughts about their work. It keeps us motivated to continue. It is the people that keep reading that is the most important of the entire process. I have found my dream because I gave something a chance and the feedback from fans assured me it was worth continuing.

  Secondly, I would like to say thank you to each and every person that has followed me throughout the process of the story in the making. I have thankfully been blessed with an extraordinary support system and not a day goes by that I am not grateful. Thank you my awesome family, boyfriend, and friends for keeping me sane and pushing me to continue at times I may have felt burnt out or stressed from personal issues. Thank you to the promoters, bloggers, betas and my street team. There are too many of you to name, but you know who you are. Without you all none of this would be possible.

  Thank you Victoria Ashley for telling me to give writing a shot. If it had not of been for you I would have never found my dream. Never in a million years did I see myself as being a writer, but you took a leap of faith with me and for that I owe you so much. You have become one of my best friends and I am very thankful that I one clicked Wake up call. Not only did I get a great read, but a great friend and the amazing opportunity to watch you grow and develop from a great writer to an incredible writer.

  I have to include someone that started out as one of my readers. Jessica Grover, thank you for reaching out and contacting me. It just goes to show that through networking you really can meet some of the best people. You, my friend, not only have helped me tremendously catch the dreadful grammatical errors that writers miss in their own work by editing, but you have done so much more. You have stayed on me and pushed me to finish, by motivating me.

  Stephanie Phillips, you have also become one of my closest friends. I'm so happy I've gotten to help you through the
process of releasing your debut novel. I can't wait until the day I get to meet you in person. You definitely have been there for me with writing and as a friend in general.

  My precious, precious gems known as my betas. Every last one of you that I don't know personally have become as close to my heart as the people at my back door. You took time out of your busy lives to read the story chapter by chapter and help me see things where I may not have seen them without another pair of eyes. I treasure and cherish each and every one of you dearly. You all better get used to it because you are all stuck with me. ;)

  Contributers:

  Clarise Tan-Illustrator

  Jessica Grover-Editor

  Leslie Ishee-Beta

  Chelsea Spiers-Beta

  Amy Baggett-Beta

  Elizabeth Thiele-Beta

  Dawn Vickers-Beta

  Heidi Sturgess-Beta

  Angie Roche-Beta

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