Page 28 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“It’s a castle!” she exclaimed, her fingers running over the illustration on the box. “Just like mine!”

“It’s a special puzzle,” Enzo said, his grin widening. “When you put it together, it makes a big castle that you can play with.”

Ava’s face lit up, and she turned to him with wide eyes. “Really?”

“Really,” he said. “Think you can handle it?”

“Yes!” she said, clutching the box tightly. “Can we do it now?”

Enzo chuckled. “Let’s do it.”

They spreadthe puzzle pieces out on the coffee table, pushing aside crayons and drawings to make room. I stayed in the kitchen, sipping my coffee and pretending not to watch.

Ava was already diving into the pile, sorting pieces by color and shape.

“Start with the edges,” Enzo said, pointing to a few pieces. “That’s how you build the frame.”

“I know,” Ava said confidently. “I’m really good at puzzles.”

“I’ve heard,” he said with a smile. “But this one’s pretty tricky. Think you can teach me a thing or two?”

“Yep!” Ava said, her little hands moving quickly as she pieced together part of the border.

Enzo watched her with genuine admiration, his own hands moving slower as he worked on his side of the puzzle. They chatted easily, their conversation a mix of laughter and Ava’s endless stream of observations.

I couldn’t stop watching.

It wasn’t just the way Ava lit up around him—it was the way Enzo responded to her. He was patient, encouraging, and completely focused on her. He wasn’t doing this for show; he genuinely wanted to be there with her, building something together.

“She’s got you beat,” I said lightly, stepping into the room.

Enzo glanced up, his grin playful. “She’s definitely faster than me.”

“I’m the fastest,” Ava declared, holding up a completed section of the puzzle.

“She’s not wrong,” Enzo said, winking at her.

I sat on the edge of the couch, watching as they worked. Enzo asked Ava questions about her drawings, her favorite colors, and what kind of castle Bunny needed to live in. She answered each one with the kind of enthusiasm only a child could muster.

When they finished the frame, Ava clapped her hands triumphantly. “We did it!”

“You did most of it,” Enzo said.

“You helped,” Ava said seriously.

“Teamwork,” he said with a smile.

They kept going,piece by piece, until the puzzle started to take shape. I stayed quiet, letting them bond. Watching them together filled me with a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite name.

It was so easy for them. So natural.

And that scared me.

Enzo fit into Ava’s life seamlessly, like he’d always been there. And Ava adored him. Every time she looked at him, her little face lit up with trust and affection.

Was it fair to keep him at arm’s length? Was it fair to keep the truth from him when he was so clearly ready to be a part of her life?

I shook the thought away, focusing on the scene in front of me.

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